A vision of the future promises a time when a heavy, universal veil, long draped over all of humanity, will finally be lifted. The primary approach among commentators is that God will completely destroy and eliminate this barrier [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ], though others understand His action simply as an uncovering or revealing [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם]. The covering itself is widely seen as a thick mask or a woven blanket spread over all nations [אבן עזרא, מצודות, שד״ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, some view this heavy layer as a metaphor for human power and dominion [רש״י], or even as the physical masks of idolatry [מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, the visible surface of this covering is generally understood as the concealment itself, but it can also represent the important leaders and rulers of the world whom God will eventually bring down [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].
When exploring the deeper meaning of this universal blanket, three distinct perspectives emerge. The first approach views the covering as the political power and protection of mighty empires. For generations, certain nations lived securely under a heavy blanket of dominance and authority. God will strip away this protection, leaving these once-secure empires exposed to ruin [רד״ק]. Historically, this points to the Babylonian empire, which spread its control over the world like a thick blanket. In a perfect act of justice, God will cause the presence of this very empire to disappear entirely [שד״ל].
A second perspective shifts the focus from political power to spiritual clarity. In the future, God will dismantle the barriers of falsehood that blind humanity. According to this view, the world is divided into two groups, each blinded by a different layer of deception. The first group consists of peoples who hold a basic but flawed faith; they are covered by a veil that hides the true religion from them. The second group exists on a lower spiritual level, completely submerged in the worship of false gods and covered by a heavy mask of idolatry. God will strip away both of these false layers so that all of humanity can finally recognize the absolute truth [מלבי״ם].
The third approach understands these coverings as the ultimate expression of God hiding His face from the world. This divine concealment is the root cause of human suffering, evil, and corruption. The future redemption will not just be a political or educational shift, but the total removal of this heavy veil. When God stops hiding His presence, reality itself will undergo a fundamental change, completely erasing evil from the world [ביאור שטיינזלץ].