Mark 9:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus' clothing becomes dazzling white, whiter than any launderer on earth could ever make it.
What Does Mark 9:3 Mean?
Mark reaches for a homely comparison: no fuller, no cleaner of cloth on earth, could whiten garments like this. The shining is beyond anything human craft can produce. Daniel saw the Ancient of days clothed in a garment white as snow (Daniel 7:9), and John will later see the risen Christ with a face like the sun (Revelation 1:16).
The whiteness speaks of purity and of heaven. Everything earth makes clean eventually soils again; this brightness comes from within and cannot be dimmed. The sight is a pledge as well as a glory, for Scripture promises that the faithful will one day walk with Him in white (Revelation 3:4-5). What the disciples glimpse on the mountain, Christ intends finally to give.
Mark 9:3 in the Original Language
stilbo (στίλβω), 'shining' -- to gleam or glisten, as light flashing from a polished surface.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 9:3
What does Mark 9:3 mean?
Jesus' clothing becomes dazzling white, whiter than any launderer on earth could ever make it.