Book of Exodus - Chapter 34 - Verse 33

When Moses spoke with God, his face would shine with a radiant light because of the presence of the divine being. This shining light on his face was a physical sign of his closeness to God and the communication that took place between them. However, the brightness of his face was so intense that it made the Israelites afraid to approach him. So, Moses would cover his face with a veil after speaking with the people to shield them from the dazzling light. The veil served as a barrier between the overwhelming glory of God's presence and the people. It allowed Moses to interact with the Israelites without overwhelming them with the intense brightness of his face. This act of putting on the veil symbolized the separation between the holy, divine realm of God and the mortal, earthly realm of humanity. It demonstrated the need for a mediator like Moses to communicate God's messages to the people in a way that they could understand and receive without being overwhelmed.

One theological interpretation of the verse 'And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.' can be found in the significance of the veil itself. In biblical tradition, veils are often used symbolically to represent a barrier or separation between humanity and the divine. In this context, Moses covering his face with a veil after speaking with God conveys the idea of the divine presence being too bright and powerful for mortal humans to behold directly. The veil serves as a reminder of the difference in nature between God and humanity, highlighting the holiness and otherness of the divine. This act of veiling also points to the idea of gradual revelation, as Moses unveils his face only when delivering God's message to the people, symbolizing the gradual unveiling of God's truths and the Prophets role as a mediator between God and humanity.