apparently from an unused root meaning to cover; a veil; vail.
Transliteration:maçveh
Pronunciation:mas-veh'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H4533}}` (מַסְוֶה, *maçveh*) refers to a "veil" or "covering." Its etymological root is understood to be an unused verb meaning "to cover," which aligns perfectly with its primary function. The semantic range is quite narrow, focusing on a physical covering, specifically one worn over the face, designed to obscure or conceal. This object serves to separate, protect, or hide from direct view, often in the context of sacredness or intense presence.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H4533}}` appears exclusively in the book of Exodus, specifically in chapter 34, where it describes the veil worn by Moses. Following his forty-day communion with Yahweh on Mount Sinai, Moses' face radiated with the divine glory to such an extent that the Israelites were afraid to approach him ([[Exodus 34:29-30]]). To mitigate this overwhelming radiance and allow for communication, Moses placed a veil over his face when he spoke to the people ([[Exodus 34:33]]). He would remove the veil, however, when he re-entered the presence of the Lord to receive further commands ([[Exodus 34:34]]). The narrative explicitly states that the Israelites saw the "skin of Moses' face was shining" and that he would put the veil back on until he went in again to speak with God ([[Exodus 34:35]]). This contextual usage highlights the veil's role as a mediator of divine glory, protecting the people from its intensity while simultaneously allowing Moses to function as God's representative. It underscores the profound separation between the holy God and the people, even through their mediator.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several Hebrew words share conceptual proximity to `{{H4533}}` through their association with covering or concealment. `{{H3682}}` (כָּסָה, *kâsâh*), a verb meaning "to cover" or "to conceal," is a general term for covering and shares the underlying etymological sense. Another significant term is `{{H6597}}` (פָּרֹכֶת, *pārôkheth*), which refers specifically to the "veil" or "curtain" that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle and Temple ([[Exodus 26:31-33]]). While `{{H6597}}` denotes a structural barrier within the sanctuary, `{{H4533}}` describes a personal covering. Both, however, symbolize separation from the divine presence. In the New Testament, the Greek word `{{G2571}}` (κάλυμμα, *kalymma*) is used by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 3 to directly reference and interpret the veil of Moses, demonstrating a profound theological continuity and reinterpretation of this Old Testament concept. Concepts such as divine glory, revelation, mediation, and the human capacity (or incapacity) to behold the divine are inextricably linked to the meaning and function of *maçveh*.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4533}}` is profound, particularly as reinterpreted in the New Testament.
1. **Mediated Glory of the Old Covenant:** The veil on Moses' face symbolizes the mediated and partial nature of the revelation under the Old Covenant. The glory, though real, was too intense for the people to bear directly and, moreover, was a glory that was "fading away" ([[2 Corinthians 3:7, 11, 13]]). This suggests the transient nature of the Mosaic dispensation compared to the enduring glory of Christ.
2. **Spiritual Blindness:** Paul's exposition in 2 Corinthians 3 transforms the physical veil into a powerful metaphor for spiritual blindness. He argues that the same "veil" (`{{G2571}}`) remains over the hearts of those in Israel when the Old Covenant is read, preventing them from understanding its true meaning and seeing Christ as its fulfillment ([[2 Corinthians 3:14-15]]). This veil represents a hardening of perception, an inability to grasp the spiritual reality behind the Law.
3. **Removal of the Veil in Christ:** The ultimate theological significance lies in the removal of this veil. Paul declares that "when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed" ([[2 Corinthians 3:16]]). Through faith in Christ, the spiritual blindness is lifted, allowing believers to behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces and be transformed into His image by the Spirit ([[2 Corinthians 3:18]]). This signifies the superior, unveiled, and transforming glory of the New Covenant. The veil thus serves as a stark contrast between the limited access and fading glory of the Law and the open access and ever-increasing glory found in Christ.
### Summary
`{{H4533}}` (מַסְוֶה, *maçveh*) denotes a "veil" or "covering," primarily identified with the veil Moses wore over his face after encountering God's glory on Mount Sinai. In Exodus 34, this veil functioned as a physical mediator, protecting the Israelites from the overwhelming, albeit fading, divine radiance, and allowing Moses to interact with them. Theologically, the veil profoundly represents the mediated and transient nature of the Old Covenant's glory. Crucially, the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 3 reinterprets this physical veil as a metaphor for the spiritual blindness that prevents many from understanding the Old Covenant's true meaning and perceiving Christ as its fulfillment. The removal of this veil through conversion to Christ signifies spiritual illumination, direct access to God's glory, and transformative sanctification under the New Covenant.
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