2 Corinthians 3:16

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Context of 2 Corinthians 3:16

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. But whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17This Lord is the Spirit. Wherever the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. 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.

2 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 34:34But whenever Moses went into the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he took off the veil until he came out. Whenever he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,
• Deuteronomy 4:30When you’re in distress and all these things happen to you, then you will finally come back to the Lord your God and obey him.
• Deuteronomy 30:10He will do this if you obey him and follow his commands and laws that are written in this Book of Teachings and return to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
• Lamentations 3:40Let us look closely at our ways and examine them and then return to the Lord.
• Hosea 3:4In the same way, the Israelites will wait a long time without kings or officials, without sacrifices or sacred stones, and without ephods or family idols.
• Romans 11:25Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery so that you won’t become arrogant. The minds of some Israelites have become closed until all of God’s non-Jewish people are included.
• Isaiah 25:7On this mountain he will remove the veil of grief covering all people and the mask covering all nations.
• Isaiah 29:18When that day comes, the deaf will hear the words written in the book. The blind will see out of their gloom and darkness.
• Isaiah 54:13All your children will be taught by the Lord, and your children will have unlimited peace.
• Jeremiah 31:34No longer will each person teach his neighbors or his relatives by saying, ‘Know the Lord.’ All of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,” declares the Lord, “because I will forgive their wickedness and I will no longer hold their sins against them.”
• John 6:45The prophets wrote, ‘God will teach everyone.’ Those who do what they have learned from the Father come 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

• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Mysteries
• Veil

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Moses
• Plainness
• Sufficiency
• Untaken
• Conversion
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Covenant, the New
• Exodus, the Book of
• Galatians, Epistle to the

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