Albert Barnes Commentary Revelation 1:14

"And his head and his hair were white as white wool, [white] as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;" — Revelation 1:14 (ASV)

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow. This means exceedingly or perfectly white. The first suggestion to the apostle's mind was that of wool, and then the thought occurred of its extreme whiteness resembling snow—the purest white the mind can conceive.

The comparison with wool and snow to denote anything particularly white is not uncommon . Professor Stuart supposes that this means not that His hairs were literally white, as if with age (which he says would be incongruous for one just risen from the dead, clothed with immortal youth and vigor), but that it means radiant, bright, resplendent—similar to what occurred at the transfiguration of the Savior (Matthew 17:2).

But to this, it may be replied:

1. That this would not accord well with what His hair is compared to—snow and wool, particularly the latter.
2. The usual meaning of the word is more obvious here and not at all inappropriate. The representation was suited to signify majesty and authority, and this would be best accomplished by the image of one who was venerable in years. Thus, in the vision that appeared to Daniel (Daniel 7:9), it is said of Him who is there called the "Ancient of Days," that His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool. It is not improbable that John had that representation in mind, and that therefore he would be impressed with the conviction that this was a manifestation of a Divine person.

We are not necessarily to suppose that this is the form in which the Savior always appears now in heaven, any more than we are to suppose that God always appears in the form in which He was manifested to Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1), to Daniel (Daniel 7:9), or to Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu on the mountain (Exodus 24:10–11). The representation is that this form was assumed for the purpose of impressing the apostle's mind with a sense of His majesty and glory.

And His eyes were as a flame of fire. This means bright, sharp, and penetrating, as if everything was light before them, or as if they would penetrate the thoughts of men.

Such a representation is not uncommon. We speak of a lightning glance, a fiery look, and so on. In Daniel 10:6, it is said of the man who appeared to the prophet on the banks of the river Hiddekel that his eyes were as lamps of fire. Numerous instances of this comparison from the Greek and Latin classics may be seen in Wetstein, on this passage.