23 Bible Verses About Covering (With Commentary)

The Bible is full of guidance and wisdom when it comes to covering ourselves, those around us, and even the things that matter to us.

Today, we’ll discuss some of the most important Bible verses about covering and explore how their teachings still shape our lives today. Take a moment to pause and meditate on the guiding words the Lord has laid before us.

Bible Verses About Covering

Psalm 91:4

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Covering here is metaphorical, painting a vivid image of God’s protective presence. Just as a bird shields its young with its wings, God provides a safe haven for those who seek refuge in Him. His faithfulness, depicted as a shield and rampart, conveys a sense of enduring protection, reminding us of God’s relentless commitment to our wellbeing.

Isaiah 61:10

“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

This verse speaks to the spiritual covering God offers. The imagery of being clothed in ‘garments of salvation’ and a ‘robe of righteousness’ highlights the transformative power of God’s love. Like treasured adornments, God’s salvation and righteousness are gifts that beautify and protect the believer.

Exodus 12:13

“The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”

The covering mentioned here is the blood of the lamb, which served as a protective sign for the Israelites during the final plague in Egypt. This verse showcases God’s mercy and protection in times of peril, as He shields those who heed His word.

Matthew 23:37

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”

Here, Jesus laments over Jerusalem, desiring to offer it the kind of protective covering a hen offers her chicks. The verse underscores Jesus’s heartfelt yearning for the people’s repentance and His readiness to shelter them, despite their rejection.

Genesis 9:23

“But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father Noah’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked.”

This episode highlights the respectful actions of Shem and Japheth in covering their father Noah’s nakedness. Their actions model a sense of decency, respect, and love towards their father, underlining the broader theme of protecting one’s family’s dignity.

Proverbs 10:12

“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”

This Proverb accentuates the power of love as a covering. In this context, to cover is to forgive or to overlook one’s faults. It encourages us to respond to transgressions with love and forgiveness, as this approach promotes harmony rather than discord.

1 Peter 4:8

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Echoing the sentiment of Proverbs 10:12, this verse emphasizes the potency of love to cover or forgive sins. The message underscores the high value that the New Testament places on love, a force so powerful that it can help us overcome even the weight of sin.

Isaiah 25:7

“On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations.”

Isaiah prophesies a time when God will remove the covering of death and sorrow that envelops all nations. This powerful imagery foretells the ultimate victory over death through the Messiah, pointing to a future of hope and liberation.

Psalm 32:1

“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.”

This Psalmist’s verse celebrates the joy of forgiveness. The act of covering sins here implies not just hiding them away, but erasing them entirely. It reminds us of God’s gracious capacity to forgive, and the transformative impact of this forgiveness on our lives.

Job 1:10

“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.”

Satan, in this verse, acknowledges the protective covering God has placed around Job. This hedge represents God’s provision and security surrounding Job’s life and possessions, highlighting God’s role as a protector and sustainer.

Ezekiel 16:8

“Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.”

In this allegorical verse, God’s covering symbolizes His covenant with Jerusalem. The spreading of His garment demonstrates His commitment and pledge, signifying how God lovingly chooses and claims His people, offering them protection and a secure identity.

Ruth 3:9

“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”

Ruth’s request for Boaz to spread his garment over her is a request for his protection and care. This act of covering denotes acceptance and commitment, symbolizing Boaz’s willingness to take on the role of kinsman-redeemer and ensure Ruth’s safety and wellbeing.

Deuteronomy 33:12

“About Benjamin he said: ‘Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.’”

This blessing pronounced on Benjamin depicts God’s protective covering as a shield, promising constant protection. It illustrates the intimate relationship God shares with His beloved, offering reassurance and safety.

Matthew 8:24

“Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.”

Even amidst the storm, Jesus’s calm demeanor covers His disciples with a sense of peace. His rest in the face of danger underscores His sovereign control over nature’s forces, reminding us that He is our refuge in life’s storms.

1 Corinthians 11:15

“but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.”

In this verse, Paul refers to a woman’s long hair as a covering and a sign of her glory, suggesting a symbol of femininity and beauty. The covering represents respectability and modesty within the cultural context of the Corinthian church.

Psalm 105:39

“He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night.”

The cloud and fire are divine coverings provided by God for the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. These elements represent God’s guidance and protection, serving as a constant reminder of His presence among His people.

Revelation 6:12

“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red.”

The sun’s covering in this prophetic vision signifies a great cosmic upheaval at the end of times. The imagery of the sun turning black as sackcloth underscores the gravity and seriousness of the events leading to the final judgment, reminding us of the omnipotence and justice of God.

Isaiah 58:7

“Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

Isaiah calls upon the people to cover the needs of the less fortunate, reflecting God’s heart for justice and mercy. This verse emphasizes the active role of faith in caring for others, reminding us that God’s love should spur us to generous and compassionate action.

Job 38:9

“When I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness.”

God, as the Creator, covers the sea with clouds and darkness, signifying His supreme control over nature. This verse underscores God’s sovereignty and creative power, reminding us that He governs the universe with wisdom and purpose.

Psalm 104:2

“The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent.”

This psalm describes God’s majesty and glory. The image of God wrapping Himself in light portrays His pure and radiant nature, while the heavens stretched out as a tent signify His omnipresence and magnificence.

2 Corinthians 3:15-16

“Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”

Paul refers to a spiritual covering, a veil that hinders understanding. However, he assures that turning to the Lord lifts this veil, suggesting the enlightening power of faith in Jesus. This verse underscores the transformative power of God’s word in giving us spiritual insight and understanding.

James 5:20

“Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

James implies that turning a sinner from error covers a multitude of sins. Here, the covering is not a hiding but a cancelling out of sins, a reflection of the life-saving power of repentance and restoration, echoing the central message of God’s grace and forgiveness in the Bible.