King James Version

What Does 2 Corinthians 3:7 Mean?

2 Corinthians 3:7 in the King James Version says “But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious , so that the children of Israel could no... — study this verse from 2 Corinthians chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious , so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

2 Corinthians 3:7 · KJV


Context

5

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

6

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. giveth life: or, quickeneth

7

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious , so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

8

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

9

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: Paul begins his argument from the lesser to the greater (Hebrew qal wahomer reasoning). The Mosaic law is called the ministration of death (Greek hē diakonia tou thanatou, ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου)—not because the law itself is evil, but because it pronounces death on lawbreakers without providing power to obey. Written and engraven in stones (Greek en grammata entupōmena lithois, ἐν γράμματα ἐντυπωμένη λίθοις) clearly identifies this as the Decalogue given at Sinai (Exodus 31:18; 34:1).

Yet even this covenant of death was glorious (Greek egenēthē en doxē, ἐγενήθη ἐν δόξῃ). Paul references Exodus 34:29-35, where Moses' face shone with reflected divine glory (doxa, δόξα) after receiving the second tablets, so intensely that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold (atenisai, ἀτενίσαι, "to gaze intently") it. The qualifier which glory was to be done away (Greek tēn katargoumenēn, τὴν καταργουμένην, "being abolished" or "fading") indicates the temporary nature of that Sinaitic glory. Paul will build on this: if the fading, death-dealing old covenant had glory, how much more the permanent, life-giving new covenant.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The Exodus 34 account describes Moses descending Sinai with the second set of stone tablets after Israel's golden calf apostasy. His face radiated God's glory so brightly that the people feared to approach. This physical manifestation testified to the law's divine origin and holiness. However, Paul interprets the fading of this glory as prophetically significant: the old covenant was never meant to be permanent. Jewish tradition highly honored Moses and the giving of the law; Paul's argument that this glory "was to be done away" would be shocking to Jewish ears, yet he grounds it in Scripture itself.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Paul's description of the law as the "ministration of death" help you understand why salvation cannot come through law-keeping?
  2. If even the temporary, condemning old covenant was glorious, what does this say about God's holiness and the seriousness of sin?
  3. How does recognizing that the old covenant glory was designed to fade help you embrace the permanent glory of the new covenant?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 33 words
Εἰ1 of 33

if

G1487

if, whether, that, etc

δὲ2 of 33

But

G1161

but, and, etc

τὴν3 of 33

which

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

διακονία4 of 33

the ministration

G1248

attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the christian teacher, or technically of the diaco

τὴν5 of 33

which

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

θανάτου6 of 33

of death

G2288

(properly, an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively)

ἐν7 of 33

glorious

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

γράμμασιν8 of 33
G1121

a writing, i.e., a letter, note, epistle, book, etc.; plural learning

ἐντετυπωμένη9 of 33

and engraven

G1795

to enstamp, i.e., engrave

ἐν10 of 33

glorious

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

λίθοις11 of 33

stones

G3037

a stone (literally or figuratively)

ἐγενήθη12 of 33

was

G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

ἐν13 of 33

glorious

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

δόξαν14 of 33

the glory

G1391

glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective)

ὥστε15 of 33

so

G5620

so too, i.e., thus therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow)

μὴ16 of 33

not

G3361

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

δύνασθαι17 of 33

could

G1410

to be able or possible

ἀτενίσαι18 of 33

stedfastly behold

G816

to gaze intently

τὴν19 of 33

which

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

υἱοὺς20 of 33

that the children

G5207

a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship

Ἰσραὴλ21 of 33

of Israel

G2474

israel (i.e., jisrael), the adopted name of jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively)

εἰς22 of 33

the face

G1519

to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases

τὴν23 of 33

which

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

προσώπου24 of 33

countenance

G4383

the front (as being towards view), i.e., the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person

Μωσέως25 of 33

of Moses

G3475

moseus, moses, or mouses (i.e., mosheh), the hebrew lawgiver

διὰ26 of 33

for

G1223

through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)

τὴν27 of 33

which

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δόξαν28 of 33

the glory

G1391

glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective)

τὴν29 of 33

which

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

προσώπου30 of 33

countenance

G4383

the front (as being towards view), i.e., the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person

αὐτοῦ31 of 33

of his

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

τὴν32 of 33

which

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

καταργουμένην33 of 33

glory was to be done away

G2673

to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Corinthians. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Corinthians 3:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Corinthians 3:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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