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Matthew 28:3 draws on Jewish apocalyptic traditions in describing an angel whose appearance is like lightning and clothing white as snow, imagery that echoes Daniel 7:9 where the Ancient of Days is clothed in white with fiery brilliance.
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Daniel 7:9
Hebrew Bible
8 “As I was contemplating the horns, another horn—a small one—came up between them, and three of the former horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This horn had eyes resembling human eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant things. 9 “While I was watching, thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His attire was white like snow; the hair of his head was like lamb’s wool. His throne was ablaze with fire, and its wheels were all aflame. 10 A river of fire was streaming forth and proceeding from his presence. Many thousands were ministering to him; many tens of thousands stood ready to serve him. The court convened, and the books were opened. 11 “Then I kept on watching because of the arrogant words of the horn that was speaking. I was watching until the beast was killed and its body destroyed and thrown into the flaming fire.
Date: 2nd Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Matthew 28:3
New Testament
1 Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
Date: 70-90 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... In his predication that the “righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father” (Matt 13:43), Matthew distinctly recalls Daniel’s statement about the wise, who will “shine like the brightness of heaven, while those who turn many to righteousness will shine “like the stars of heaven for ever and ever”. Later in Matthew (28:3) it is an angel who will have an appearance like lightning, like the man seen in Daniel’s vision ..."
Gurtner, Daniel M.
"Danielic Influence at the Intersection of Matthew and the Dead Sea Scrolls" in Anders Runesson and Daniel M. Gurtner, Ed., Matthew Within Judaism: Israel and the Nations in the First Gospel
(pp. 1-24) Society of Biblical Literature, 2019
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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