The Veil (or curtain) was the heavy fabric barrier that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and the temple.
It shielded the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat from view and restricted access to the presence of God.
Only the high priest could pass beyond the veil, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement with the blood of a sacrifice.
At the moment of Jesus’ death the temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom, signifying that the way into God’s presence is now open through Christ.
In the design God gave Moses, the veil formed the final boundary between God and the people. Behind it stood the ark of the covenant, the place where the Lord promised to meet with His people. The veil was both a protection and a barrier: it protected the people from the consuming holiness of God, and it kept them at a distance because of their sin. Embroidered with cherubim, it continually recalled the guardians who blocked the way to the tree of life after the Fall. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom — an act of God, not of man. The book of Hebrews explains the meaning: Jesus has opened a new and living way through the veil, that is, through His flesh, so that believers may now enter the holy places with confidence by His blood.
- The veil marked the boundary of the Most Holy Place and restricted access to God’s presence.
- It was a vivid reminder of the separation caused by sin.
- Only the high priest could enter beyond it, and only once a year with blood.
- The tearing of the veil at Jesus’ death was a divine declaration that the barrier had been removed.
- Hebrews identifies the veil with Christ’s flesh — His body given in sacrifice opens the way.
- Access to God is no longer limited to one man, one day, and repeated sacrifices; it is open to all who come through Jesus.
- The torn veil is one of the clearest visual signs that the old covenant order has been fulfilled and a new way inaugurated.
- Location and Function – Separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies; concealed the ark and mercy seat.
- Construction – Made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
- Restricted Access – Only the high priest, once a year, on the Day of Atonement, with sacrificial blood.
- Symbolic Meaning – Represented both the holiness of God and the separation between God and sinners.
- The Torn Veil – At the death of Christ it was torn from top to bottom by the hand of God.
- New and Living Way – Through Christ’s flesh the barrier is removed and access is permanently opened.
- Present Privilege – Believers now have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.
- Exodus 26:31-33 – “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it… And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.”
- Exodus 26:34 – “You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place.”
- Leviticus 16:2, 15 – Aaron is not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil; on the Day of Atonement he brings the blood inside the veil to make atonement.
- Matthew 27:50-51 – “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.”
- Mark 15:37-38 – “And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.”
- Luke 23:44-46 – Darkness covers the land; the curtain of the temple is torn in two; Jesus commits His spirit to the Father.
- Hebrews 6:19-20 – “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf…”
- Hebrews 9:3 – “Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place.”
- Hebrews 10:19-22 – “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh… let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…”
- 2 Chronicles 3:14 – Solomon made the veil of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and worked cherubim on it.
- Hebrews 9:7-8 – The way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing; the Holy Spirit indicates this limitation under the old system.
The veil stood for centuries as a silent sermon: God is holy, and sinners may not simply walk into His presence. Only one man, once a year, with blood, could pass beyond it. When Jesus died, God Himself tore the veil from top to bottom. The barrier is gone. The way into the Most Holy Place is open — not by the blood of bulls and goats, but by the blood of Jesus, and not merely for a moment, but forever. The torn veil is the Father’s invitation written in the fabric of the temple: Draw near. The new and living way has been consecrated through the flesh of His Son. Because the veil is torn, every believer may come with confidence to the throne of grace.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.