“You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This beautiful hanging wasn't just a decoration; it was a meticulously embroidered barrier, signifying that direct access to God's presence was restricted, requiring appointed mediators. The distinct embroidery, different from the cherubim-adorned inner veil, suggests a more accessible, yet still set-apart, invitation to approach God's dwelling.
“You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The instructions for constructing the Tabernacle continue, detailing the final decorative elements needed to enclose the sacred space. After describing the intricate inner veil separating the Holy of Holies, God now commands a beautiful, embroidered hanging for the entrance of the tent itself. This outer curtain served as the primary door, adorning the threshold that led into the holy place.
The Tabernacle's entrance wasn't just a hole in a tent; it was a carefully crafted barrier. What did its beauty and material signify?
The screen at the entrance of the Tabernacle, described in Exodus 26:36, served as a distinct entryway. Unlike a simple tent flap, it was made of the same rich materials as the inner veil: blue, purple, and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. This wasn't just about decoration; these vibrant colors and the fine linen spoke of royalty, divine presence, and purity. The fact that it was 'embroidered with needlework' further highlights the intentionality and artistry involved. This was an entrance that invited, but also set apart, indicating that approaching God was a sacred act, not a casual one.
Why use such precious materials for an outer screen? What did this beautiful entrance reveal about what lay within?
The screen for the tent entrance (Exodus 26:36) shared its materials with the inner veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:31). While the inner veil was perhaps more intricately designed ('cunning work' with cherubim), the outer screen was still a masterpiece of 'needlework.' This created a visual continuity. The beauty and richness of the entrance served as a preview, a promise, of the even greater glory and divine presence housed within the Tabernacle. It prepared the worshipper, hinting at the sacredness and magnificence reserved for God's dwelling place.
Understand the original words
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masak · Hebrew Noun
A partition or covering used to regulate access to a sacred space, symbolizing the separation between God's holiness and humanity. In the Tabernacle, these emphasized the need for proper access to God's presence.
shesh mishzar · Hebrew Noun phrase
A material made from flax, prized for its white color and purity. In the Tabernacle, it signifies the righteousness required to stand before God.
This passage directly compares the veil in the tabernacle (which this hanging is related to) to the separation between the holy and most holy places, highlighting the symbolic barriers in worship.
1 Corinthians 1:23This verse speaks of Christ crucified as a stumbling block and foolishness to many, mirroring how the elaborate and costly materials of the tabernacle's coverings, including this hanging, concealed a deeper spiritual reality accessible only to faith.
Revelation 21:18-21The precious materials used in this hanging (blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen) find their ultimate fulfillment in the description of the New Jerusalem, showcasing God's consistent desire for beauty and splendor in His dwelling places, both then and now.
John 1:14The rich colors and fine materials of this hanging foreshadow the Incarnation, where God's glory tabernacled among us, a truth hidden behind the physical curtains and veils of the Old Testament.
cambridgeExodus 26:36: "And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework."
Exodus 36-7 ( Exodus 26:36-37 ). The screen , to cover the entrance to the Dwelling. This was of the same materials as the veil ( v. 31), but, as it was further from the shrine, of less elaborate workmanship, the ‘work of the variegator,’ or ‘embroiderer’ (not of the ‘designer’ or pattern-weaver see on v. 1), and without cherubim.
clarkeExodus 26:36: "And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework."
A hanging for the door of the tent - This may be called the first veil, as it occupied the door or entrance to the tabernacle; the veil that separated the holy place from the holy of holies is called the second veil, Hebrews 9:3 . These two veils and the inner covering of the tabernacle were all of the same materials, and of the same workmans…
This beautiful hanging wasn't just a decoration; it was a meticulously embroidered barrier, signifying that direct access to God's presence was restricted, requiring appointed mediators. The distinct embroidery, different from the cherubim-adorned inner veil, suggests a more accessible, yet still set-apart, invitation to approach God's dwelling.
The instructions for constructing the Tabernacle continue, detailing the final decorative elements needed to enclose the sacred space. After describing the intricate inner veil separating the Holy of Holies, God now commands a beautiful, embroidered hanging for the entrance of the tent itself. This outer curtain served as the primary door, adorning the threshold that led into the holy place.
The instructions for constructing the Tabernacle continue, detailing the final decorative elements needed to enclose the sacred space. After describing the intricate inner veil separating the Holy of Holies, God now commands a beautiful, embroidered hanging for the entrance of the tent itself. This outer curtain served as the primary door, adorning the threshold that led into the holy place.
"“You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework." — This beautiful hanging wasn't just a decoration; it was a meticulously embroidered barrier, signifying that direct access to God's presence was restricted, requiring appointed mediators. The distinct…
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Last reviewed October 2026