Greek word · G1823

ἐξαστράπτω

exastraptō

to flash forth

'To flash forth like lightning, to gleam, to glitter'. Formed from ex- ('out') and astraptō ('to lighten, flash'), related to astrapē, 'lightning'.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐξ-αστράπτω

[in LXX: Numbers 3:3 (בָּרָק), Ezekiel 1:4 (לָקַח hithp.) 17 Dan LXX 106 (קָלַל)* ;]

to flash like lightning, gleam, be radiant: ἱματισμός, Luke 9:29.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 9:29

Range of meaning

'To flash forth like lightning, to gleam, to glitter'. Formed from ex- ('out') and astraptō ('to lighten, flash'), related to astrapē, 'lightning'.

Against the English

'Radiantly' (BSB), 'dazzling' (WEB), 'glistering' (KJV, an old word for 'glittering'), 'sparkling' (YLT). NIV's 'as bright as a flash of lightning' keeps the lightning picture best. Most other renderings drop it.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used only here in the New Testament. In the Greek Old Testament it is used for Ezekiel's vision of God's throne-chariot: 'fire flashing forth' (Ezek 1:4) and creatures gleaming 'like flashing bronze' (Ezek 1:7). It also appears for flashing weapons in Nahum 3:3. Compare Dan 10:6, a heavenly figure whose face is 'like the appearance of lightning'. Luke also uses the simple verb for the 'two men in clothing flashing like lightning' at the empty tomb (Luke 24:4).

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 9:29 ἐξαστράπτων. became dazzling.

    And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white.

    Here: Built from the word for lightning, and found nowhere else in the New Testament. A present participle: the clothing keeps flashing, like lightning that goes on. The picture comes from biblical visions of God's appearing (Ezek 1:4, 7).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.