Meaning of VEIL

In addition to the allusions to the veils worn by women (a widespread custom in the East) and the biblical instruction for women to cover their heads in prayer, the veil is used symbolically in the Scriptures of that which hides the glory of God.

This is literally how Moses came down from the mountain; His face shone because of the glory he had seen, and the people could not bear this splendor; Therefore, he covered his face with a veil.

This veil remains over the hearts of Jews today as they read the Law (Ex. 34:33-35; cf. 2 Cor. 3:15). They cannot see the glory of which the Law gave the type; but in due time God will remove the veil, and they will see Christ under the shadows of the Law, and then they will receive Him whom they now reject.

In contrast to that ministration, in which the glory had to be veiled because of Israel's inability to behold it, Christians can now behold the glory of the Lord, whose face is unveiled, and be changed into the same image of glory in glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:13-18).