Moses wore a veil for a couple of key reasons, both related to the intense experience he had on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments:
* To shield others from the radiating glory of God: After Moses spoke with God on Mount Sinai, his face shone with a radiant glory that was too intense for the Israelites to bear. In Exodus 34:29-35, it describes how the people were afraid to come near him. Therefore, Moses wore a veil to cover his face and protect them from the overwhelming brilliance.
* To conceal the fading of the glory: The radiant glory on Moses' face gradually faded over time. Some scholars believe he wore the veil to prevent the Israelites from witnessing the diminishing of this divine glow, which might have shaken their faith or suggested that God's presence was waning. He would remove the veil only when speaking with God and when relaying God's commands to the people.
The veil served as a visual representation of the distance between humanity and the divine, as well as a reminder of Moses' unique connection with God. It also became a symbol with various interpretations in later Jewish and Christian thought.