Mark 15:38 · Bible study
Mark 15:38 Commentary: Study: The Torn Veil's
Greek · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine the theological significance of the temple veil torn in two from top to bottom at Jesus' death in Mark 15:38.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God's direct action ending the barrier between himself and humanity through Jesus' death.
- Key words: katapetasma (veil, inner curtain of the temple), schizō (to split or rend), anōthen (from above, indicating divine origin).
- Main debate: Which veil was torn? Most agree it was the inner veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy, the same veil described in Exodus and Hebrews.
- Theological theme: Access to God through Christ alone; end of the old covenant; judgment on the temple system.
- Best use: A teaching passage for explaining the significance of Christ's death, the new covenant, and direct prayer.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and the veil of the sanctuary was rent in two, from top to bottom,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Entonces el velo del templo se rasgó en dos, de alto á bajo.
E o véu do Templo se rasgou em dois do alto abaixo.
Le voile du temple se déchira en deux, depuis le haut jusqu’ en bas.
Und der Vorhang im Tempel zerriß in zwei Stücke von obenan bis untenaus.
En het voorhangsel des tempels scheurde in tweeen, van boven tot beneden.
E la cortina del tempio si squarciò in due, da cima a fondo.
I rozerwała się zasłona kościelna na dwoje, od wierzchu aż do dołu.
И завеса в храме раздралась надвое, сверху донизу.
殿 裡的幔子 從 上 到 下 裂 為 兩半。
And the curtain of the Temple was parted in two from end to end.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Mark 15:38
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 tearing of the temple veil at Jesus' death is a divine act loaded with meaning. The Cambridge Bible notes the veil was a thick, costly curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy, and its rending symbolizes the opening of direct access to God through Christ's sacrifice (cf. Hebrews 10:19, 20). Matthew Henry sees it as a sign of God's anger against the Jewish leaders and the end of the old covenant system. Poole suggests the veil typified Christ's flesh (Hebrews 10:20), and its tearing corresponds to the rendering of the antitype. All highlight that the direction, from top to bottom, shows God himself did it, not human hands. This event marked the end of the temple's exclusive function and the beginning of open access for all believers.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Judgment view: Points to Matthew 27:51 (earthquake, rocks split) and the context of Jesus' cry of abandonment; the tearing signals God's departure from the temple and judgment on the leaders.
- Access view: Emphasizes Hebrews 10:19–22, where the torn veil is directly tied to confidence to enter the Most Holy Place through Jesus' flesh; the way is now open.
- Both views combined: Accepts both judgment and access; the end of the old system opens the new covenant for all who believe.
What is clear: God tore the veil from top to bottom at the moment of Jesus' death, demonstrating his direct action and signaling a fundamental change in how humanity relates to him.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Which veil was torn? | All traditions agree it was the inner veil of the temple separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy. | A minority view suggests it could have been an outer curtain, but the context and early Christian interpretation strongly favor the inner veil. |
| Was it a literal event? | Christians affirm a literal, miraculous tearing that coincided with Jesus' death. | Some skeptics question the historicity, but the unanimous testimony of the Gospels and the early church treats it as an actual event. |
| Meaning: judgment or access? | All agree it shows God's action and carries profound theological meaning. | Some emphasize God's judgment on the Jewish leaders and the end of the temple; others highlight the opening of direct access to God for all people. Most see both. |
| Connection to the centurion's confession | Mark intentionally connects the torn veil with the centurion's declaration (v.39). | Interpreters differ on whether the centurion's confession is a direct result of seeing the veil torn or more broadly the entire crucifixion scene. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The veil mentioned here is the inner curtain, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread with cherubim (Exodus 26:31; 2 Chronicles 3:14). It separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the ark of the covenant and mercy seat resided. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2). The veil was likely about 20 feet wide and 30 feet tall, a massive barrier.
At the ninth hour (3 p.m.), as Jesus died, an earthquake shook Jerusalem. Matthew 27:51 adds that rocks split and graves opened. The rending of the veil happened at the same moment. For the priests in the temple, hearing the sound and seeing the darkness must have been terrifying. The Cambridge Bible suggests this event may have been the first step toward many priests becoming obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7).
Mark places this right after Jesus' cry and death, and immediately before the centurion's confession, a narrative link: the broken barrier leads to a Gentile recognizing Jesus as Son of God. The tearing was not an accident; it was God's declaration that the way to his presence was now open through the crucified Messiah.
Textual Notes
The Greek text of Mark 15:38 is well established with no significant variant readings among major manuscripts. The verb eschisthē (was torn) appears uniformly. The phrase “from the top to the bottom” is also consistent. The main differences across English translations are minor style choices (e.g., “rent in twain” vs “torn in two”).
Reception History
Early church fathers such as Origen and Chrysostom read the torn veil as a symbol of the old covenant passing away and the opening of heaven to believers. In the Middle Ages, the event was often interpreted as a sign of God’s grief over the death of his Son. The Reformers stressed the access to God directly through Christ, using this verse to argue against the need for a priestly mediator. In liturgical traditions, this moment is recalled on Good Friday as a powerful sign of Christ’s victory. Hymns such as “The Veil Is Rent” (by James Montgomery) capture the joy of free entry into God’s presence.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God tore the veil. The direction from top to bottom shows divine action. No earthquake or human hand can tear a heavy curtain from top to bottom. God himself ended the separation between his presence and his people.
- The death of Jesus opened the way. The veil typified Christ's flesh (Hebrews 10:20). As his body was broken, the veil was torn. Access to God is now through Jesus alone.
- The old covenant system ended. The temple sacrifices, the priesthood, and the Holy of Holies barrier were no longer needed. Jesus is the final sacrifice and the eternal high priest.
Five-point outline
- Context: darkness, Jesus' cry, his death (vv.33, 37).
- The veil torn: a specific, miraculous event at the moment of death.
- Divine signature: from top to bottom, God did it.
- Meaning for Israel: the temple system rendered obsolete; judgment on unfaithful leaders.
- Meaning for all people: direct access to God through Christ; the centurion's confession immediately follows.
Illustration hooks
- A heavy velvet curtain in a theater, ripped from ceiling to floor, letting everyone see backstage, what was hidden is now exposed and accessible.
- A child cut off from a parent by a locked door, then the parent rips the door off its hinges and runs to embrace them, showing love stronger than the barrier.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If the veil was torn, does that mean we can directly approach God without a priest today?
- Did the priests feel the earthquake and see the torn veil? What did they think?
- Why does Mark mention the veil being torn right after Jesus dies and before the centurion's confession?
Leading a Discussion
This short verse sits at the climax of Mark's passion narrative. Understanding what the temple veil was and what its tearing means helps us grasp the radical change Jesus' death brought to our relationship with God.
Discussion questions
- What do you know about the temple veil from the Old Testament? (Exodus 26:31, 34; Leviticus 16:2) Why was it so important?
- Mark says the veil was torn “from the top to the bottom.” Why does that detail matter?
- How does the author of Hebrews use the torn veil to explain Jesus' work? (Read Hebrews 9:3; 10:19, 20)
- What emotions or thoughts might the priests in the temple have had when they saw or heard the veil was torn?
- In what ways does this event affect how you pray or approach God today?
- The centurion's confession comes right after the veil is torn (v.39). How are the two connected?
- If you could ask one question about this verse to a first-century Jewish believer, what would it be?
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 26:31 | “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. |
| Exodus 26:34 | You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place. |
| Exodus 40:20 | He took and put the covenant into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark. |
| Exodus 40:21 | He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the covenant, as Yahweh commanded Moses. |
| Leviticus 16:2 | and Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat. |
| Leviticus 16:19 | He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. |
| II Chronicles 3:8 | He made the most holy place. Its length, according to the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and its width twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents. |
| II Chronicles 3:14 | He made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and ornamented it with cherubim. |
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
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes the veil was thick, costly, and richly embroidered, separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy. Its dramatic tearing, combined with the earthquake, likely made a profound impression on the priests, perhaps a first step toward many later becoming obedient to the faith.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses that the veil was torn from top to bottom by God, not by human hands. This signified that the ceremonial law was now fulfilled and abolished. Through Christ's death, the way into the true holy of holies—heaven itself—was opened for all believers.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the temple veil tore from top to bottom at the same moment an earthquake shook the ground, rocks split, and graves opened. He directs readers to his comments on Matthew for a fuller treatment of these connected events.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry reads the unnatural darkness at Christ's crucifixion as a direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy announcing judgment on the Jewish nation. For him, this sign from heaven answered the Jews' repeated demand for a sign but came as a darkening of their eyes, signaling the spiritual blindness about to overtake them.