2 Corinthians 3:16
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2 Corinthians 3:16 in other translations
| BSB | But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. |
|---|---|
| WEB | But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. |
| ASV | But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. |
| YLT | and whenever they may turn unto the Lord, the vail is taken away. |
| DARBY | But when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away.) |
| BBE | But when it is turned to the Lord, the veil will be taken away. |
| Webster | Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. |
What does 2 Corinthians 3:16 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 3:14-18
14-18. Parenthetical: Of Christians in general. He resumes the subject of the ministry, 2Co 4:1. minds--Greek, "mental perceptions"; "understandings." blinded--rather, "hardened." The opposite to "looking steadfastly at the end" of the law (2Co 3:13). The veil on Moses' face is further typical of the veil that is on their hearts. untaken away ... which veil--rather, "the same veil ... remaineth untaken away…
Barnes' Notes
When it shall turn to the Lord. When the Jewish people shall be converted. The word "it" here refers undoubtedly to "Israel" in 2Cor 3:13; and the sense is, that their blindness is not always to remain; there is to be a period when they shall turn to God, and shall understand his promises, and become acquainted with the true nature of their own religion. This subject the apostle has discussed at much greater length in the eleventh chapter of the epistle to the Romans. See Notes on that chapter.
The vail shall be taken away. They shall then understand the true meaning of the prophecies, and the true nature of their own institutions. They shall see that they refer to the Lord Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, and the true Messiah. The genuine sense of their sacred oracles shall break upon their view with full and irresistible light. There may be an allusion in the language here to the declaration in Isa 25:7: "And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations." This verse teaches,
(1.) that the time will come when the Jews shall be converted to Christianity; expressed here by their turning unto the Lord, that is, the Lord Jesus. Acts 1:24.
(2.) It seems to be implied that their conversion will be a conversion of the people at large; a conversion that shall be nearly simultaneous; a conversion en masse. Such a conversion we have reason to anticipate of the Jewish nation.
(3.) The effect of this will be to make them acquainted with the true sense of their own Scriptures, and the light and beauty of the sayings of their own prophets. Now they are in deep darkness on the subject; then they will see how entirely they meet and harmonize in the Lord Jesus.
(4.) The true and only way of having a correct and full meaning of the Bible is by turning unto God. Love to him, and a disposition to do his will, is the best means of interpreting the Bible.
(b) "Taken away" Isa 25:7
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 3:12-18
It is the duty of the ministers of the gospel to use great plainness, or clearness, of speech. The Old Testament believers had only cloudy and passing glimpses of that glorious Saviour, and unbelievers looked no further than to the outward institution. But the great precepts of the gospel, believe, love, obey, are truths stated as clearly as possible. And the whole doctrine of Christ crucified, is made as plain as…
2 Corinthians 3:16 in the original Greek
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for 2 Corinthians 3:16
- Exodus 34:34
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.
- Isaiah 25:7
And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
- Isaiah 29:18
And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
- John 6:45-46
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
- Romans 11:23
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
- Jeremiah 31:34
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
- Romans 11:25-27
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. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
- Lamentations 3:40
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 4:30
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
- Deuteronomy 30:10
If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
- Isaiah 54:13
And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
- Hosea 3:4-5
For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- 2 Corinthians 3:15
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
- 2 Corinthians 3:16
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
- 2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Corinthians 3:16 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Mas cuando se convirtieren al Señor, el velo se quitará. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | mais quand il se tournera vers le Seigneur, le voile sera ôté.) |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wenn es aber zum Herrn umkehren wird, so wird die Decke weggenommen. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Cum autem conversus fuerit ad Dominum, auferetur velamen. |