2 Corinthians 3:15 Meaning: The Veil on the Heart
But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart.
but till to-day, when Moses is read, a vail upon their heart doth lie,
But unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil lies upon their heart.
Meaning in one sentence
Why does a veil cover the heart when reading Moses? Paul explains the Old Testament is misunderstood without Christ, who alone removes the veil.
Context
Paul is writing to a church that knew the Old Testament well. In this chapter, he compares the old covenant given through Moses with the new covenant of the Spirit. He recalls how Moses put a veil over his face so the Israelites would not see the fading glory (Exodus 34). Now Paul applies that image to his own day. Even when the books of Moses are read in synagogues, a veil remains that prevents readers from seeing the true meaning. But Paul is not talking about a cloth veil. He says it lies on their heart. The good news comes in the next verse: when someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Key Words
Three words carry the weight of this verse. The first is veil (kalumma in Greek). It means a covering that hides what is underneath. In the Old Testament, the veil on Moses' face kept Israel from seeing glory that was fading. Now the veil keeps readers from seeing Christ in the Scriptures. The second word is heart (kardia). In the Bible, the heart is not just feelings, it is the whole inner self: mind, will, understanding. So the veil is not over the eyes but over the deepest part of a person. The third word is lies (keitai). It pictures something placed down that stays there. This is not a temporary problem. It is a settled condition. That is why it takes a work of God to remove it. Only when we turn to the Lord does the veil lift, and we begin to see Him in every page of Scripture.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse with different emphases. Protestant commentators like Barnes see it as a description of the Jewish people in Paul's day and still now, a blindness that keeps them from the true meaning of their own Scriptures. The Cambridge Bible notes that this is moral blindness, not intellectual: it is the will that resists, not the mind that cannot grasp. Gill points to ignorance of Christ and preferring human traditions over the law itself. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown suggests a possible allusion to the prayer shawl (Tallith) worn in synagogues, symbolizing a spiritual veil over the heart. All these readings agree that the problem lies in the heart of the reader, not in the text of Moses, and the solution is found in turning to Christ.
A common misunderstanding
Some people think Paul is saying the Old Testament itself is veiled or inferior, that we can ignore it. In fact, the veil is on the heart of the reader, not on the Scripture. Paul himself quotes Moses often and calls the law holy. The problem is that without Christ, the reader misses the point. When one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed, and the Old Testament opens up to show Jesus everywhere.
Living This Out
This week, before you open your Bible, especially when reading the Old Testament, pause and pray: "Lord, remove any veil from my heart. Help me see You in these words." The veil is taken away when we turn to Christ. Make that turning a daily habit. Even in familiar passages, ask the Spirit to show you the glory of Jesus. He is the key that unlocks every page.
Main takeaway: The veil over our hearts lifts only when we turn to the Lord, who opens our eyes to see His glory in all of Scripture.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Sometimes when we read the Bible, it is hard to understand. That is like having a veil over our hearts. But when we ask Jesus to help us, He takes the veil away and shows us what He is like.
For ages 9, 12
Paul uses a picture of a veil to describe what happens when people read the Old Testament without realizing it points to Jesus. Their hearts are covered, so they miss the main point. For us, this is a reminder to always pray before we read the Bible, asking God to open our hearts. When we turn our hearts to Jesus, He removes the veil and helps us understand how all Scripture speaks of Him.
Questions People Ask
What does Paul mean by 'when Moses is read'?
Paul refers to the public reading of the Law of Moses in Jewish synagogues every Sabbath. It was a regular practice in worship. He is saying that even as the Scriptures are read aloud, the hearers miss their true meaning because of a spiritual blindness on their hearts.
How is the veil removed?
According to verse 16, when someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. The Lord here is Christ, and the removal happens by the Spirit. It is not something we achieve by our own effort, but a gift of grace through faith in Jesus.
Does this mean the Old Testament is hard to understand?
The Old Testament can be challenging, but Paul's point is not about intellectual difficulty. The veil is a spiritual blindness that prevents people from seeing Christ as the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets. With the Spirit's help, the Old Testament becomes clear and points to Jesus.
Is the veil still present for people today?
Paul's statement originally referred to unbelieving Jews in his day, but the principle applies to anyone who reads Scripture without turning to Christ. For Christians who have turned to the Lord, the veil is removed, and they see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
What does 'heart' mean in this verse?
In the Bible, the heart includes the mind, will, and emotions. It is the core of a person. So the veil is not just over the intellect but over the whole inner self, affecting both understanding and response to God's Word.
For pastors & researchers
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