And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Parallel translations
- WEB The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
- KJV And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
- NKJV Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
- NASB And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
- NLT And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
At Jesus' death the temple veil tears from top to bottom. The way into God's presence is opened.
Overview
The curtain separated the Most Holy Place, where God's presence dwelt, from the rest of the temple. Torn from top to bottom, it is plainly God's own act, signifying that Christ's death opens direct access to God (Hebrews 10:19-20). The old barrier is removed; through the crucified Savior sinners may now draw near.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Heb 10:19–23Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
- Luke 23:45The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.
- Heb 9:3–12Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
- Matt 27:51–53At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
- Lev 16:2–19And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
- Exod 26:31–34Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
- Heb 4:14–16Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
- Heb 6:19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
- Exod 40:20–21Moses took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attaching the poles to the ark; and he set the mercy seat atop the ark.
- 2 Chr 3:8–14Then he made the Most Holy Place; its length corresponded to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 15:38 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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