Exodus 26:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.

NIV: Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

NASB: You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve as a partition for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.

CSB: Hang the curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony there behind the curtain, so the curtain will make a separation for you between the holy place and the most holy place.

NLT: Hang the inner curtain from clasps, and put the Ark of the Covenant in the room behind it. This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

KJV: And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.

NKJV: And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy.

Exodus 26:31–35 describes the veil separating the tabernacle into two rooms. The embroidered walls and ceiling (Exodus 26:2–3) were joined such that their seam reached 20 cubits into the tabernacle's 30-cubit length. This is where the veil was hung, creating a secluded space of 10 cubits on all sides. The veil is ornately embroidered and hangs from a series of gilded wooden pillars. The ark is the only object kept inside this "Most Holy Place." Outside the veil are a table (Exodus 25:23–24), lampstand (Exodus 25:31), and incense altar (Exodus 30:1). Centuries later, when Jesus is crucified, the equivalent inner veil in the temple of Jerusalem tears from the top down (Matthew 27:51).

God gives Israel instructions for the main structure of His sanctuary (Exodus 25:8–9). This is a "tabernacle:" a large tent. The inner walls are made of linen curtains embroidered with cherubim. The outer walls are a separate arrangement of goat hair curtains. These are draped over wooden frames. The entire assembly is covered with two more layers of animal skin. The tabernacle has an outer screen and a veil which divides the interior into two spaces. The first room is the Holy Place. The second, called the Most Holy Place, is the resting place of the ark (Exodus 25:10–11).

After the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17) and a few other rules, the rest of Exodus is mostly descriptions of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8–9) and its components. Chapter 25 introduced the ark, the table, and the menorah. This chapter details the large tent at the center of a large courtyard (Exodus 27:9). The next chapters describe various altars and sacred garments (Exodus 27—30).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.