“Transfiguration” has become one of those Bible words where I think most people have an idea of what’s going on when the word is used. But, if they were honest (and that includes myself) they’d probably be a little fuzzier on exactly what “transfiguration” means then they let on.
Let’s see if we can clear some things up about this odd word.
In verse 2, the text reads: “There he was transfigured before them.” It might be helpful to see what word is being translated into “transfigured”. It’s the Greek word, μετεμορφώθη, which itself is a slight variation of the word, μεταμορφόω. As with almost all words, μεταμορφόω has a range of meanings, which includes: to change in a manner visible to others, as well as, to change inwardly in fundamental character or condition.
The specific use of μετεμορφώθη is in the passive tense, which gives this indication that this μεταμορφόω is not something that Jesus did; rather, it was something that happened to him. In other words, he received the change.
The rest of the text in verse 7 reads: “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as the light.” In Matthew’s words, he describes Jesus’s transfiguration (or μετεμορφώθη) as a bright light. This is where interpretations may differ, but I would suggest that in the transfiguration—the brief change that was witnessed—was the holiness of God being shown for what it is. And, when this holiness is shown, it appears as a bright light. We, then, might say that what Peter, James, and John saw as the transfiguration was the holiness of God being put on display. In other words, the transfiguration was a window into the glory of God in the person of Jesus.