English Standard Version
2 Corinthians 3:16
16But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
2 Corinthians 3:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
- New International Version (NIV)But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Context of 2 Corinthians 3:16
14But 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. 15Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 32 Corinthians 3:16 word by word
ἡνίκα δὲ ἐὰν ἐπιστρέψῃ πρὸς κύριον, περιαιρεῖται τὸ κάλυμμα.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Neverthelessδέde · thenG1161
- whenἡνίκαhēnika · whenG2259
- ·ἄνan · ifG302
- it shall turnἐπιστρέφωepistrephō · to turnG1994
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- the vailὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the vailκάλυμμαkaluma · veilG2571
- shall be taken awayπεριαιρέωperiaireō · to take awayG4014
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 3:16
- Exodus 34:34Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded,
- Deuteronomy 4:30When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice.
- Deuteronomy 30:10when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
- Lamentations 3:40Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!
- Hosea 3:4For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods.
- Romans 11:25Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
- Isaiah 25:7And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.
- Isaiah 29:18In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.
- Isaiah 54:13All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.
- Jeremiah 31:34And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
- John 6:45It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 3:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16When it shall turn to the Lord - When the Israelitish nation shall turn to the Lord Jesus, the veil shall be taken away; the true light shall shine; and they shall see all things clearly. There is an evident allusion here to the case of Moses, mentioned Exodus 34:34. When he came from the Lord, and spoke to the Israelites, he put the veil over his face; but when he returned to speak with the Lord, then he took off the veil. So, when the Israelitish nation…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Nevertheless - This is not always to continue. The time is coming when they shall understand their own Scriptures, and see their true beauty. When it shall turn to the Lord - When the Jewish people shall be converted. The word “it” here refers undoubtedly to “Israel” in 2 Corinthians 3:13; and the sense is, that their blindness is not always to remain; there is to be a period when they shall turn to God, and shall understand his promises, and become…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-18Believers who turn to the Lord find freedom in the Spirit. We gain something Moses never experienced as we become more like Christ (4:4; John 1:1–14; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:1–4) and reflect the Lord's glory. Experiencing divine glory in this life helps us become like Christ in the next life (Romans 8:29; Galatians 4:19; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1814-18. Parenthetical: Of Christians in general. He resumes the subject of the ministry, 2Co 4:1. minds--Greek, "mental perceptions"; "understandings." blinded--rather, "hardened." The opposite to "looking steadfastly at the end" of the law (2Co 3:13). The veil on Moses' face is further typical of the veil that is on their hearts. untaken away ... which veil--rather, "the same veil ... remaineth untaken away [literally, not unveiled], so that they do not…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 3:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries