Exodus 26:31 · Bible study
Exodus 26:31 Commentary: The Tabernacle Veil
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study the veil of the tabernacle in Exodus 26:31: its materials, cherubim, and New Testament fulfillment in Christ's flesh.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The veil separated the holy place from the most holy, symbolising the barrier between God and humanity that Christ removed.
- Key words: פרכת (parocheth, curtain/veil), cherubim, skillful workman.
- Main debate: Whether the primary typology is Christ’s flesh or the obscurity of the ceremonial law, though most see both.
- Theological theme: Access to God through Christ alone, and the transition from shadow to reality.
- Best use: Introduction to a study on Christ as our mediator, or a larger lesson on the tabernacle’s symbolism.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a skillful workman.
KJV King James Version 1769
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:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim the work of the skilful workman shall it be made:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And thou hast made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen, work of a designer; he maketh it with cherubs;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined byssus; of artistic work shall it be made, with cherubim.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Thou shalt make also a veil of violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen, wrought with embroidered work and goodly variety:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y harás también un velo de cárdeno, y púrpura, y carmesí, y de lino torcido: será hecho de primorosa labor, con querubines:
E farás também um véu de azul, e púrpura, e carmesim, e de linho torcido: será feito de primoroso trabalho, com querubins:
Tu feras un voile bleu, pourpre et cramoisi, et de fin lin retors; il sera artistement travaillé, et l’ on y représentera des chérubins.
Du sollst einen Vorhang machen von blauem und rotem Purpur, Scharlach und gezwirnter weißer Leinwand; und sollst Cherubim daran machen von kunstreicher Arbeit.
Daarna zult gij een voorhang maken, van hemelsblauw, en purper, en scharlaken, en fijn getweernd linnen; van het allerkunstelijkste werk zal men dien maken, met cherubim.
Farai un velo di filo violaceo, porporino, scarlatto, e di lino fino ritorto con de’ cherubini artisticamente lavorati,
Uczynisz też zasłonę z hijacyntu, i z szarłatu, i z karmazynu dwa kroć farbowanego, i z białego jedwabiu kręconego; robotą haftarską uczynisz ją z Cherubiny.
И сделай завесу из голубой, пурпуровой и червленой шерсти и крученого виссона; искусною работою должны быть сделаны на ней херувимы;
「你要用藍色、紫色、朱紅色線，和撚的 細麻 織 幔子，以巧匠的 手工 繡上 基路伯。
And you are to make a veil of the best linen, blue and purple and red, worked with designs of winged ones by a good workman:
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 26:31
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that the veil served as a vital barrier within the tabernacle, dividing the holy place from the most holy where God's presence dwelt. Clarke notes that the Hebrew parocheth comes from a root meaning 'to break or rend,' and that the veil 'broke, interrupted, or divided' the two rooms. Calvin adds that the veil reminded Israel how reverently God's majesty must be regarded, and that it signified the obscurity of the law, pointing forward to the Messiah. Gill and Matthew Henry connect the veil directly to Christ: Gill calls it 'typical of the human nature of Christ, his flesh' (citing Hebrews 10:20), while Henry observes that the rending of this veil at Christ's death signified the end of the ceremonial law and the opening of the way into the holy of holies. The costly materials, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen, with cherubim, are seen as symbolic of Christ's person and work. Thus there is strong agreement: the veil was a prefigurement of Christ, and its removal grants believers direct access to God.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The veil separated the holy place from the most holy, and its design and removal point to the need for a mediator and the access provided by Christ.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The veil's primary meaning | The veil functioned as a physical and symbolic barrier between God and humanity. | Some traditions emphasize the veil as a type of Christ's flesh (following Hebrews 10:20), while others stress its role in concealing the way to God under the old covenant. |
| The purpose of the cherubim | Cherubim are angelic beings associated with the presence and holiness of God. | Some see them primarily as decorative guards of the entrance to the most holy place; others view them as representing the angelic witness to God's redemptive plan. |
| The symbolism of the materials | Blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen carry deliberate symbolic meaning. | Interpretations vary: blue as heaven, purple as royalty, scarlet as sacrifice, and linen as righteousness are common, but some also emphasize their costliness and the artistry required. |
| Applicability after Christ | Christ's death fulfilled and removed the need for a physical veil. | Christians agree that direct access is now possible, but differ on how much of the old covenant structure (e.g., a sense of holy reverence or priestly mediation) remains meaningful. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The tabernacle was God's dwelling among Israel during their wilderness journey. Its inner sanctuary, the most holy place, housed the ark of the covenant with the mercy seat, where God promised to meet with Moses (Exodus 25:22). The veil described in this verse separated that inner shrine from the outer holy place. The Hebrew word parocheth (פרכת) derives from a root meaning 'to break' or 'to divide,' and Keil and Delitzsch translate it as 'division, separation.' It was a thick curtain, said by Jewish tradition to be four fingers thick, woven from six-ply thread.
The materials were deliberately chosen. Blue (tekelet) was a dye from a Mediterranean sea creature, associated with heaven and divinity. Purple (argaman) came from murex snails, a colour worn by royalty. Scarlet (shani) was produced from the dried bodies of the kermes insect, symbolising sacrifice and blood. Fine twined linen (shesh mashzar) was pure white linen, emphasising purity. The combination of these colours and fine workmanship appears repeatedly throughout the tabernacle curtains (Exodus 26:1) and the high priest's garments (Exodus 28:15).
Cherubim were woven into the veil, just as they were on the inner curtains and on the mercy seat. These angelic beings are associated with guarding God's throne (Genesis 3:24; Exodus 25:18). Their presence on the veil signified that the way into God's immediate presence was not yet open; the cherubim stood as sentinels, echoing the guardians of Eden.
The veil hung on four gold‑overlaid acacia pillars set in silver sockets, under the clasps that held the two halves of the inner covering together (Exodus 26:32, 33). This placed it exactly at the boundary between the holy place (twenty cubits long) and the most holy (ten cubits). Only the high priest could pass beyond it, and only once a year on Yom Kippur, with the blood of atonement. This physical arrangement taught Israel that God is holy and that access to him requires a mediator and sacrifice.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variations for Exodus 26:31. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the Septuagint renders parocheth consistently as καταπέτασμα.
Reception History
Exodus 26:31 has been read throughout church history as a type of Christ's incarnation and atoning work. The Epistle to the Hebrews explicitly interprets the veil as Christ's flesh (Hebrews 10:20), and the early church fathers, including Origen and Chrysostom, expanded on this connection. In the Reformation, Calvin emphasized that the veil signified the obscurity of the law, removed by Christ. Later commentators such as Matthew Henry and Adam Clarke saw the rending of the veil at the crucifixion as the decisive moment when the old covenant gave way to the new. The verse has also been used in devotional writing to illustrate how God's holiness and love meet in the person of Jesus.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Veil as a Barrier, It separated God from people, teaching that God is holy and that sin creates distance.
- The Veil as a Symbol, Its materials and cherubim pointed to Christ: his deity (blue), royalty (purple), sacrifice (scarlet), and purity (fine linen).
- The Veil as Torn, At Christ’s death, the veil was rent, opening direct access to God for all who believe (Matthew 27:51).
Five-point outline
- Blue, Christ’s heavenly origin (John 3:13).
- Purple, His royal status as King of Kings (Revelation 19:16).
- Scarlet, His sacrificial blood poured out for atonement (Hebrews 9:12).
- Fine linen, His sinless righteousness (1 Peter 2:22).
- Cherubim, The angelic witness to his incarnation, death, and resurrection (1 Timothy 3:16).
Illustration hooks
- A hospital curtain separates a patient from the waiting area; when it is drawn back, family can enter freely. The veil was our curtain, and Christ drew it back.
- A velvet rope at a VIP section keeps ordinary guests out, until the host removes it and invites everyone in. The veil was that rope, and Jesus removed it.
- A wedding veil is lifted to reveal the bride. The veil of the temple was lifted to reveal the way into God’s presence.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did God design worship to be so inaccessible in the Old Testament?
- How do I approach God with confidence today without a physical barrier?
- Does the veil still have any significance for Christians, or is it entirely obsolete?
Leading a Discussion
The veil in Exodus 26:31 stands at the centre of the tabernacle’s design. It separated the holy place from the most holy, where God’s presence dwelled. For centuries, only the high priest could pass through it, and only once a year. This passage invites us to consider both the holiness of God and the barrier that sin created. The New Testament shows that the veil pointed to Christ, and that when he died, the veil was torn.
Discussion questions
- What does the veil tell us about God’s character? About our need for a mediator?
- Why were the materials (blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen) so specific? What might each colour represent?
- Cherubim appear on the veil. Where else do they appear in the tabernacle? What role do they play?
- Read Hebrews 10:19, 22 (cited in the commentaries). How does the author of Hebrews connect the veil to Christ’s flesh?
- At the moment of Jesus’ death, Matthew 27:51 reports that the temple veil was torn in two. What does that event mean for our access to God?
- In what ways does the veil challenge how we approach worship today? Should we still have a sense of holy reverence?
- How does knowing that Christ removed the barrier affect your personal prayer life and your confidence in coming to God?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 25:4 | blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, |
| Exodus 25:18 | You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. |
| Exodus 26:1 | “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall make them with the work of a skillful workman. |
| Exodus 28:15 | “You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, you shall make it. |
| Exodus 35:6 | blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, |
| Exodus 35:25 | All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun: the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen. |
| Exodus 35:35 | He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works. |
| Exodus 36:8 | All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet. They made them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws attention to the Hebrew name for the veil, which comes from a word meaning to break or rend. He sees this as a deliberate prophecy: the veil’s name itself points forward to Christ’s body being rent on the cross, opening the way into the heavenly holy of holies.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that the temple veil symbolized the hiddenness of the Old Testament shadows, teaching Israel that full revelation had not yet come. At Christ's death the veil was torn, ending the ceremonies and revealing the truth. Yet Calvin warns that even now, Christ's incarnation remains an incomprehensible mystery.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the veil’s Hebrew name literally means "that which shuts off," underscoring its role as a barrier. It then connects this to the New Testament: the veil represented the separation from God that Christ alone broke through, entering heaven itself by His own blood.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Moreouer, thou shalt make a vaile of blewe silke, and purple, and skarlet, and fine twined linen: thou shalt make it of broydred worke with Cherubims.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets the tabernacle veil as a direct type of Christ's human nature, not primarily as a symbol of sin or the law. He sees the fine linen, blue, purple, and scarlet as pointing to Christ's purity, strength, spiritual graces, his suffering and royal dignity. The cherubim woven in represent angelic ministry to him.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlight that this curtain, whose name literally means "division" or "separation," was crafted from the same material and in the same artistic pattern as the tabernacle's inner covering. Its specific purpose was to split the dwelling into two compartments: a smaller ten-cubit section and a larger twenty-cubit section.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees the tabernacle as the living center where God’s law and presence dwell, not merely a place of worship. He emphasizes that it functions as Jehovah’s own residence and the focal point of the covenant, serving as the foundational model for every true sanctuary.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry sees the inner veil as a deliberate barrier that kept the old covenant worshiper at a distance, concealing divine grace. Its tearing at Christ's death marked the end of that hiddenness, opening the way into God's presence that the law's ceremonies could never accomplish.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees two distinct lessons in the tabernacle veils. The inner veil concealed grace, showing the old system could not perfect worshippers, until Christ's death tore it open, giving believers boldness with reverence. The outer veil offered no real security, teaching that God's care, not human safeguards, protects the church.