And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed is that Moses didn't wear the veil while speaking to the people; he put it on after he finished. This means the intense glory of God on his face was still visible when he delivered God's message, powerfully authenticating it, before he covered it for his ordinary interactions.
And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After receiving new commands from God following the people's sin with the golden calf, Moses comes down from Mount Sinai with his face radiating with divine glory. The people are afraid to come near him, so Moses begins speaking to them after putting a veil over his face, only removing it when communicating directly with God or delivering God's messages to the people. This act became a regular practice, symbolizing the veiled nature of the Old Covenant compared to the unveiled truth of the New Covenant in Christ.
Moses' face radiated with divine light after meeting God, so much so that the people couldn't bear to look. What does this dazzling encounter tell us about God's presence?
When Moses encountered God on Mount Sinai, the divine glory physically transformed him. This wasn't a gentle glow, but a radiant, powerful light emanating from his skin.
A Transformed Appearance
Imagine the shock! Moses descends, expecting a normal conversation, but his face is shining. It's so intense that the Israelites, and even Aaron and the other leaders, are afraid to come near him. This phenomenon highlights the sheer, overwhelming holiness and presence of God.
Divine Communication Requires Adjustment
Because the people couldn't handle this direct manifestation of God's glory, Moses had to put on a veil. This wasn't to hide something sinful, but to make God's message accessible. It's a beautiful picture: God's presence is glorious and life-giving, but His people need a way to approach Him that isn't blinding.
The veil Moses wore wasn't just a practical solution; it carried deep meaning for the covenant between God and Israel. What did it symbolize?
The veil Moses wore became a powerful symbol, particularly in light of later New Testament interpretation. It represented the nature of the Old Covenant itself.
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Shadows of the Future
Commentators often explain that the veil signified the 'darkness' or 'obscurity' of the Law. While the Law revealed God's will, it didn't fully unveil the path to salvation or intimate knowledge of God's triune nature. It pointed towards Christ but didn't offer the complete picture.
A Hidden Fulfillment
Think of it like seeing a beautiful painting through a tinted glass. You see the artistry, but the true colors and details are muted. The Old Covenant ordinances and ceremonies were like that – they were 'shadows of good things to come,' hinting at Christ and His work, but not revealing them fully. The veil symbolizes that this covenant, though glorious, ultimately obscured the full reality found in Jesus.
The veil Moses wore points to a deeper, internal veil mentioned later in Scripture. What's the difference between a physical veil and a spiritual one?
The story of Moses' veil takes on even greater significance when we consider its application to the human heart and the New Covenant.
The True Veil
Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, draws a parallel between the physical veil on Moses' face and a spiritual veil that can cover the hearts of people. This 'veil' represents a spiritual blindness or stubbornness that prevents individuals from fully understanding and embracing God's truth, especially the message of the Gospel.
Openness in Christ
In contrast to the veiled nature of the Old Covenant, the New Covenant in Christ is characterized by openness and clarity. Through the Spirit, believers can behold God's glory directly ('with an open face'). This transformation isn't about a physical radiance, but an inner change that allows us to truly see and understand God's promises and His character, leading to a deeper, ongoing encounter with Him.
Understand the original words
masveh · Hebrew Noun
A covering or screen; in this context, it functions as a barrier or intermediary, partially obscuring the visible manifestation of God's glory reflected upon Moses.
This passage directly references the event in Exodus, explaining that Moses' veil was symbolic of the fading glory of the Old Covenant and the inability of the Israelites to look steadfastly at its completion in Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:13Paul expands on the imagery, contrasting Moses' veiled face with the openness of the Gospel, suggesting that just as the veil concealed the full glory, so too did the Old Covenant obscure a deeper spiritual understanding that is now revealed.
Leviticus 16:11-14This passage describes the High Priest entering the Most Holy Place with a veil and bringing blood, which parallels Moses' need to approach God without a veil to receive His presence, highlighting the distinction between direct divine encounter and mediated communication.
Hebrews 9:3This verse mentions the 'second veil' that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle, reinforcing the theme of separation and limited access to God's presence that the veil on Moses' face also signifies.
John 1:14The 'Word became flesh and dwelt among us' speaks of God's glory being revealed in a tangible way, contrasting with the veiled glory of Moses and the Old Covenant, pointing towards the full unveiling of God's presence in Jesus.
jfbExodus 34:33: "And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face."
- he put a veil on his face—That veil was with the greatest propriety removed when speaking with the Lord, for every one appears unveiled to the eye of Omniscience; but it was replaced on returning to the people—and this was emblematic of the dark and shadowy character of that dispensation (2Co 3:13, 14).
cambridgeExodus 34:33: "And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face."
33 . a veil ] The Heb. word ( masweh ) occurs only here and vv. 34, 35. 33–35 . The glow alarmed the Israelites: Moses, therefore, put a veil on his face, which he wore ever afterwards, except when he went in to speak with God, or while he was communicating to the people the Divine message which he had received: in ordinary life the reflexion of the Divine glory upon his face was thus hidden from the people.
What's easily missed is that Moses didn't wear the veil while speaking to the people; he put it on after he finished. This means the intense glory of God on his face was still visible when he delivered God's message, powerfully authenticating it, before he covered it for his ordinary interactions.
After receiving new commands from God following the people's sin with the golden calf, Moses comes down from Mount Sinai with his face radiating with divine glory. The people are afraid to come near him, so Moses begins speaking to them after putting a veil over his face, only removing it when communicating directly with God or delivering God's messages to the people. This act became a regular practice, symbolizing the veiled nature of the Old Covenant compared to the unveiled truth of the New Covenant in Christ.
After receiving new commands from God following the people's sin with the golden calf, Moses comes down from Mount Sinai with his face radiating with divine glory. The people are afraid to come near him, so Moses begins speaking to them after putting a veil over his face, only removing it when communicating directly with God or delivering God's messages to the people. This act became a regular practice, symbolizing the veiled nature of the Old Covenant compared to the unveiled truth of the New Covenant in Christ.
"And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face." — What's easily missed is that Moses didn't wear the veil while speaking to the people; he put it on after he finished. This means the intense glory of God on his face was still visible when he del…
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Last reviewed October 2026