κάλυμμα

a veil

Definition

The word κάλυμμα refers to a covering or veil, specifically a cloth used to conceal the head or face. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively by Paul in 2 Corinthians 3 to describe the veil Moses placed over his face after speaking with God (Exodus 34:33-35). This veil served to hide the fading glory of the old covenant from the Israelites. Paul then uses the term metaphorically to describe a spiritual blindness or covering that prevents people from understanding the truth of the old covenant scriptures and the glory of Christ.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only in 2 Corinthians 3:13-16, where it is used four times in a concentrated theological argument. Paul employs it in two distinct but related senses: first, literally, for the physical veil Moses wore (2 Corinthians 3:13), and second, metaphorically, for the spiritual veil that lies over the hearts and minds of those who read the old covenant without faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:14-15). The pattern is one of moving from a historical, literal object to a present, spiritual condition.

Etymology

Derived from the verb καλύπτω (kalyptō, G2572), meaning 'to cover, hide, or conceal.' The noun form κάλυμμα specifically denotes the instrument or result of that covering—a veil, cloak, or covering. It is related to other Greek words for covering, such as περικάλυμμα (perikalymma, a wrapping).

Semantic Range

This word is central to Paul's contrast between the old and new covenants in 2 Corinthians 3. The 'veil' symbolizes the temporary, fading nature of the Mosaic covenant's glory and the inability of the law to bring full revelation or righteousness. The removal of the veil 'in Christ' (2 Corinthians 3:14) signifies the superior, permanent, and transformative glory of the new covenant through the Spirit. Understanding this metaphor enriches reading by highlighting the theme of revelation through Christ versus concealment under the law.

In the ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish world, veils were common for women as a sign of modesty, but Paul's reference is specifically to the unique veil of Moses described in Exodus. This was not a typical cultural garment but a specific, divinely-ordained artifact with a theological purpose. The cultural understanding was that a veil signified separation, hiddenness, and the inaccessibility of glory, which Paul directly applies to the experience of Israel under the law.

καταπέτασμα (katapetasma, G2665) — Distinction: This word specifically refers to a large, heavy curtain or veil, like the temple veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Matthew 27:51), whereas κάλυμμα is a smaller, personal face-covering.

Word Details

Scripture References