2665. katapetasma

Lexicon

katapetasma: Veil, curtain

Original Word: καταπέτασμα
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: katapetasma
Pronunciation: kat-ap-et'-as-mah
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ap-et'-as-mah)
Definition: Veil, curtain
Meaning: (lit: that which is spread out downwards, that which hangs down), a curtain, veil, of that which separated the Holy of Holies from the outer parts of the temple at Jerusalem, also of an outer curtain at the entrance to the Holy Place in the same temple.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

a curtain or veil

From a compound of kata and a congener of petomai; something spread thoroughly, i.e. (specially) the door screen (to the Most Holy Place) in the Jewish Temple -- vail.

see GREEK kata

see GREEK petomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from kata and petannumi (to spread out)
Definition
a curtain (the inner veil of the temple)
NASB Translation
veil (6).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2665: καταπέτασμα

καταπέτασμα, καταπετάσματος, τό (καταπετάννυμι to spread out over, to cover), an Alex. Greek word for παραπέτασμα. which the other Greeks use from Herodotus down; a veil spread out, a curtain — the name given in the Greek Scriptures, as well as in the writings of Philo and Josephus, to the two curtains in the temple at Jerusalem (τά καταπετάσματα, 1 Macc. 4:51; (yet cf. Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, 2:611)): one of them (Hebrew מָסָך) at the entrance of the temple separated the Holy place from the outer court (Exodus 26:37; Exodus 38:18; Numbers 3:26; Josephus, b. j. 5, 5, 4; it is called also τό κάλυμμα by the Sept. and Philo, Exodus 27:16; Numbers 3:25; Philo, vit. Moys. 3: §§ 5 and 9), the other veiled the Holy of holies from the Holy place (in Hebrew the פָּרֹכֶת; ἐνδοτερον καταπέτασμα, Josephus, Antiquities 8, 3, 3; τό ἐσωτατον καταπέτασμα Philo de gig. § 12; by the Sept. and Philo this is called pre-eminently τό καταπέτασμα, Exodus 26:31ff; Leviticus 21:23; Leviticus 24:3; Philo, vit. Moys. as above). This latter καταπέτασμα is the only one mentioned in the N. T.: τό καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ, Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45; τό δεύτερον καταπέτασμα, Hebrews 9:3; τό ἐσώτερον τοῦ καταπετάσματος (cf. Leviticus 16:2, 12, 15; Exodus 26:33) the space more inward them the veil, equivalent to 'the space within the veil,' i. e. the Holy of holies, figuratively used of heaven, as the true abode of God, Hebrews 6:19; in a similar figurative way the body of Christ is called καταπέτασμα, in (Heb.) , because, as the veil had to be removed in order that the high priest might enter the most holy part of the earthly temple, so the body of Christ had to be removed by his death on the cross, that an entrance might be opened into the fellowship of God in heaven.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the Greek verb καταπέτομαι (katapetomai), meaning "to spread out" or "to cover."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek καταπέτασμα corresponds to the Hebrew word פָּרֹכֶת (paroketh), Strong's Hebrew 6532, which refers to the veil or curtain in the tabernacle and later in the temple, as described in Exodus 26:31-33 and 2 Chronicles 3:14.

Usage: The term καταπέτασμα is used in the New Testament to describe the veil in the temple, which held significant theological symbolism, particularly in the context of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Context: The term καταπέτασμα appears in several key New Testament passages, notably in the Gospels and the Epistle to the Hebrews. In the context of the Jewish temple, the καταπέτασμα was a heavy curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept and where the high priest would enter once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people.

The καταπέτασμα is mentioned in the Gospels during the crucifixion of Jesus. In Matthew 27:51, it is recorded, "At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split." This event is significant as it symbolizes the removal of the barrier between God and humanity, granting believers direct access to God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The Epistle to the Hebrews further elaborates on the theological implications of the καταπέτασμα. In Hebrews 6:19-20, it is described as a symbol of hope and access to the presence of God: "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf." Additionally, Hebrews 10:19-20 states, "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body."

The tearing of the καταπέτασμα at the moment of Jesus' death is a profound theological statement about the new covenant established through His sacrifice, emphasizing the direct relationship believers now have with God, unmediated by the temple rituals of the old covenant.

Forms and Transliterations

καταπετασθή καταπετασμα καταπέτασμα καταπετάσματι καταπετασματος καταπετάσματος καταπέτασματος κατάπικροι κατεπήδησεν κατέπηξαν katapetasma katapétasma katapetasmatos katapetásmatos

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 27:51 N-NNS
GRK: ἰδοὺ τὸ καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ
NAS: And behold, the veil of the temple
KJV: behold, the veil of the temple
INT: behold the veil of the temple

Mark 15:38 N-NNS
GRK: Καὶ τὸ καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ
NAS: And the veil of the temple was torn
KJV: And the veil of the temple was rent
INT: And the veil of the temple

Luke 23:45 N-NNS
GRK: δὲ τὸ καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ
NAS: was obscured; and the veil of the temple
KJV: and the veil of the temple
INT: moreover the veil of the temple

Hebrews 6:19 N-GNS
GRK: ἐσώτερον τοῦ καταπετάσματος
NAS: and one which enters within the veil,
KJV: into that within the veil;
INT: within the veil

Hebrews 9:3 N-ANS
GRK: τὸ δεύτερον καταπέτασμα σκηνὴ ἡ
NAS: the second veil there was a tabernacle
KJV: the second veil, the tabernacle
INT: the second veil a tabernacle which

Hebrews 10:20 N-GNS
GRK: διὰ τοῦ καταπετάσματος τοῦτ' ἔστιν
NAS: for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,
KJV: through the veil, that is to say,
INT: through the veil that is

Strong's Greek 2665
6 Occurrences

καταπέτασμα — 4 Occ.
καταπετάσματος — 2 Occ.