2 Corinthians 3:13

and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face so that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away.

BSB

We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.

ASV

and [are] not as Moses, [who] put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on the end of that which was passing away:

Original Greek

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καὶ kai and G2532 οὐ ou not G3756 καθάπερ kathaper as G2509 Μωϋσῆς Mōusēs Moses G3475 ἐτίθει etithei was putting G5087 κάλυμμα kalumma a veil G2571 ἐπὶ epi over G1909 τὸ to the G3588 πρόσωπον prosōpon face G4383 αὐτοῦ autou of himself G846 πρὸς pros for G4314 τὸ to (the) G3588 μὴ mē not G3361 ἀτενίσαι atenisai to look intently G816 τοὺς tous the G3588 υἱοὺς huious sons G5207 Ἰσραὴλ Israēl of Israel G2474 εἰς eis into G1519 τὸ to the G3588 τέλος telos end G5056 τοῦ tou of that G3588 καταργουμένου katargoumenou fading away G2673

The early church

Now what he says is of this nature. There is no need for us to cover ourselves as Moses did; for ye are able to look upon this glory which we are encircled with, although it is far greater and brighter than the other. Seest thou the advance? For he that in the former Epistle said, "I have fed you with milk, not with meat;" saith here, "We use great boldness of speech." And he produces Moses before them, carrying forward the discourse by means of comparison, and thus leading his hearer upwards. And for the present he sets them above the Jews, saying that 'we have no need of a veil as he had with those he governed;' but in what comes afterwards he advances them even to the dignity itself of the Lawgiver, or even to a much greater.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 2 Corinthians
The truth is that the Old Testament of Mount Sinai, "producing children of slavery," now serves no purpose but to bear witness to the New. Otherwise, the words of St. Paul would not be true: "Yes, down to this very day when Moses is read, the veil covers their hearts"; but when any of them turn from the Old Testament to Christ, "the veil shall be taken away." What happens is that the deepest aspirations of those who make the change are shifted from the Old Testament to the New, whereupon they begin to look for spiritual—rather than earthly—happiness.
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430City of God

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 12–18

It is the duty of the ministers of the gospel to use great plainness, or clearness, of speech. The Old Testament believers had only cloudy and passing glimpses of that glorious Saviour, and unbelievers looked no further than to the outward institution. But the great precepts of the gospel, believe, love, obey, are truths stated as clearly as possible. And the whole doctrine of Christ crucified, is made as plain as human language can make it. Those who lived under the law, had a veil upon their hearts. This veil is taken away by the doctrines of the Bible about Christ. When any person is converted to God, then the veil of ignorance is taken away. The condition of those who enjoy and believe the gospel is happy, for the heart is set at liberty to run the ways of God's commandments. They have light, and with open face they behold the glory of the Lord. Christians should prize and improve these privileges. We should not rest contented without knowing the transforming power of the gospel, by the working of the Spirit, bringing us to seek to be like the temper and tendency of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and into union with Him. We behold Christ, as in the glass of his word; and as the reflection from a mirror causes the face to shine, the faces of Christians shine also.

Read Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 3 →

Cross-references

7

People & places

MosesIsrael

Topics

Quotations And AllusionsMosesPreachingCountenanceVeil

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.