5195 veil

Generally, an item of female dress worn by an unmarried woman in the presence of her future husband and also by a prostitute. Head-coverings were worn by men and women as a sign of mourning. The term is also used metaphorically to indicate a lack of understanding of God’s truth. Scripture uses the imagery of “removing a veil” to refer to God’s final self-revelation at the end of the age, or the making known of God’s will and nature through Jesus Christ or other means.

The veil as an item of female dress

Worn by women in general SS 4:1 The veil covered the lower part of the face, so focusing attention on the eyes and temples. See also Ge 24:65 Rebekah veils herself in the presence of her future husband, Isaac; SS 4:3; SS 6:7

Worn by prostitutes Ge 38:14-15 See also SS 1:7

Worn by female sorcerers Eze 13:18,21

Worn as a sign of wealth and status Isa 3:19; Isa 47:2 Babylon’s veil will be removed as a mark of her humiliation.

Veils worn as a sign of grief

Faces covered in sorrow and dismay 2Sa 15:30 See also Lev 13:45 A veil worn by the ceremonially unclean signifies grief at separation from God; Jer 14:4

Veils customarily worn by mourners 2Sa 19:4 See also Eze 24:17,22

Faces covered as a sign of disgrace Est 6:12; Est 7:8; Mic 3:7

Head-coverings in worship

1Co 11:4 A man’s uncovered head in worship signifies submission to his spiritual head, i.e., Jesus Christ; 1Co 11:5-6 A woman’s covered head signifies proper submission to her husband. See also 1Co 11:7,13

God’s sight of humanity is not veiled

The wicked foolishly boast that God does not see them Job 22:12-14 See also Ps 10:11; Ps 94:7; Isa 29:15

God’s people complain that God does not see their suffering Ps 44:24 See also Job 13:24; Ps 69:17; Ps 88:14

God sees all humanity Job 28:24 See also Ge 16:13; Job 34:21; Ps 33:13; Ps 139:1-3

People’s deeds will be made known 1Co 4:5 See also Job 28:11; Isa 26:21; Mt 10:26 pp Lk 12:2; 1Co 3:13

The truth about God is sometimes veiled

The veil worn by Moses 2Co 3:13 After speaking with God, Moses’face was radiant; the veil, possibly a loose part of his clothing pulled over his face, prevented the Israelites from seeing that the radiance did not last. See also Ex 34:29-35

Lack of understanding of God’s truth 2Co 3:14-15 See also Isa 44:18; La 3:65; 1Co 2:14; 2Co 4:3; Eph 4:18

The unveiling of God’s truth

God’s hidden truth is revealed to believers 1Co 2:7-10; Col 1:26 See also Isa 64:4; Ro 16:25-26; 2Co 3:16-18; Eph 1:9; Eph 3:3-6; 2Ti 1:10; Tit 1:2-3

God’s self-revelation at the end of the age Da 12:2-4 See also Isa 25:7-8; Ro 8:19; 1Jn 3:2

See also