2 Corinthians 3:13

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} not {G3756} as {G2509} Moses {G3475}, which put {G5087} a vail {G2571} over {G1909} his {G1438} face {G4383}, that {G4314} the children {G5207} of Israel {G2474} could {G816} not {G3361} stedfastly look {G816} to {G1519} the end {G5056} of that which is abolished {G2673}:

Complete Jewish Bible

unlike Moshe, who put a veil over his face, so that the people of Isra’el would not see the fading brightness come to an end.

Berean Standard Bible

We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.

American Standard Version

andarenot as Moses, whoput a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on the end of that which was passing away:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 2 Corinthians 3:13, the Apostle Paul contrasts the temporary glory of the Old Covenant, as symbolized by Moses' veiled face, with the enduring glory of the New Covenant in Christ. Moses veiled his face not merely to shield the Israelites from the fading brilliance, but to prevent them from perceiving the transient nature of the Law itself, which was destined to be superseded and abolished by a superior, spiritual reality. This verse highlights the spiritual blindness that characterized the Old Covenant and sets the stage for Paul's exposition on the unveiled access to God's glory available through faith in Christ.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal point in Paul's extended argument in 2 Corinthians 3, where he meticulously contrasts the "ministry of death" (the Old Covenant, or Law) with the "ministry of the Spirit" (the New Covenant). Paul begins by asserting the Corinthians themselves are a "letter of Christ" written by the Spirit, not on stone tablets but on human hearts, thereby establishing the superiority of the Spirit's ministry over that of the Law ([2 Corinthians 3:3](/2_corinthians/3-3 "2 Corinthians 3:3 - The Letter of Christ")). He then references the historical account in [Exodus 34](/exodus/34 "Exodus 34 - Moses' Shining Face"), where Moses' face shone with divine glory after speaking with God, a glory so intense that the Israelites could not look directly at it ([2 Corinthians 3:7](/2_corinthians/3-7 "2 Corinthians 3:7 - The Glory of the Old Covenant")). Paul's central point is that if a ministry leading to condemnation had such glory, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness and the Spirit ([2 Corinthians 3:8-9](/2_corinthians/3-8-9 "2 Corinthians 3:8-9 - The Superiority of the New Covenant"))? Verse 13 then directly explains *why* Moses put on the veil, revealing a deeper theological purpose beyond mere physical protection from the light.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, specifically the events described in [Exodus 34:29-35](/exodus/34-29-35 "Exodus 34:29-35 - Moses' Veiled Face"). After receiving the second set of tablets, Moses descended from the mountain with his face radiating the residual glory of God's presence. The Israelites were afraid to approach him, so he put a veil over his face when speaking to them. Culturally, veiling could signify reverence, modesty, or concealment. In this context, Paul reinterprets the veil's purpose, moving beyond the simple historical narrative to draw a profound theological conclusion. The Law, while glorious in its inception, was inherently temporary, a preparatory stage in God's redemptive plan. The veil, therefore, became a symbol of the Law's impermanence and the spiritual inability of the Israelites to grasp its transient nature or look beyond it to the ultimate reality it foreshadowed.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme in this passage, and particularly in [2 Corinthians 3](/2_corinthians/3 "2 Corinthians 3 - The New Covenant"), is the **contrast between the Old and New Covenants**. Paul emphasizes the **fading glory** of the Old Covenant, symbolized by Moses' radiant but diminishing countenance, in stark opposition to the **ever-increasing and permanent glory** of the New Covenant in Christ. This leads to the theme of **spiritual blindness versus spiritual clarity**. Under the Old Covenant, the veil on Moses' face paralleled a spiritual veil over the hearts and minds of the Israelites, preventing them from understanding the temporary nature of the Law and seeing its ultimate fulfillment in Christ ([2 Corinthians 3:14-15](/2_corinthians/3-14-15 "2 Corinthians 3:14-15 - The Veil Over Hearts")). The verse also touches upon the **abolition of the Old Covenant's function** as the primary means of relating to God, not its destruction, but its supersession by the superior New Covenant, which brings **freedom and direct access to God** through the Spirit ([2 Corinthians 3:17-18](/2_corinthians/3-17-18 "2 Corinthians 3:17-18 - Freedom and Transformation")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **vail (Greek, _kályma'_):** From G2571, meaning "a cover, i.e. veil." In this context, it refers to the physical covering Moses placed over his face. Paul uses this physical object as a potent **symbol** of spiritual concealment, representing the inability of the Israelites to perceive the true nature and temporary purpose of the Old Covenant. The veil was not just for protection from the glory, but a barrier to understanding its transient nature.
* **stedfastly look (Greek, _atenízō'_):** From G816, meaning "to gaze intently," "to fix one's eyes upon." This word emphasizes the inability of the children of Israel to "steadfastly look" at Moses' face. It implies a sustained, focused gaze. Their inability was not just due to the brightness but, as Paul argues, because the glory was fading, hinting at the impermanence of the covenant it represented, a truth they could not bear to perceive or understand.
* **abolished (Greek, _katargéō'_):** From G2673, meaning "to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively:--abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void." This is a crucial term. It signifies that the Old Covenant, specifically its function as the primary means of righteousness and access to God, was rendered inoperative or brought to an end, not annihilated. Its purpose was fulfilled and superseded by the New Covenant in Christ, much like a temporary scaffolding is removed once a building is complete.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And not as Moses, [which] put a vail over his face":** Paul draws a direct comparison and contrast with Moses. Unlike Moses, who veiled his face, Paul and the ministers of the New Covenant preach with unveiled faces. The historical act of Moses veiling his face (as recorded in [Exodus 34:33](/exodus/34-33 "Exodus 34:33 - Moses Veils His Face")) is reinterpreted by Paul to serve a deeper theological purpose.
* **"that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look":** This clause explains the *purpose* of the veil from Paul's perspective. It was not merely to protect their eyes from the dazzling glory, but to prevent them from a sustained, penetrating gaze. The implication is that such a gaze would have revealed a truth they were not ready to accept or comprehend.
* **"to the end of that which is abolished":** This is the core theological revelation. The "end" (Greek: _télos_) here refers not just to the cessation but to the *purpose* or *goal* of the Law. The veil prevented the Israelites from seeing that the glory of the Old Covenant was temporary and that the covenant itself was destined to be "abolished" or rendered inoperative. This "abolition" refers to the Law's function as the primary means of righteousness and access to God, which was fulfilled and superseded by Christ. Had they seen its "end," they might have understood its provisional nature and looked forward to the coming Messiah.

#### Literary Devices
Paul masterfully employs several literary devices in this verse. **Symbolism** is paramount, with the "vail" serving as a multifaceted symbol. Historically, it was a physical covering; theologically, it represents the spiritual blindness of Israel to the temporary nature of the Old Covenant and its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The veil also symbolizes the obscured glory of the Law, which, though glorious, was fading. There is a strong element of **Contrast** throughout 2 Corinthians 3, and this verse specifically contrasts Moses' veiled face with the unveiled faces of New Covenant believers ([2 Corinthians 3:18](/2_corinthians/3-18 "2 Corinthians 3:18 - Unveiled Glory")). This contrast highlights the difference between the Law's temporary, external glory and the Spirit's enduring, internal transformation. Furthermore, Paul uses **Metaphor** when describing the "end of that which is abolished." The Law is metaphorically treated as something with a lifespan or a purpose that concludes, emphasizing its provisional nature in God's redemptive plan.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The theological significance of 2 Corinthians 3:13 is profound, underscoring the fundamental shift from the Old Covenant to the New. The veil on Moses' face serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual blindness that prevented Israel from grasping the transient nature of the Law and its ultimate purpose to lead to Christ. This blindness was not merely an intellectual failure but a spiritual inability to perceive God's unfolding redemptive plan. The Law, while glorious and divinely given, was never intended to be the final word; it was a temporary administration that pointed forward to a greater reality. Its glory, though real, was always a fading glory, designed to be superseded by the infinitely more glorious and permanent New Covenant, which offers direct, unveiled access to God through the Spirit. This transition highlights God's progressive revelation, moving from shadows and types to the full reality found in Jesus Christ.

* [Romans 10:4](/romans/10-4 "Romans 10:4 - Christ, the End of the Law")
* [Hebrews 8:13](/hebrews/8-13 "Hebrews 8:13 - The New Covenant Makes the First Obsolete")
* [Galatians 3:24-25](/galatians/3-24-25 "Galatians 3:24-25 - The Law as a Guardian Leading to Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
2 Corinthians 3:13 calls believers to a profound appreciation for the New Covenant and the freedom it offers. Unlike the Israelites, who lived under a veiled understanding of God's purposes, we are privileged to live with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord. This means we have direct access to God, not through rituals or a temporary system, but through a living relationship with Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This verse encourages us to shed any lingering tendencies to rely on external laws or human efforts for righteousness, recognizing that Christ has fulfilled and superseded the Old Covenant. Our focus should be on growing in an intimate, transformative relationship with God, allowing the Spirit to progressively transform us into the image of Christ, from one degree of glory to another. It reminds us that true spiritual insight comes not from clinging to the past, but from embracing the full revelation of God's grace in the present.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might we, like the Israelites, inadvertently put a "veil" over our understanding of God's grace, perhaps by clinging to legalistic practices or outdated traditions?**
* **How does understanding the "abolition" of the Old Covenant's function free us to live more fully in the grace and power of the New Covenant?**
* **What does it mean practically to "stedfastly look" to the end of something that is abolished, and how can we apply this principle to areas of our lives that need to be superseded by Christ's truth?**

### FAQ

**What does Paul mean by "the end of that which is abolished" in relation to Moses' veil?**

Answer: Paul's interpretation of Moses' veil goes beyond the simple historical fact of protecting the Israelites from the fading glory. He argues that Moses veiled his face so that the children of Israel could not "stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished." The "end" (Greek: _télos_) here signifies not just a termination, but the *purpose* or *goal* of the Old Covenant. The "abolished" (Greek: _katargéō_) refers to the Old Covenant's function as the primary means of righteousness and access to God being rendered inoperative or brought to an end, not destroyed. Paul is saying that the veil prevented the Israelites from understanding that the Law itself was temporary and provisional, designed to lead to Christ. If they had seen its "end" – its purpose and its eventual supersession – they might have looked beyond it to the coming Messiah. This spiritual blindness, symbolized by the veil, continued until Christ came ([2 Corinthians 3:14](/2_corinthians/3-14 "2 Corinthians 3:14 - The Veil Remains")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Corinthians 3:13 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the very "end" and purpose of the Law. The veil that obscured the fading glory of the Old Covenant and prevented Israel from seeing its temporary nature is definitively removed in Christ. As Paul declares, "Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away" ([2 Corinthians 3:16](/2_corinthians/3-16 "2 Corinthians 3:16 - The Veil Removed in Christ")). Christ is the reality to which the Law pointed, the perfect sacrifice that fulfills its demands, and the one who inaugurates the New Covenant of grace and Spirit. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has abolished the Old Covenant's function as a system of condemnation and brought in a ministry of righteousness that leads to life ([Romans 8:3-4](/romans/8-3-4 "Romans 8:3-4 - Christ Fulfills the Law")). Now, believers, with unveiled faces, can behold the glory of the Lord and are transformed into His image by the Spirit ([2 Corinthians 3:18](/2_corinthians/3-18 "2 Corinthians 3:18 - Transformed by Beholding Glory")). Christ is the one who brings true freedom from the letter of the law, empowering us to live in the Spirit, where "the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" ([2 Corinthians 3:17](/2_corinthians/3-17 "2 Corinthians 3:17 - The Spirit Brings Liberty")). He is the true light that dispels all shadows and veils, granting us full, unhindered access to the Father ([John 1:9](/john/1-9 "John 1:9 - The True Light")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 34:33

And [till] Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.

Exodus 34:35

And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Hebrews 10:1

¶ For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Hebrews 10:9

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Ephesians 2:14

¶ For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us];

Ephesians 2:15

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;

2 Corinthians 3:7

But if the ministration of death, written [and] engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which [glory] was to be done away: