2 Corinthians 3:13

2 Corinthians 3:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
• New International Version (NIV)We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.

Context of 2 Corinthians 3:13

11If that former ministry faded away despite its glory, how much more does that ministry which remains continue to be glorious? 12Since we have confidence ⌞in the new promise⌟, we speak very boldly. We are not like Moses. He kept covering his face with a veil. He didn’t want the people of Israel to see the glory fading away. 14However, their minds became closed. In fact, to this day the same veil is still there when they read the Old Testament. It isn’t removed, because only Christ can remove it. 15Yet, even today, when they read the books of Moses, a veil covers their minds.

2 Corinthians 3:13 word by word

καὶ οὐ καθάπερ Μωϋσῆς ἐτίθει κάλυμμα ἐπὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἀτενίσαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ εἰς τὸ τέλος τοῦ καταργουμένου·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• notοὐou · noG3756
• asκαθάπερkathaper · just asG2509
• MosesΜωϋσῆς, ΜωσῆςMōseus Mōsēs Mōusēs · MosesG3475
• putτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
• a vailκάλυμμαkaluma · veilG2571
• overἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• hisἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• faceπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
• thatπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• the childrenυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
• of IsraelἸσραήλIsraēl · IsraelG2474
• couldἀτενίζωatenizō · to gazeG816
• notμήmē · notG3361
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the endτέλοςtelos · goal/taxG5056
• is abolishedκαταργέωkatargeō · to abateG2673

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 3:13

• Exodus 34:33When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face.
• 2 Corinthians 3:18As all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils, we are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
• Romans 10:4Christ is the fulfillment of Moses’ Teachings so that everyone who has faith may receive God’s approval.
• Galatians 3:23We were kept under control by Moses’ laws until this faith came. We were under their control until this faith which was about to come would be revealed.
• Ephesians 2:14So he is our peace. In his body he has made Jewish and non-Jewish people one by breaking down the wall of hostility that kept them apart.
• Colossians 2:17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body ⌞that casts the shadow⌟ belongs to Christ.
• Hebrews 10:1Moses’ Teachings with their yearly cycle of sacrifices are only a shadow of the good things in the future. They aren’t an exact likeness of those things. They can never make those who worship perfect.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 3:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13And not as Moses - The splendor of Moses' countenance was so great that the Israelites could not bear to look upon his face, and therefore he was obliged to veil his face: this, it appears, he did typically, to represent the types and shadows by which the whole dispensation of which he was the minister was covered. So that the Israelites could not steadfastly look - could not then have the full view or discernment of that in which the Mosaic dispensation…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13And not as Moses - Our conduct is not like that of Moses. We make no attempt to conceal anything in regard to the nature, design, and duration of the gospel. We leave nothing designedly in mystery. Which put a vail over his face - That is, when he came down from Mount Sinai, and when his face shone. Exodus 34:33, “and until Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.” He put off this veil whenever he went to speak with God, but put on…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. 12-15The old covenant, symbolized by the veil worn by Moses, caused fear and did not clear spiritual blindness.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. We use no disguise, "as Moses put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel might not look steadfastly upon the end of that which was to be done away" [Ellicott and others]. The view of Ex 34:30-35, according to the Septuagint is adopted by Paul, that Moses in going in to speak to God removed the veil till he came out and had spoken to the people; and then when he had done speaking, he put on the veil that they might not look on the end, or…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 3:13

• Countenance
• Law
• Moses
• Mysteries
• Preaching
• Quotations and Allusions
• Veil

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Moses
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Plainness
• Sufficiency
• Untaken
• Veil, vail

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