Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5195 veil

5195 veil

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5125 Parts of the body and clothing » 5195 veil

Generally, an item of female dress worn by an unmarried woman in the presence of her future husband and also by a prostitute. Head-coverings were worn by men and women as a sign of mourning. The term is also used metaphorically to indicate a lack of understanding of God's truth. Scripture uses the imagery of “removing a veil” to refer to God's final self-revelation at the end of the age, or the making known of God's will and nature through Jesus Christ or other means.

The veil as an item of female dress

Worn by women in general

Songs 4:1 The veil covered the lower part of the face, so focusing attention on the eyes and temples. See also Genesis 24:65 Rebekah veils herself in the presence of her future husband, Isaac; Songs 4:3; Songs 6:7

Worn by prostitutes

Genesis 38:14-15 See also Songs 1:7

Worn by female sorcerers

Ezekiel 13:18,21

Worn as a sign of wealth and status

Isaiah 3:19; Isaiah 47:2 Babylon's veil will be removed as a mark of her humiliation.

Veils worn as a sign of grief

Faces covered in sorrow and dismay

2 Samuel 15:30 See also Leviticus 13:45 A veil worn by the ceremonially unclean signifies grief at separation from God; Jeremiah 14:4

Veils customarily worn by mourners

2 Samuel 19:4 See also Ezekiel 24:17,22

Faces covered as a sign of disgrace

Esther 6:12; Esther 7:8; Micah 3:7

Head-coverings in worship

1 Corinthians 11:4 A man's uncovered head in worship signifies submission to his spiritual head, i.e., Jesus Christ ; 1 Corinthians 11:5-6 A woman's covered head signifies proper submission to her husband. See also 1 Corinthians 11:7,13

God's sight of humanity is not veiled

The wicked foolishly boast that God does not see them

Job 22:12-14 See also Psalm 10:11; Psalm 94:7; Isaiah 29:15

God's people complain that God does not see their suffering

Psalm 44:24 See also Job 13:24; Psalm 69:17; Psalm 88:14

God sees all humanity

People's deeds will be made known

1 Corinthians 4:5 See also Job 28:11; Isaiah 26:21; Matthew 10:26 pp Luke 12:2; 1 Corinthians 3:13

The truth about God is sometimes veiled

The veil worn by Moses

2 Corinthians 3:13 After speaking with God, Moses' face was radiant; the veil, possibly a loose part of his clothing pulled over his face, prevented the Israelites from seeing that the radiance did not last. See also Exodus 34:29-35

Lack of understanding of God's truth

2 Corinthians 3:14-15 See also Isaiah 44:18; Lamentations 3:65; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 4:3; Ephesians 4:18

The unveiling of God's truth

God's hidden truth is revealed to believers

1 Corinthians 2:7-10; Colossians 1:26 See also Isaiah 64:4; Romans 16:25-26; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:3-6; 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:2-3

God's self-revelation at the end of the age

Daniel 12:2-4 See also Isaiah 25:7-8; Romans 8:19; 1 John 3:2