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.
- BSB And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
- NKJV Then 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 10:19–23Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
- Luke 23:45The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
- Heb 9:3–12After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
- Matt 27:51–53Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
- Lev 16:2–19and Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother, not to come at all times into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.
- Exod 26:31–34“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman shall it be made.
- Heb 4:14–16Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession.
- Heb 6:19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;
- Exod 40:20–21He took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.
- 2 Chr 3:8–14He made the most holy place. Its length, according to the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and its width twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.
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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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.