The Veil
A divider, covering, and torn curtain across scripture.
AI-generated artistic depiction (no historical imagery exists)
The veil appears in scripture as a physical divider within the tabernacle, a covering for Moses’ face, and a temple curtain that is torn at the death of Jesus. In Exodus, a veil is hung to separate the holy place from the most holy, where the ark of the testimony is kept (Exodus 26:33). Moses also puts a veil on his face after speaking with the people (Exodus 34:33). The veil of the temple is rent in twain from top to bottom at the crucifixion (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). In the New Testament epistles, the veil symbolizes a barrier that is removed when one turns to the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:16), and is associated with Christ’s flesh (Hebrews 10:20) and the hope that enters within the veil (Hebrews 6:19). The Song of Solomon mentions a veil taken away by watchmen (Song of Solomon 5:7), and the Upanishads speak of a veil of darkness covering worlds (Upanishads 1:3).
Lore & Background
In the Hebrew scriptures, the veil is a literal curtain in the tabernacle, hung under taches to divide the holy place from the most holy, where the ark of the testimony is placed (Exodus 26:33). Moses also uses a veil to cover his face after speaking with the Israelites (Exodus 34:33). In the Song of Solomon, the beloved’s veil is taken away by watchmen who wound her (Song of Solomon 5:7). In the Gospels, at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the temple is torn in two from top to bottom, accompanied by an earthquake (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). The tearing is described as occurring in the midst (Luke 23:45). The Epistle to the Hebrews refers to a second veil leading into the Holiest of all (Hebrews 9:3), and speaks of hope as an anchor entering within the veil (Hebrews 6:19). It also identifies the veil as Christ’s flesh, through which a new and living way is consecrated (Hebrews 10:20). Paul writes that when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away (2 Corinthians 3:16). The Upanishads describe worlds covered with a veil of darkness, contrasting the sun, moon, stars, fire, and wind as mere names, with the Self as the only reality (Upanishads 1:3).
Reader's Guide
The passages portray the veil in multiple roles: as a divider of sacred space, a covering for human glory, a barrier that is torn, and a metaphor for spiritual concealment or access. In Exodus, the veil physically separates the holy place from the most holy, marking a boundary around the ark (Exodus 26:33). Moses’ veil hides the radiance of his face after speaking with God (Exodus 34:33). The temple veil is dramatically torn at Jesus’ death, an event linked to an earthquake (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). Hebrews interprets the veil as both a literal tabernacle curtain (Hebrews 9:3) and a symbol of Christ’s flesh, through which believers may enter (Hebrews 10:20). The same epistle describes hope as entering within the veil (Hebrews 6:19). Paul uses the veil to represent a covering removed upon turning to the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:16). The Song of Solomon depicts a veil taken by force (Song of Solomon 5:7), while the Upanishads use the veil as a metaphor for cosmic darkness obscuring reality (Upanishads 1:3). The passages do not harmonize the veil’s meaning into a single concept; rather, they show it as a physical object, a symbol of separation, and a means of access.
Did You Know?
- The veil in the tabernacle was hung under taches to separate the holy place from the most holy, where the ark was kept (Exodus 26:33).
- Moses put a veil on his face after speaking with the people, but the passages do not say he removed it when speaking with God (Exodus 34:33).
- The temple veil was torn from top to bottom at Jesus’ death, and the earth quaked (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45).
- Hebrews calls the veil Christ’s flesh, through which a new and living way is consecrated (Hebrews 10:20).