“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:”
My Notes
What Does Exodus 26:31 Mean?
God instructs Moses to create a veil for the tabernacle — a curtain of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen with cherubim woven into it. This veil would separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies), where God's presence dwelt above the mercy seat.
The colors are significant: blue represents heaven, purple represents royalty, scarlet represents sacrifice and blood. Fine twined linen represents righteousness and purity. Together, they form a barrier that is simultaneously beautiful and impassable — a work of art that says: this far, no further.
The cherubim woven into the fabric echo the cherubim guarding Eden after the fall (Genesis 3:24). The veil is a physical reminder that sin has created a barrier between God and humanity. Access to God's immediate presence is blocked — not by His unwillingness, but by human unworthiness. Only the high priest could pass beyond it, once a year, with blood.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does knowing the veil's original purpose — to separate you from God — deepen your gratitude that it was torn?
- 2.What 'veils' do you still place between yourself and God — barriers that Jesus already removed?
- 3.Does it change your prayer life to know that the way into God's presence is completely open?
- 4.What does it mean that the veil tore from top to bottom — that God initiated the access, not humans?
Devotional
The veil was beautiful. Blue, purple, scarlet — royal colors woven into fine linen with angelic figures. It was the most exquisite piece of fabric in the ancient world. And its purpose was to keep you out.
That's the tension of the old covenant: God is present, but you can't get to Him. He's right there — behind the veil, above the mercy seat, between the cherubim. But the barrier is real. Your sin makes you incompatible with His holiness. The beauty of the veil doesn't soften its function: it separates.
Now here's why this matters: when Jesus died, that veil — the very one described here, maintained for centuries in the temple — tore from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). Not from bottom to top, as if human hands pulled it. From top to bottom, as if God Himself reached down and ripped it open.
The barrier is gone. The beautiful, terrifying curtain that kept you from God's presence was torn by the same God who hung it. The sacrifice of Jesus didn't just pay for your sin. It destroyed the wall that sin created.
You can walk in now. Not once a year. Not through a priest. Not with animal blood. Directly. The veil is torn. The way is open.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And thou shall hang up the vail under the taches,.... Or clasps, which coupled the two grand curtains, or pieces of…
(Compare Exo. 36:8-33.) The tabernacle was to comprise three main parts, the tabernacle Exo 26:1-6, more strictly…
Thou shalt make a veil - פרכת parocheth, from פרך parach, to break or rend; the inner veil of the tabernacle or temple,…
Two veils are here ordered to be made, 1. One for a partition between the holy place and the most holy, which not only…
The veil, to separate the Holy place from the Holy of holies, made of the same richly coloured tapestry, with figures of…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture