What Does 2 Corinthians 3:14 Mean?
But their thoughts were hardened, for until today the same covering remains in the reading of the old covenant, not being uncovered, which is made idle in the Anointed One.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.THE KEY
The verse’s blindness carries the texture of a callus: the mind’s seeing is hardened beneath a veil that can be lifted.
THE MEANING
A hardened mind can read the covenant with a covering still in place. In the Anointed One, that veil is removed, and what was covered comes into view.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A veil over understanding does not mean the covenant is empty or that its meaning is forever sealed.
THE ROOT
ἐπωρώθη
epōrōthē
GROWS FROM
πωρ-
pōr-
Hardness or callus; the verb carries the sense of becoming hardened or dull.
“were hardened” in this verse is epōrōthē. The KJV’s “blinded” carries the texture of hardening: the mind’s perception is callused, not simply short of information. That points to a covering over how the text is received, which the verse says is removed in the Anointed One.
ALSO GROWS
pōros: A hard stone or callus.
πῶρος
This root image gives “blinded” the added sense of hardened perception.
pōrōsis: Hardening or callousness.
πώρωσις
This related noun names the hardened condition that obscures understanding.
κάλυμμα
kalymma
GROWS FROM
καλυπ-
kalyp-
To cover or conceal.
The veil belongs to the same word-family as covering and uncovering. The verse’s movement is from a covering that remains over the reading to its removal in the Anointed One.
ALSO GROWS
kalyptō: To cover or conceal.
καλύπτω
This is the covering action embodied by the veil.
apokalyptō: To uncover or reveal.
ἀποκαλύπτω
This branch names the opening that makes what was covered visible.
THE PATTERN
Understanding scripture opens as the covering over perception is removed.
But when Moses went in before the face of the LORD to speak with him, he took off the veil until he came out. And he came out, and spoke to the children of Israel what he was commanded.Uncover my eyes, that I may gaze upon the wonders from your instruction.Then he threw open their minds, so that they might put the writings together.THE THREAD
But when Moses went in before the face of the LORD to speak with him, he took off the veil until he came out. And he came out, and spoke to the children of Israel what he was commanded.The Greek text of Exodus uses the same noun, κάλυμμα (kalymma), for Moses’ veil as 2 Corinthians uses for the covering over the reading. In Exodus the veil comes off before the LORD; the shared word makes clear that this covering can be removed.
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