Devine Scripture

2 Corinthians 3:13

What does 2 Corinthians 3:13 mean?

A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 3:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 2 Corinthians 3:13 means

Paul contrasts his unveiled boldness with Moses, who wore a veil so the children of Israel would not gaze at the outcome of what was fading. The veil both shielded them from the radiance and signaled that the old covenant’s glory was not permanent. Paul’s point is not to fault Moses but to show the difference in ministries. The old required a covering; the new, grounded in Christ’s abiding glory, does not. The apostle’s openness declares that the end—culmination—of the former order has arrived in the new. What once was temporary has reached its goal, and so the message can be declared plainly, without concealment.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And are not like Moses, who put a veil on his face, so that the children of Israel might not see clearly to the end of the present order of things:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and <FI>are<Fi> not as Moses, who was putting a vail upon his own face, for the sons of Israel not stedfastly to look to the end of that which is being made useless,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And not as Moses put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel might not steadfastly look on the face of that which is made void.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and not according as Moses put a veil on his own face, so that the children of Israel should not fix their eyes on the end of that annulled.

Context

Verse 13 deepens the boldness claim by invoking the image of Moses’ veil from Exodus. This sets up an application to Israel’s current condition in verses 14–15: a veil remains over minds and hearts when Moses is read apart from Christ. Paul will then provide the gospel solution in verse 16—turning to the Lord removes the veil—and develop the result of such unveiling in terms of liberty (v. 17) and transformation (v. 18).

v.12Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,

v.13This passage

v.14but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ephesians 2:14

    For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,

  • Hebrews 10:1

    For the law having a shadow of the goodthingsto come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.

  • Colossians 2:17

    which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:7

    But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away:

  • Romans 10:4

    For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.

  • Exodus 34:33

    And when Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.

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