2 Corinthians 3:14 Meaning and Explanation
“But 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul's image of a veil addresses a serious question: why can the same sacred writings be heard while their central movement remains obscured? His words call for reverence toward Moses and honesty about the need for divine illumination. The passage also gives hope. The veil does not have the final word, because turning to the Lord brings removal and freedom.
Paul explains that a veil still hinders understanding when Moses is read apart from Christ. In Christ, the veil is removed, opening the Scriptures toward the Lord's saving glory.
The Context of 2 Corinthians 3:14
Verses 7 through 13 recall Moses' radiant face after receiving the law and the veil he placed over it. Paul uses that event to contrast a ministry associated with fading glory and the surpassing, lasting glory of the Spirit. Verse 14 moves from Moses' face to the minds of those who hear the old testament read. Verse 15 repeats the image with the heart, and verse 16 promises that the veil is taken away when it turns to the Lord. Verse 18 ends with believers beholding the Lord's glory and being changed by the Spirit.
What Does 2 Corinthians 3:14 Mean?
The opening words, "their minds were blinded," describe an inability to perceive clearly, rather than a lack of access to the writings. Paul then says that the same veil remains in the reading of "the old testament." In this setting, he is speaking especially of Moses and the covenant writings associated with him, as verse 15 makes plain. The veil is "untaken away" where the reading remains separated from Christ. Paul's final clause supplies hope and the decisive point: "which vail is done away in Christ." Christ brings disclosure. Through Him, the Scriptures may be received in their movement toward God's redeeming purpose.
Paul's argument honors the real glory of Moses' ministry. Earlier verses say that what was written and engraved on stones came with glory, and they call Israel's covenant history to mind. The difficulty lies in a veiled apprehension of that glory's goal. Moses' veiled face becomes an image for a heart and mind that cannot see where the scriptural witness leads. Paul does not treat the old testament as worthless or shameful. He reads its account of Moses closely and draws theological meaning from it. Its reading requires the Lord's light, so that God's covenant dealings, promises, commands, and glory can be understood in their proper relation to Christ.
The clause "done away in Christ" links this verse to the chapter's unveiled vision of the Lord. Christ removes the obstruction that keeps readers from recognizing God's glory and purpose in the Scriptures. This is an earned connection because Paul has already said that his trust is through Christ and will soon speak of turning to the Lord, the Spirit's liberty, and transformation into the Lord's image. The removal of the veil is therefore more than improved information. It concerns a changed way of seeing, made possible by the Lord's gracious action. Such sight leads into reverent attention, freedom, and growing likeness to the glory beheld.
Bible Verses Related to 2 Corinthians 3:14
“But when Moses went in before the LORD 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.”
- Exodus 34:34
“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”
- Luke 24:27
“For 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.”
- Romans 11:25
“Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.”
- 2 Corinthians 3:16
Where 2 Corinthians 3:14 Echoes in Scripture
Luke 24:27 provides a strong canonical echo. After His resurrection, Jesus interprets to disciples the things concerning Himself in Moses and the prophets. That scene displays the kind of unveiling Paul describes: the earlier Scriptures are opened in relation to Christ, and their witness becomes clearer through Him. It also preserves the dignity of those writings, since Jesus receives them as a true witness to God's purpose.
How to Apply 2 Corinthians 3:14 Today
When we read Scripture, this verse encourages patient attention and prayerful humility. Familiar words can remain difficult, and knowledge alone does not guarantee clear spiritual sight. We can read whole passages, notice their setting, ask how they relate to God's work in Christ, and welcome correction where our assumptions have narrowed our hearing. This posture also cultivates gentleness toward others. The Lord who removes the veil is able to lead people gradually into understanding. Our role includes faithful reading, truthful witness, and prayer rather than contempt or pressure.
Reflection & Prayer
What part of Scripture have I treated as distant, confusing, or disconnected from the Lord's work? Read a passage from Moses slowly and ask what it reveals about God's character and purpose. Suggested prayer: "Lord, turn our hearts toward You. Remove what keeps us from seeing Your glory, and teach us to receive Your word with humility and joy."