Lexical Summary paroketh: Veil, Curtain Original Word: פֹרֶכֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance vail Feminine active participle of the same as perek; a separatrix, i.e. (the sacred) screen -- vail. see HEBREW perek NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a curtain NASB Translation curtain (1), veil (24). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָּרֹ֫כֶת25 noun feminine curtain, before Most Holy Place, in tabernacle (P) (properly that which habitually shuts off, i.e. *parrâku (LagBN 88) Köii. 1, 201); — ׳פ absolute Exodus 26:31 17t. P; construct הַמָּסָ֑ךְ ׳פ Exodus 35:12; Exodus 39:34; Exodus 40:21; Numbers 4:5, הַקֹּדֶשׁ ׳פ Leviticus 4:6, הָעֵדוּת ׳פ Leviticus 24:3; in temple 2Chronicles 3:14. Topical Lexicon Material and Design Specifications The veil was crafted from “blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it” (Exodus 26:31). Its rich colors reflected royalty and sacrificial blood, while the linen signified purity. The embroidered cherubim visually guarded the holiness beyond the curtain. Four acacia pillars overlaid with gold and set in silver bases supported the veil (Exodus 26:32). Gold hooks suspended it, testifying to the sanctity of everything associated with it. Placement in the Tabernacle The veil divided the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33). Outside the veil stood the lampstand, table of the bread of the Presence, and altar of incense (Exodus 26:35; 30:6). Behind the veil rested the ark, its mercy seat overshadowed by cherubim. Thus the veil marked the earthly boundary of divine presence: “the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place” (Exodus 26:33). Liturgical Function Daily ministry stopped at the veil. Aaron and his sons trimmed lamps, arranged bread, and offered incense “outside the veil of the testimony” (Exodus 27:21; 30:6–8; Leviticus 24:3). No priest might enter beyond it except the high priest, and then only under the strictest regulations, emphasizing God’s holiness and mankind’s limitations. Day of Atonement Particulars Leviticus 16 anchors the veil in atoning ritual. The high priest entered “behind the veil” (Leviticus 16:2) with incense so “the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat” (Leviticus 16:13). He sprinkled the blood of the bull and goat “on the front of the mercy seat and before the mercy seat” (Leviticus 16:15). The veil thus became the threshold where substitutionary blood secured forgiveness, a vivid picture of propitiation. Transportation and Custody When the Tabernacle moved, Kohathites “spread over it a covering of porpoise skin, and shall put in its poles” (Numbers 4:5). Yet only Aaron and his sons could first lower the veil to conceal the ark before others approached. Numbers 18:7 reinforces this stewardship: “You and your sons are to carry out your priestly duties… the outsider who comes near must be put to death.” Transition from Tabernacle to Temple Solomon incorporated the veil into the Temple: “He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim embroidered on it” (2 Chronicles 3:14). Though the structure changed from movable tent to permanent house, the inner curtain retained its mediating role. Theological Symbolism 1. Separation: The veil embodied the gulf between a holy God and sinful humanity. Christological Fulfillment At the crucifixion “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). Heaven—not human hands—opened the way. Hebrews reflects on this reality: “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the veil, that is, His flesh” (Hebrews 10:19-20). The earthly veil pointed to Christ’s own body; His sacrifice removed the barrier, granting believers direct access. Practical Implications for Worship 1. Assurance of Access: In Christ, worshippers now draw near with boldness, no longer halted by a physical veil. Forms and Transliterations הַפָּרֹ֑כֶת הַפָּרֹ֔כֶת הַפָּרֹ֙כֶת֙ הַפָּרֹ֜כֶת הַפָּרֹֽכֶת׃ הַפָּרֹכֶת֮ הפרכת הפרכת׃ לְפָרֹ֨כֶת לַפָּרֹ֑כֶת לַפָּרֹ֔כֶת לַפָּרֹ֖כֶת לַפָּרֹ֜כֶת לַפָּרֹֽכֶת׃ לפרכת לפרכת׃ פָּרֹ֣כֶת פָּרֹ֥כֶת פָרֹ֗כֶת פרכת faRochet hap·pā·rō·ḵeṯ happaroChet happārōḵeṯ lap·pā·rō·ḵeṯ lappaRochet lappārōḵeṯ lə·p̄ā·rō·ḵeṯ lefaRochet ləp̄ārōḵeṯ pā·rō·ḵeṯ p̄ā·rō·ḵeṯ paRochet pārōḵeṯ p̄ārōḵeṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 26:31 HEB: וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ פָרֹ֗כֶת תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן NAS: You shall make a veil of blue KJV: And thou shalt make a vail [of] blue, INT: shall make A veil of blue and purple Exodus 26:33 Exodus 26:33 Exodus 26:33 Exodus 26:35 Exodus 27:21 Exodus 30:6 Exodus 35:12 Exodus 36:35 Exodus 38:27 Exodus 39:34 Exodus 40:3 Exodus 40:21 Exodus 40:22 Exodus 40:26 Leviticus 4:6 Leviticus 4:17 Leviticus 16:2 Leviticus 16:12 Leviticus 16:15 Leviticus 21:23 Leviticus 24:3 Numbers 4:5 Numbers 18:7 2 Chronicles 3:14 25 Occurrences |
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