2 Corinthians 3:16

Authorized King James Version

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Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Original Language Analysis

ἡνίκα when G2259
ἡνίκα when
Strong's: G2259
Word #: 1 of 9
at which time
δ' Nevertheless G1161
δ' Nevertheless
Strong's: G1161
Word #: 2 of 9
but, and, etc
ἄν it G302
ἄν it
Strong's: G302
Word #: 3 of 9
whatsoever
ἐπιστρέψῃ shall turn G1994
ἐπιστρέψῃ shall turn
Strong's: G1994
Word #: 4 of 9
to revert (literally, figuratively or morally)
πρὸς to G4314
πρὸς to
Strong's: G4314
Word #: 5 of 9
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
κύριον the Lord G2962
κύριον the Lord
Strong's: G2962
Word #: 6 of 9
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
περιαιρεῖται shall be taken away G4014
περιαιρεῖται shall be taken away
Strong's: G4014
Word #: 7 of 9
to remove all around, i.e., unveil, cast off (anchor); figuratively, to expiate
τὸ G3588
τὸ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 8 of 9
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κάλυμμα the vail G2571
κάλυμμα the vail
Strong's: G2571
Word #: 9 of 9
a cover, i.e., veil

Cross References

Exodus 34:34But 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 25:7And 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 29:18And 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.Jeremiah 31:34And 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 11:23And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.Lamentations 3:40Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.Isaiah 54:13And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.Deuteronomy 30:10If 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.Deuteronomy 4:30When 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;

Analysis & Commentary

Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Paul offers hope: the veil is not permanent. When it shall turn (Greek hēnika epistrepsē, ἡνίκα ἐπιστρέψῃ) uses the verb epistrephō (ἐπιστρέφω), meaning "to turn," "return," or "convert"—biblical language for repentance and conversion. The subject it is ambiguous in Greek (no pronoun), possibly referring to Israel collectively, an individual heart, or even Moses symbolically. The ambiguity is intentional: whenever anyone (Jew or Gentile) turns to the Lord (Greek pros Kyrion, πρὸς Κύριον), the vail shall be taken away (Greek periaireitai to kalymma, περιαιρεῖται τὸ κάλυμμα).

Paul alludes to Exodus 34:34: "But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off." Just as Moses removed the veil to enter God's presence, so any person who turns to the Lord (Christ) in repentance has the veil removed, enabling them to perceive spiritual truth. The passive voice shall be taken away indicates divine action—God removes the veil through the Spirit's work. Human turning is met with divine unveiling.

Historical Context

Paul's emphasis on turning "to the Lord" deliberately evokes the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), Israel's central confession, while identifying "the Lord" as Christ (see verse 17). This was central to early Christian apologetics: Jesus is Yahweh incarnate, the God of Israel. Romans 10:9-13 makes this explicit: confessing "Jesus is Lord" fulfills Joel's prophecy that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Joel 2:32). Turning to Christ is turning to Yahweh, and this turning results in the veil's removal—spiritual sight, understanding, transformation.

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