Exodus 26:31-32
“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 you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The incredible detail of the cherubim woven into the veil isn't just decoration; it signifies that God's presence, though accessible through Christ, is still a place of awesome majesty and divine beings. This costly, intricate veil wasn't meant to be seen through, but to represent the separation and mystery surrounding God, a separation only Christ's sacrifice would fully overcome.
This verse describes the creation of a magnificent, richly colored veil, intricately embroidered with cherubim. This sacred curtain's purpose was to divide the Tabernacle into two distinct areas: the Holy Place, where priests ministered daily, and the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies), accessible only to the high priest once a year. It acted as a physical barrier, signifying the separation between God's immediate presence and humanity during that era.
Why were the colors blue, purple, and scarlet, along with fine linen, so important for the Tabernacle's veil?
The materials used for the veil weren't just for decoration; they spoke volumes about the holiness of God and the special dwelling place He desired.
Together, these rich materials underscored the immense value and holiness of the space the veil guarded – the Most Holy Place, where God's presence would dwell.
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What's the significance of 'cherubim skillfully worked into' the veil?
The presence of cherubim on the veil was no accident. These heavenly beings are consistently depicted in Scripture as guardians of God's holiness and presence.
By weaving cherubim into the veil, God showed that entry into His presence was restricted, protected by divine power, and only accessible through His appointed means.
This thick curtain separated two spaces, but what deeper meaning did it hold?
The veil served a crucial dual purpose: separation and a foreshadowing of future access.
While the veil blocked access for ancient Israel, its eventual tearing announced ultimate access through Christ.
Understand the original words
paroketh · Hebrew Noun
A heavy curtain or screen designed to obstruct view or access, in the tabernacle it served to physically demarcate the sacred space and protect sinful humanity from the immediate, unapproachable presence of God.
kerubim · Hebrew Noun
Celestial beings closely associated with the throne and holiness of God, serving as guardians of divine glory and holiness, specifically portrayed here as attendants of the sacred space.
shittim · Hebrew Noun
A dense, durable wood common in the desert, often used for furniture and structural elements of the tabernacle, symbolizing humanity or the earthly nature of the structure prepared for divine habitation.
This passage directly references the veil in the Holy of Holies, calling it the 'second tabernacle,' which emphasizes its role as a significant divider within the sacred space.
Hebrews 10:19-20The New Testament authors interpret the tearing of this veil at Jesus' death as a symbol of Christ's sacrifice opening a new and living way for believers to enter God's presence.
Matthew 27:51This verse records the dramatic event of the temple veil being torn in two at the moment of Jesus' death, directly linking the physical veil of the Tabernacle's design to the spiritual significance of Christ's sacrifice.
Isaiah 6:2The mention of cherubim on the veil connects to descriptions of seraphim (similar heavenly beings) in Isaiah's vision, highlighting the presence of divine and heavenly beings associated with God's immediate presence.
2 Chronicles 3:14This passage describes a similar veil made with cherubim in Solomon's Temple, showing the continuity of this symbolic element from the Tabernacle to the later Temple worship.
clarkeExodus 26:31: "And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:"
Thou shalt make a veil - פרכת parocheth, from פרך parach, to break or rend; the inner veil of the tabernacle or temple, ( 2 Chronicles 3:14 ), which broke, interrupted, or divided between the holy place and the most holy; the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle…
cambridgeExodus 26:31: "And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:"
31 . a veil ] Heb. pârôketh , only in P, in the same connexion, and 2 Chronicles 3:14 : the primary meaning was probably ‘that which shuts off’ cf. Ass. parâku , to bar or shut off, parakku, apartment , esp. shrine in a Temple; Syr. perakkâ (loan-word), a shrine ). In Hebrews 6:19 f., Exodus 9:7-8 , Exodus 10:19-22 , the veil (with allusion to the…
The incredible detail of the cherubim woven into the veil isn't just decoration; it signifies that God's presence, though accessible through Christ, is still a place of awesome majesty and divine beings. This costly, intricate veil wasn't meant to be seen through, but to represent the separation and mystery surrounding God, a separation only Christ's sacrifice would fully overcome.
This verse describes the creation of a magnificent, richly colored veil, intricately embroidered with cherubim. This sacred curtain's purpose was to divide the Tabernacle into two distinct areas: the Holy Place, where priests ministered daily, and the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies), accessible only to the high priest once a year. It acted as a physical barrier, signifying the separation between God's immediate presence and humanity during that era.
This verse describes the creation of a magnificent, richly colored veil, intricately embroidered with cherubim. This sacred curtain's purpose was to divide the Tabernacle into two distinct areas: the Holy Place, where priests ministered daily, and the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies), accessible only to the high priest once a year. It acted as a physical barrier, signifying the separation between God's immediate presence and humanity during that era.
"“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 you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on fou…" — The incredible detail of the cherubim woven into the veil isn't just decoration; it signifies that God's presence, though accessible through Christ, is still a place of awesome majesty and divine bei…
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