Exodus 26:31-35

26:31 “You are to make a special curtain ¹  of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen; it is to be made ²  with cherubim, the work of an artistic designer. 26:32 You are to hang it ³  with gold hooks ⁴  on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold, set in ⁵  four silver bases. 26:33 You are to hang this curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony in there behind the curtain. ⁶  The curtain will make a division for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. ⁷  26:34 You are to put the atonement lid on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. 26:35 You are to put the table outside the curtain and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle, opposite the table, and you are to place the table on the north side.

Exodus 40:3

40:3 You are to place the ark of the testimony in it and shield the ark with the special curtain.

Exodus 40:5

40:5 You are to put ⁸  the gold altar for incense in front of the ark of the testimony and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:26

40:26 And he put the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain,

Matthew 27:51

27:51 Just then ⁹  the temple curtain ¹⁰  was torn in two, from top to bottom. The ¹¹  earth shook and the rocks were split apart.

Hebrews 9:3-4

9:3 And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. 9:4 It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark ¹²  were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

¹ tn Although translated “curtain” (traditionally “veil,” so ASV, NAB, NASB) this is a different word from the one used earlier of the tent curtains, so “special curtain” is used. The word פָרֹכֶת (farokhet) seems to be connected with a verb that means “to shut off” and was used with a shrine. This curtain would form a barrier in the approach to God (see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 289).

² tn The verb is the third masculine singular form, but no subject is expressed. It could be translated “one will make” or as a passive. The verb means “to make,” but probably has the sense of embroidering both here and in v. 1.

³ tn Heb “put it.”

⁴ tn This clause simply says “and their hooks gold,” but is taken as a circumstantial clause telling how the veil will be hung.

⁵ tn Heb “on four silver bases.”

⁶ tn The traditional expression is “within the veil,” literally “into the house (or area) of the (special) curtain.”

⁷ tn Or “the Holy of Holies.”

⁸ tn Heb “give” (also four additional times in vv. 6-8).

⁹ tn Grk “And behold.”

¹⁰ tn The referent of this term, καταπέτασμα (katapetasma), is not entirely clear. It could refer to the curtain separating the holy of holies from the holy place (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.5 [5.219]), or it could refer to one at the entrance of the temple court (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.4 [5.212]). Many argue that the inner curtain is meant because another term, κάλυμμα (kalumma), is also used for the outer curtain. Others see a reference to the outer curtain as more likely because of the public nature of this sign. Either way, the symbolism means that access to God has been opened up. It also pictures a judgment that includes the sacrifices.

¹¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

¹² tn Grk “in which”; in the translation the referent (the ark) has been specified for clarity.