Veil (1)
Types of Veils in the Old Testament
The Bible uses several different Hebrew words that are translated as "veil," each referring to a distinct type of covering. The most notable is the covering Moses wore over his face after encountering God on Mount Sinai. When Moses came down from the mountain, his face shone with a radiant glory that frightened the Israelites, so he placed a covering over his face when speaking with the people (Exodus 34:33-35). This particular veil became a powerful symbol that Paul later drew upon in his letters.
Another type of covering appears in the story of Rebekah, who veiled herself when she first saw Isaac, conforming to the custom of brides covering themselves before their husbands (Genesis 24:65). Tamar also used a veil to disguise herself when she sat by the road to Enaim, and the text suggests that such coverings were associated with both bridal modesty and, paradoxically, with women of questionable reputation (Genesis 38:14-19).
The Veil as Bridal Custom
The practice of bridal veiling has deep roots in ancient Near Eastern culture. When Rebekah saw Isaac approaching, she took her large wrap and covered herself as a sign of modesty and respect for her future husband (Genesis 24:65). This was not a small face veil but a substantial garment that could envelop the body. The bridal veil represented the transition from one household to another and signified the bride's purity and submission to the marriage covenant.
Moses and the Veil of Glory
The most theologically significant veil in the Old Testament is the one Moses wore after his encounters with God. After receiving the law on Mount Sinai, Moses' face radiated with divine glory, a visible sign of his intimate communion with the Lord. The Israelites were afraid to approach him, so Moses covered his face with a veil (Exodus 34:33-35). He would remove it when entering the Lord's presence and replace it when speaking to the people. This covering served both to protect the people from the overwhelming brightness and to conceal the fading of the glory.
Paul's Interpretation of the Veil
The apostle Paul gave the veil of Moses profound theological significance in his second letter to the Corinthians. Paul argued that Moses placed the veil over his face so the Israelites could not see the glory fading away, symbolizing the temporary nature of the old covenant (2 Corinthians 3:13-16). Paul then extended the metaphor, declaring that a spiritual veil remains over the hearts of those who read the old covenant without recognizing Christ. But when anyone turns to the Lord, that veil is removed, and they behold God's glory with unveiled faces (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Head Coverings in the New Testament
In the New Testament, Paul addressed the practice of head coverings in the context of worship at Corinth. He instructed that women should cover their heads when praying or prophesying, while men should not (1 Corinthians 11:5-6). Among both Greeks and Romans, respectable women typically wore a veil or head covering in public, and appearing without one was considered disgraceful. Paul's home city of Tarsus was especially noted for its strict observance of this custom. Paul grounded his teaching not merely in cultural norms but in theological principles about the relationship between men and women in the order of creation.
The Veil in Ancient Israelite Life
Contrary to popular assumption, the regular use of a face veil was not a standard practice among Hebrew women. The modern custom of veiling in the Middle East largely stems from Islamic influence rather than ancient Israelite tradition. In the Song of Solomon, references to what may be a veil appear to describe a light ornamental piece rather than a full face covering (Song of Solomon 4:1, 3). The various garments translated as "veil" in English Bibles were often mantles or wraps that could serve multiple purposes, including carrying grain (Ruth 3:15) or providing warmth.
Biblical Context
Veils appear throughout Scripture in diverse contexts. In Genesis, they feature in the stories of Rebekah and Tamar. In Exodus, the veil of Moses becomes central to the covenant narrative at Sinai. The Song of Solomon references ornamental veils. Isaiah uses veiling imagery both literally and figuratively. In the New Testament, Paul reinterprets Moses' veil in 2 Corinthians 3 as a symbol of spiritual blindness, and addresses head coverings in worship in 1 Corinthians 11.
Theological Significance
The veil carries rich theological meaning in Scripture. Moses' veil symbolizes the gap between God's glory and human inability to bear it, pointing to the temporary nature of the old covenant. Paul's teaching transforms the physical veil into a metaphor for spiritual understanding: the veil over human hearts is removed only through Christ, granting believers direct access to God's glory. The veil of the temple, torn at Christ's death (Matthew 27:51), completes this theme by showing that all barriers between God and humanity have been removed through the cross.
Historical Background
In the ancient Near East, veiling customs varied widely across cultures and periods. Egyptian women generally did not veil, while Assyrian laws contained detailed regulations about which women could and could not wear veils. Among Greeks and Romans in the New Testament era, respectable women wore head coverings in public. The Roman writer Plutarch noted this custom, and the city of Tarsus, Paul's hometown, was known for particularly strict expectations about female veiling. Archaeological evidence from Palmyra and other ancient sites shows diverse veiling practices across the region.