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

14But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:16 word by word

ἡνίκα δὲ ἐὰν ἐπιστρέψῃ πρὸς κύριον, περιαιρεῖται τὸ κάλυμμα.Read the interlinear

• 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 when Moses went in before Yhwh to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.
• Deuteronomy 4:30When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to Yhwh thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
• Deuteronomy 30:10If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of Yhwh thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto Yhwh thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
• Lamentations 3:40Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Yhwh.
• Hosea 3:4For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
• Romans 11:25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
• Isaiah 25:7And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
• Isaiah 29:18And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
• Isaiah 54:13And all thy children shall be taught of Yhwh; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
• Jeremiah 31:34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know Yhwh: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Yhwh: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
• John 6:45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto 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