What Does Veil Mean in Scripture?
And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Key Facts
Term Name
Veil
Primary Meaning
Represents separation from God's holiness and access granted through Christ.
Old Testament Reference
The tabernacle veil in Exodus 26:31-33 separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
New Testament Fulfillment
Jesus' death tears the temple veil (Matthew 27:51), establishing direct access to God.
Key Takeaways
- The veil symbolizes separation between God's holiness and humanity, requiring mediation.
- Moses' veil (Exodus 34:33-35) temporarily concealed God's glory from Israel.
- Jesus' sacrifice tore the temple veil (Matthew 27:51), granting believers direct access to God.
The Veil in the Old Testament Tabernacle
The tabernacle's veil, first described in Exodus 26:31-33, physically separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, symbolizing the sacred distance between God and humanity.
This fabric barrier, woven with intricate designs of cherubim, allowed only the high priest to enter the Most Holy Place once a year, underscoring the need for a mediator to approach God's holiness. Exodus 34:33-35 further deepens this symbolism, recounting how Moses veiled his face after encountering God's glory, hiding it from the Israelites until he entered God's presence again. Both the tabernacle veil and Moses' veil highlight the tension between divine transcendence and human access to the sacred.
By obscuring direct access to God's presence, these veils emphasized the necessity of atonement and ritual purity, themes that would later find resolution in the New Testament's declaration that Christ 'tore the veil' (Hebrews 10:20), redefining the relationship between humanity and the divine.
The Veil Torn in the New Testament
The tearing of the temple veil at Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:51) redefines the symbolic barrier between humanity and God, transforming its meaning from a gatekeeper of holiness to a sign of divine access granted through Christ.
In Matthew 27:51, the veil is described as splitting ‘from top to bottom,’ a dramatic reversal of its original role in Exodus 26:31-33 as a divider between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. This act symbolizes the collapse of the ritualistic separation between God and humanity, fulfilling Exodus’ imagery of a mediator (Moses) by revealing Jesus as the ultimate mediator. The torn veil no longer obscures access but instead opens a ‘new and living way’ (Hebrews 10:20) into God’s presence.
Hebrews 10:19-20 explicitly reinterprets the tabernacle’s veil, stating that believers now approach God ‘by the blood of Jesus’ and through a ‘once-for-all’ sacrifice. The physical veil, which once restricted access to the High Priest, is replaced by Christ’s priesthood, whose sacrifice dismantles the need for intermediaries and rituals.
While Moses’ veil (Exodus 34:33-35) temporarily shielded the Israelites from God’s glory, Christ’s act of tearing the temple veil establishes a permanent removal of the barrier. This contrast underscores the New Covenant’s emphasis on direct communion with God through Jesus, bridging the gap that once required atonement and purification rituals. The next section will explore how this transformation reshapes Christian identity and worship.
The Veil and Our Access to God Today
The removal of the veil in Christ reshapes Christian worship by granting direct access to God’s presence.
In 2 Corinthians 3:14-16, Paul contrasts Moses’ temporary veil—symbolizing the Israelites’ inability to see God’s glory—with the believer’s unveiled face before God. Christ’s sacrifice removes the spiritual barrier, allowing believers to behold His glory and be transformed (2 Cor. 3:18). This transformation is not a future promise but a present reality: the Holy Spirit writes God’s law on hearts (Heb. 8:10), replacing ritual mediation with a living relationship. Practically, this means prayer becomes a bold conversation with a Father, holiness grows from intimacy with Christ, and assurance of salvation rests on the indelible mark of the Spirit, not ceremonial rules.
For modern believers, the veil’s removal underscores the freedom to approach God with confidence (Heb. 4:16) while calling us to reflect His holiness in a world still veiled by sin.
Exploring Further
To deepen our understanding of the veil’s symbolism, we can examine its use in other biblical contexts and traditions.
In Exodus 34:33-35, Moses veils his face to shield the Israelites from God’s radiant glory, a motif reinterpreted in Hebrews 9:3-7 and 10:20, where the temple veil symbolizes Christ’s role in granting direct access to God. Paul’s discussion of veils in 1 Corinthians 11:13-15 addresses cultural practices of head coverings, while rabbinic traditions highlight the tabernacle’s veil as a symbol of divine mystery and the need for humility before God’s holiness.
Further Reading
Key Scripture Mentions
Exodus 26:31-33
The tabernacle veil separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
Matthew 27:51
The temple veil tears at Jesus' death, symbolizing access to God.
Hebrews 10:20
Christ's sacrifice creates a 'new and living way' into God's presence.
Related Concepts
Mediator (Theological Concepts)
The role of Christ as the ultimate mediator between God and humanity.
Curtain of the Temple (Symbols)
A physical barrier symbolizing access to God's presence.
High Priest (Figures)
The annual ritual entry into the Most Holy Place under the old covenant.