Overview
Veils appear throughout Scripture as practical garments and spiritual symbols. In the Old Testament, they signified a woman's marital or betrothal status and modesty. In the New Testament, Paul addresses veils as expressions of God's created order and spiritual authority, while also using the metaphor of a veil to describe spiritual blindness apart from Christ.
Key Scriptures
"Then Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from her camel" (Genesis 24:65, ESV). "Now if a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; but if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head" (1 Corinthians 11:6, NIV). "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away" (2 Corinthians 3:16, NIV).
Application
Recognize Paul's instruction on veils as addressing cultural expressions of biblical order while understanding the deeper spiritual truth that Christ removes the veil of spiritual blindness from those who believe in Him.