Leukaino means to make white or to whiten — appearing twice in the NT. In Mark 9:3, the transfiguration garments become 'whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them [leukaino].' In Revelation 7:14, the martyrs' robes are 'made white [leukaino] in the blood of the Lamb' — one of the NT's most paradoxical images.
The paradox of Revelation 7:14 — robes whitened by blood — encapsulates atonement theology in a single image. Blood normally stains; the Lamb's blood cleanses. White in biblical symbolism consistently denotes purity, holiness, and divine glory (transfiguration, resurrection angel, throne in Revelation 20:11). Leukaino is the verb of transformation — active, achieved whiteness, not inherent. Isaiah 1:18 anticipates this: 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.' The transfiguration scene (Mark 9:3) previews resurrection glory — Jesus's garments become supernaturally white, beyond human bleaching, demonstrating that His purity is not of this world. Both uses point toward the final state of God's redeemed people.