2 Corinthians 3:7

KJV1611 – Modern English

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadily behold the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Εἰ δὲ ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου ἐν γράμμασιν, ἐντετυπωμένη ἐν λίθοις, ἐγενήθη ἐν δόξῃ, ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι ἀτενίσαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον Μωϋσέως διὰ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ· τὴν καταργουμένην:

Transliteration

Ei de the diakonia of the thanatou in grammasin, entetypōmenē in lithois, egenēthē in doxē, so that not dynasthai atenisai the hyious Israēl into the prosōpon of Mōuseōs because of the doxan of the prosōpou of him; the katargoumenēn:

Grammar Details

• *Ei*: conditional conjunction - if
• *de*: conjunction - but/and/now
• *diakonia*: noun, nominative singular feminine - ministry/service
• *thanatou*: noun, genitive singular masculine - of death
• *grammasin*: noun, dative plural neuter - in letters/writings
• *entetypōmenē*: perfect passive participle, nominative singular feminine - having been engraved
• *lithois*: noun, dative plural masculine - in stones
• *egenēthē*: aorist passive indicative, 3rd person singular - became/was made
• *doxē*: noun, dative singular feminine - in glory
• *dynasthai*: present middle/passive infinitive - to be able
• *atenisai*: aorist active infinitive - to gaze intently
• *hyious*: noun, accusative plural masculine - sons
• *Israēl*: proper noun, genitive singular - of Israel
• *prosōpon*: noun, accusative singular neuter - face
• *Mōuseōs*: proper noun, genitive singular masculine - of Moses
• *doxan*: noun, accusative singular feminine - glory
• *prosōpou*: noun, genitive singular neuter - of face
• *katargoumenēn*: present passive participle, accusative singular feminine - being brought to an end/abolished

Word Meanings

• *diakonia*: ministry/service/administration
• *thanatou*: death/mortality
• *grammasin*: letters/writings/documents
• *entetypōmenē*: engraved/imprinted/inscribed
• *egenēthē*: became/was made/came to be
• *doxē*: glory/splendor/honor
• *dynasthai*: to be able/can/have power
• *atenisai*: to gaze intently/stare at/look steadily
• *prosōpon*: face/countenance/presence
• *katargoumenēn*: being brought to an end/abolished/nullified/fading

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  If the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not look intently at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was passing away,

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} if{G1487} the ministration{G1248} of death,{G1722} written,{G1121} [and] engraven{G1795} on{G1722} stones,{G3037} came{G1096} with{G1722} glory,{G1391} so that{G5620} the children{G5207} of Israel{G2474} could{G1410} not{G3361} look{G816} stedfastly upon{G1519} the face{G4383} of Moses{G3475} for{G1223} the glory{G1391} of his{G846} face;{G4383} which{G3588} [glory] was passing away:{G2673}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} if{G1487} the ministration{G1248} of death{G2288}, written{G1722}{G1121} and engraven{G1795}{(G5772)} in{G1722} stones{G3037}, was{G1096}{(G5675)} glorious{G1722}{G1391}, so{G5620} that the children{G5207} of Israel{G2474} could{G1410}{(G5738)} not{G3361} stedfastly behold{G816}{(G5658)} the face{G1519}{G4383} of Moses{G3475} for{G1223} the glory{G1391} of his{G846} countenance{G4383}; which{G3588} glory was to be done away{G2673}{(G5746)}:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Yf the ministracion of deeth thorow the letters figured in stones was glorious so yt the chyldren of Israel coulde not beholde the face of Moses for the glory of his countenauce (which glory neverthelesse is done awaye)

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But yf the mynistracion yt kylleth thorow the letter, and was figured in stones, was glorious, so that the childre of Israel mighte not beholde the face of Moses, for ye clearnesse of his countenauce, (which glory neuertheles is done awaye)

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  If then the ministration of death written with letters and ingrauen in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel coulde not beholde the face of Moses, for the glorie of his countenance (which glorie is done away.)

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Yf the ministration of death, through the letters figured in stones, was in glorie, so that the chyldren of Israel coulde not beholde the face of Moyses, for the glorie of his countenaunce, whiche glorie is done away:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away:

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and if the ministration of the death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look stedfastly to the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face -- which was being made useless,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But if the ministration of death, written, `and' engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which `glory' was passing away:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But if the ministration of death, written, [and] engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which [glory] was passing away:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For if the operation of the law, giving death, recorded in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the eyes of the children of Israel had to be turned away from the face of Moses because of its glory, a glory which was only for a time:

• World English Bible (2000)

  But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away:

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The Greater Glory of the Spirit’s Ministry But if the ministry that produced death– carved in letters on stone tablets– came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face(a glory which was made ineffective),

Referenced Verses

• Exod 24:12 : 12 And the LORD said to Moses, Come up to me into the mountain, and be there: and I will give you tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that you may teach them.
• Exod 31:18 : 18 And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
• Rom 7:10 : 10 And the commandment, which was intended for life, I found to be leading to death.
• Rom 10:4 : 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
• 1 Cor 13:10 : 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
• 2 Cor 3:3 : 3 Forasmuch as you are clearly shown to be the letter of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of the heart.
• 2 Cor 3:6 : 6 Who also made us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
• 2 Cor 3:9-9 : 9 For if the ministry of condemnation is glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious.
• Rom 7:22 : 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inner man:
• Deut 9:15 : 15 So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire: and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands.
• Deut 10:1-4 : 1 At that time the LORD said to me, Carve for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark. 3 And I made an ark of acacia wood, and carved two tablets of stone like the first, and went up the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand. 4 And he wrote on the tablets, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spoke to you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them to me.
• Neh 9:13 : 13 You came down also on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them just statutes and true laws, good statutes and commandments.
• Ps 19:7-8 : 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
• Ps 119:97 : 97 MEM. Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
• Ps 119:174 : 174 I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.
• Luke 9:29-31 : 29 And as he prayed, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 Who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
• Acts 6:15 : 15 All who sat in the council, looking intently at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
• Rom 4:15 : 15 Because the law produces wrath; for where there is no law, there is no transgression.
• Exod 32:15-16 : 15 Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand; the tablets were written on both sides, on one side and on the other. 16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
• Exod 32:19 : 19 As soon as he came near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.
• Exod 34:1 : 1 And the LORD said to Moses, "Carve two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke."
• Exod 34:28-35 : 28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. 29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mountain, that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 And Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 Until Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the veil off until he came out; and he came out and spoke to the children of Israel whatever he was commanded. 35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone, and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
• Deut 4:8 : 8 And what nation is there so great, that has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
• Deut 4:13 : 13 And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, the ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tablets of stone.
• Deut 5:22 : 22 These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly on the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a great voice: and He added no more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone, and delivered them to me.
• Deut 9:9-9 : 9 When I went up into the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, even the tablets of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights, I neither ate bread nor drank water: 10 And the LORD delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger of God; and on them were written according to all the words, which the LORD spoke with you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. 11 And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, even the tablets of the covenant.
• Gen 3:21 : 21 Also, for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
• Rom 7:12-14 : 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? Certainly not. But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good; that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
• 2 Cor 3:13-14 : 13 And not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not steadily look to the end of what was being abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day, the same veil remains untaken away in the reading of the old covenant; which veil is done away in Christ.
• Heb 9:4 : 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant covered all around with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
• Ps 119:127-128 : 127 Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold. 128 Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.