On that day I will utterly hide¹ir (הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּיר), literally “hiding, I will hide.” My face because of all the evil that they have done in turning to alien gods. (Ibid. 31:18) When a person is unaware that there is a state of concealment, it is certainly not good, for he can think that he is a perfect Tzaddik, and will not repent. However, when he realizes that there is concealment, and feels it in his soul, he will be humbled before G-d and beseech Him. This is the meaning of “hiding, I will hide.” That is, I will hide the concealment itself, so that the person will not even realize that it is hidden. Degel Machane Ephraim, Tzav², p. 28c; Tzafnah Paneach p. 2a and 51c; Katones Passim, p. 35a.

footnotes: ¹ Hastar ast ² See, also, Ben Poras Yosef