2 COR 3:15 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

UST Indeed, even now, when someone reads the Law of Moses, it is as if that cloth keeps people from understanding it.

AICNT But to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts;

OEB But, even to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies on their hearts.

WEBBE But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds,

LSV but until today, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart,

FBV Even today, whenever the books of Moses are read, a veil covers their minds.

TCNT But to this day, [fn]when Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts.

3:15 when ¦ whenever CT

T4T Throughout all these years, even until now, when the Israelis read what Moses write, it is as though a veil is covering their minds.

LEB But until today, whenever Moses is read aloud, a veil lies upon their heart,

BBE But to this day, at the reading of the law of Moses, a veil is over their heart.

Moff Yes, down to this day, whenever Moses is read aloud, the veil rests on their heart;

Wymth Yes, to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their hearts.

ASV But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart.

DRA But even until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

YLT but till to-day, when Moses is read, a vail upon their heart doth lie,

Drby But unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil lies upon their heart.

RV But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart.
(But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth/lies upon their heart. )

SLT But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies upon their heart.

Wbstr But even to this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

KJB-1769 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
(But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. )

KJB-1611 But euen vnto this day, when Moses is read, the vaile is vpon their heart.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps But euen vnto this day when Moyses is read, the vayle is layde vppon their heart.
(But even unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is laid upon their heart.)

Gnva But euen vnto this day, whe Moses is read, the vaile is laid ouer their hearts.
(But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is laid over their hearts. )

Cvdl But euen vnto this daye whan moses is red, the vayle hangeth before their hertes:
(But even unto this day when moses is red, the veil hangeth/hangs before their hearts:)

TNT But even vnto this daye when Moses is redde the vayle hangeth before their hertes.
(But even unto this day when Moses is red the veil hangeth/hangs before their hearts. )

Wycl whanne Moises is red, the veil is put on her hertis.
(when Moses is red, the veil is put on her hearts.)

Luth Aber bis auf den heutigen Tag, wenn Mose gelesen wird, hängt die Decke vor ihrem Herzen.
(But until on/in/to the today day, when Moses read becomes, hängt the ceiling/cover/blanket before/in_front_of their heart(s).)

ClVg sed usque in hodiernum diem, cum legitur Moyses, velamen positum est super cor eorum.[fn]
(but until in/into/on today/at_this_timernum day, when/with it_is_read Moses, veil placed it_is over heart their. )

3.15 Sed usque, etc. His qui sunt in Christo evacuatur: sed super cor eorum est velamen, id est cæcitas deprimens rationem eorum: cum, id est quamvis, legitur, id est exponitur, eis Moyses. Et ita duo obsunt, cur non intelligant, et velamen, id est obscuritas est in lectione, et cæcitas super corda, et hoc usque in hodiernum tempus.

3.15 But until, etc. His who/which are in/into/on to_Christ/Messiah evacuatur: but over heart their it_is veil, that it_is blindness deprimens reason their: cum, that it_is although/however, it_is_read, that it_is is_explained, to_them Moses. And so/thus two obsunt, cur not/no understand, and veil, that it_is obscuritas it_is in/into/on lectione, and blindness over hearts, and this until in/into/on today/at_this_timernum time/season.

UGNT ἀλλ’ ἕως σήμερον ἡνίκα ἂν ἀναγινώσκηται Μωϋσῆς, κάλυμμα ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται.
(all’ heōs saʸmeron haʸnika an anaginōskaʸtai Mōusaʸs, kalumma epi taʸn kardian autōn keitai.)

SBL-GNT ἀλλʼ ἕως σήμερον ἡνίκα ⸂ἂν ἀναγινώσκηται⸃ Μωϋσῆς κάλυμμα ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται·
(allʼ heōs saʸmeron haʸnika ⸂an anaginōskaʸtai⸃ Mōusaʸs kalumma epi taʸn kardian autōn keitai;)

RP-GNT Ἀλλ' ἕως σήμερον, ἡνίκα ἀναγινώσκεται Μωϋσῆς, κάλυμμα ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται.
(All' heōs saʸmeron, haʸnika anaginōsketai Mōusaʸs, kalumma epi taʸn kardian autōn keitai.)

TC-GNT Ἀλλ᾽ ἕως σήμερον, ἡνίκα [fn]ἀναγινώσκεται [fn]Μωϋσῆς, κάλυμμα ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται.
(All heōs saʸmeron, haʸnika anaginōsketai Mōusaʸs, kalumma epi taʸn kardian autōn keitai. )

3:15 αναγινωσκεται ¦ αν αναγινωσκηται CT

3:15 μωυσης ¦ μωσης PCK TR

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

God’s New Covenant

God had promised to establish a new covenant with his people (Jer 31:31-34). This new covenant was initiated by Christ (see Luke 22:19-20), who removes the veil associated with the old covenant (2 Cor 3:14). Using the creation story of Genesis 1–2, Paul explains how the God of creation is also the God of the new creation (2 Cor 4:4-6; 5:17). God is now revealed in Christ, who brings God close to us.

In the new covenant, God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is also our Father because he has enabled us to be adopted as his children (2 Cor 1:3; Gal 3:26–4:7). He is the faithful God whose Old Testament promises are fulfilled in the Messiah (2 Cor 1:18-22). And he is the author of reconciliation (5:18-21), as Christ became the means by which God won the sinful world back to himself. Jesus Christ became one with sinful humankind (see 8:9) and released God’s saving power and righteousness to restore the broken relationship between God and the world.

Under the new covenant, God sends his Spirit to dwell among his people. The Spirit gives believers life, freedom, and the ability to conform to Christ (3:6, 17-18). The Spirit unites us to Christ and serves as the guarantee of our complete salvation in the resurrection (1:22; 5:1-5), when believers’ mortal bodies will be transformed into glorified bodies (1 Cor 15:42-57). Paul gives a full account of this hope in 2 Cor 5:1-10. This will be the final outcome of the new covenant that God has established for his people.

Passages for Further Study

Gen 9:1-17; 12:1-9; 15:1-21; Exod 19:3-6; 2 Sam 7:5-16; 1 Chr 10:13-14; Isa 59:20-21; 65:17-25; Jer 2:1–3:10; 31:31-34; Matt 26:27-29; Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:23-32; 2 Cor 3:4-18; 4:4-6; Heb 8:6-13; 9:11-28; 10:1-25; 12:18-24

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–4:6: Confidence in the gospel of Jesus

The false teachers in Corinth were Jews (11:22). In this section, Paul wrote about some of the false teachings of these men. Since they were Jews, Paul referred to people and events in the Old Testament, such as the tablets of stone (3:3), Moses (3:7), and Moses’ veil (3:13). They probably brought letters from other false teachers who said the false teachers in Corinth taught truthfully (3:1–3). The false teachers taught that believers must obey the Jewish laws. But Paul said that believers follow the new covenant with Jesus and not the old covenant with the Jews (3:14). He also spoke against their secret and shameful ways and said that they corrupted God’s word (4:2). Throughout this section Paul also encouraged the believers to follow Jesus.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Ministry That Comes From Christ Is Greater Than Moses’ Ministry (GW)

The new covenant is greater than the law of Moses

3:15

And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

But/Even to this day a veil of dullness covers their hearts whenever the books of Moses are read.
From then until now, when they read the books of Moses, that dullness prevents them from truly understanding.

And even to this day: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as And even is literally “but.” There is contrast between the veil being removed when an Israelite believes (3:14d) and the veil remaining for those who follow the old covenant, so many English versions translate this conjunction as “but.” For example:

But until this very day (NET)

However, other English versions do not translate the conjunction as “But,” since 3:15 agrees with the veil not being removed, which is the main idea in 3:14c–d. For example:

Yes, to this day (ESV)

when Moses is read: The name Moses refers figuratively to the books that Moses wrote. Moses wrote the first five books of the Old Testament, but probably the rest of the Old Testament is implied here. If people will not understand what the name Moses refers to here, you may want to explain in your translation. For example:

when the books of Moses are read

This clause is passive. The clause probably refers generally to Israelites/Jews reading the books. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

when the Israelites/Jews read the books of Moses

whenever they read the Law of Moses (GNT)

a veil covers their hearts: This clause continues the figurative use of the word veil from 3:14a–b. You may want to:

Translate literally if the metaphor has the correct meaning of veil from 3:14a–b.
Explain the meaning again in your translation. For example:
a veil of dullness covers their hearts
dullness like a veil prevents understanding in their hearts

hearts: This word refers figuratively to the part of people where true understanding occurs. In your language, refer to this part of people. This may be another organ such as the liver, or it may be a general term such as “insides.” For example:

minds (RSV)

livers/insides

Your language may not use a part of the body for a figurative meaning of true understanding. In that case, translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

true understanding

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἀλλ’

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλʼ ἕως σήμερον ἡνίκα ἄν ἀναγινώσκηται Μωϋσῆς κάλυμμα ἐπί τήν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται)

Here, the word But introduces a contrast with what Paul said in the previous verse about the veil “fading away” in Christ ([3:14](../03/14.md)). What Paul says in the rest of the verse repeats many of the ideas from the first parts of [3:14](../03/14.md). Consider whether a contrast word or a connecting word expresses the idea most clearly. Alternate translation: [However,] or [In fact,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἀναγινώσκηται Μωϋσῆς

˓may_be_being˒_read Moses

Here, the word Moses could refer to: (1) the first five books of the Old Testament, often called “the Law” or the “Pentateuch.” Alternate translation: [the Law is read] or [the first parts of the Old Testament are read] (2) the entire Old Testament. Alternate translation: [the Scriptures are read] or [the Old Testament is read]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀναγινώσκηται Μωϋσῆς

˓may_be_being˒_read Moses

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [someone reads Moses] or [they hear someone read Moses]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κάλυμμα ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται

˓a˒_veil (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλʼ ἕως σήμερον ἡνίκα ἄν ἀναγινώσκηται Μωϋσῆς κάλυμμα ἐπί τήν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται)

Here Paul continues to refer to a veil that keeps people from understanding the Scriptures. Express the metaphor as you did in [3:14](../03/14.md). Alternate translation: [their lack of understanding is like a veil that lies over their heart] or [they do not understand, as if a veil lies over their heart]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλʼ ἕως σήμερον ἡνίκα ἄν ἀναγινώσκηται Μωϋσῆς κάλυμμα ἐπί τήν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται)

In Paul’s culture, the heart is the place where humans think and feel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate heart by referring to the place where humans think and feel in your culture or by expressing the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [over their mind] or [over their understanding]

Note 6 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλʼ ἕως σήμερον ἡνίκα ἄν ἀναγινώσκηται Μωϋσῆς κάλυμμα ἐπί τήν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται)

Here, the word heart is a singular noun that refers to the “hearts” of many people. It may be more natural in your language to use a plural form. Alternate translation: [their hearts] or [each of their hearts]

Note 7 topic: writing-pronouns

τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλʼ ἕως σήμερον ἡνίκα ἄν ἀναγινώσκηται Μωϋσῆς κάλυμμα ἐπί τήν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται)

Here, the word their could refer to: (1) anyone who hears the reading of Moses without being “in Christ.” Alternate translation: [the hearts of those who listen] (2) the same people that “their” referred to in [3:14](../03/14.md): the Israelites. Alternate translation: [the Israelites’ heart]

Parallel 2 COR 3:15

Section 3:1–4:6: Confidence in the gospel of Jesus

3:15

Parallel 2 COR 3:15