2 Corinthians 3:13-14
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Paul's point isn't just that Moses hid the fading glory, but that the Israelites were prevented from seeing its end. This highlights how a dimming revelation can obscure the full picture, leaving people stuck on a temporary, less glorious phase. It's a subtle but powerful reminder that God's true glory is always moving toward something more, not less.
not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is contrasting the radiant, temporary glory of Moses' encounter with God's presence on Mount Sinai, which he veiled to protect the Israelites, with the even more enduring glory of the new covenant in Christ. He’s explaining that the old covenant’s glory faded because its message pointed to something temporary, and this lingering effect is what the veil represented. He's setting the stage to show how believers, through Christ, now have an unveiled face and can behold and reflect God's glory with an unending radiance.
Moses veiled his face, but why? It wasn't to hide his own glory, but to shield the Israelites from a truth too intense to bear.
A Truth Too Bright to See
Paul is drawing a stark contrast between the old covenant and the new.
Moses, when returning from Mount Sinai after speaking with God, had a radiance about his face. This glory was so intense that the Israelites couldn't look at it directly. So, Moses veiled it. This veil wasn't a sign of shame, but a practical measure to manage the overwhelming glory of God's presence under the Law.
However, Paul points out the deeper significance: the Israelites couldn't even bear to look at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. This refers to the fading glory of the Mosaic Law itself, as it was a covenant that led to death for those who couldn't perfectly keep it. The glory was real, but it was temporary and ultimately pointed to a conclusion that couldn't sustain them.
Unlike the temporary glory Moses veiled, there's a glory in Christ that doesn't fade and isn't hidden. What makes it so different?
Open Faces, Unveiled Hearts
Paul's point here is that under the new covenant in Christ, the veil is removed. The glory of God revealed in Jesus is not something we need to shield ourselves from; it's something we are transformed by.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
kalymma · Greek Noun
A cloth used to cover or conceal. Metaphorically, it represents the obscurity, lack of understanding, or spiritual blindness that prevents someone from seeing the fullness of God's truth.
pōroō · Greek Verb
To make dull, obtuse, or insensitive. It refers to a state of spiritual stubbornness or the inability to perceive and respond to divine truth.
diathēkē · Greek Noun
The formal agreement or relationship established by God with His people, specifically referring here to the Mosaic law and the Sinai covenant.
Christos · Greek Noun
The Anointed One, the Messiah. He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises and the sole mediator through whom spiritual blindness is removed and access to God is granted.
The veil Moses wore symbolized the temporary nature of the Old Covenant and the inability of the Israelites to fully grasp God's glory and purposes in it, contrasting with the enduring glory and open access to God through the New Covenant in Christ that Paul is describing.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Under Moses' leadership, the Israelites were miraculously freed from slavery in Egypt, marking the beginning of their journey toward the Promised Land.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the desert after disobeying God, a period marked by both divine provision and human rebellion.
c. 1406 BC
Moses Ascends Mount Sinai
Moses received the Ten Commandments and the Law from God on Mount Sinai, a profound encounter that transformed him.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Moses' Face Glows
After encountering God on Sinai, Moses' face radiated such glory that the Israelites were afraid to look at him directly.
c. 1406 BC
Moses Wears a Veil
To allow the Israelites to approach him, Moses began to wear a veil over his face when he was not speaking directly with God.
This passage describes Moses' face shining after encountering God, necessitating the veil to shield the Israelites from its glory, directly explaining the context of the veil mentioned in 2 Corinthians.
Romans 11:7-10Paul uses the imagery of a veil to describe how Israel's spiritual blindness prevents them from seeing Jesus as the Messiah, paralleling the obscuring effect of the veil in 2 Corinthians 3.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4This passage further elaborates on the veil, stating that the gospel itself is veiled to those who are perishing, emphasizing the spiritual blindness that hinders understanding God's revelation.
1 Corinthians 13:12This verse speaks of seeing 'in a mirror dimly' now and 'face to face' in the future, aligning with the theme of partial revelation under the Old Covenant and the full revelation in Christ.
Paul's point isn't just that Moses hid the fading glory, but that the Israelites were prevented from seeing its end. This highlights how a dimming revelation can obscure the full picture, leaving people stuck on a temporary, less glorious phase. It's a subtle but powerful reminder that God's true glory is always moving toward something more, not less.
Paul is contrasting the radiant, temporary glory of Moses' encounter with God's presence on Mount Sinai, which he veiled to protect the Israelites, with the even more enduring glory of the new covenant in Christ. He’s explaining that the old covenant’s glory faded because its message pointed to something temporary, and this lingering effect is what the veil represented. He's setting the stage to show how believers, through Christ, now have an unveiled face and can behold and reflect God's glory with an unending radiance.
Paul is contrasting the radiant, temporary glory of Moses' encounter with God's presence on Mount Sinai, which he veiled to protect the Israelites, with the even more enduring glory of the new covenant in Christ. He’s explaining that the old covenant’s glory faded because its message pointed to something temporary, and this lingering effect is what the veil represented. He's setting the stage to show how believers, through Christ, now have an unveiled face and can behold and reflect God's glory with an unending radiance.
"not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil re…" — Paul's point isn't just that Moses hid the fading glory, but that the Israelites were prevented from seeing its end. This highlights how a dimming revelation can obscure the full picture, leaving p…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
