‏ Luke 9:28

 About eight days ( ωσε ημερα οκτω ). A nominativus pendens without connexion or construction. Mr 9:2 (Mt 17:1) has "after six days" which agrees with the general statement.

 Into the mountain ( εις το ορος ). Probably Mount Hermon because we know that Jesus was near Caesarea Philippi when Peter made the confession (Mr 8:27; Mt 16:13). Hermon is still the glory of Palestine from whose heights one can view the whole of the land. It was a fit place for the Transfiguration.

 To pray ( προσευξασθα ). Peculiar to Luke who so often mentions Christ's habit of prayer (cf. 3:21). See also verse 29 "as he was praying" ( εν τω προσευχεσθα, one of Luke's favourite idioms).

 His countenance was altered ( εγενετο το ειδος του προσωπου αυτου ετερον ). Literally, "the appearance of his face became different." Mt 17:2 says that "his face did shine as the sun." Luke does not use the word "transfigured" ( μετεμορφωθη ) in Mr 9:2; Mt 17:2. He may have avoided this word because of the pagan associations with this word as Ovid's  Μεταμορφοσες.

 And his raiment became white and dazzling ( κα ο ιματισμος αυτου λευκος εξαστραπτων ). Literally,

 And his raiment white radiant. There is no and between "white" and "dazzling." The participle  εξαστραπτων is from the compound verb meaning to flash ( αστραπτω ) out or forth ( εξ ). The simple verb is common for lightning flashes and bolts, but the compound in the LXX and here alone in the N.T. See Mr 9:3 "exceeding white" and Mt 17:2 "white as the light."

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