Veil of the Temple

A massive curtain - tradition says it was four inches thick - separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. Only one person, once a year, could pass through it. At the moment of Jesus' death, it tore from top to bottom.

The Veil of the Temple was a thick curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary representing God's presence in both the Tabernacle and later the Jerusalem Temple. This barrier underscored the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity, permitting only the high priest to pass through once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer blood sacrifices for Israel's sins. At the moment of Jesus Christ's death on the cross, the Gospels record that the veil was torn in two from top to bottom, an event witnessed in the Temple and signifying the removal of that barrier through his atoning sacrifice. This act holds central significance in Scripture as it illustrates the new covenant's provision of direct access to God for all believers, a theme further explained in the Epistle to the Hebrews.

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Details

Significance: Torn from top to bottom at Christ's death - God opened access to His presence for all believers.
Materials: Blue, purple, and scarlet thread with fine linen, embroidered with cherubim

Key Chapters

Exodus 26 The Tabernacle 6 min read This passage shows God's holy presence among His people while lovingly protectin... Matthew 27 The Crucifixion 8 min read Jesus' death opens direct access to God, removing every barrier so all may appro...

Key Passages

The Veil Described

Exodus 26:31-33

This passage shows God's holy presence among His people while lovingly protecting them through the veil's sacred separation.

A³¹nd thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

³² And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. ³³ And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.

Torn at Crucifixion

Matthew 27:51

Jesus' death opens direct access to God, removing every barrier so all may approach Him freely and personally.

A⁵¹nd, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Did You Know?

Tradition says the veil was 60 feet tall, 30 feet wide, and 4 inches thick.

It tore from TOP to bottom at Jesus' death - indicating God himself ripped it open.

Only the high priest could pass through it, and only once per year on the Day of Atonement.