from a compound of κατά and a congener of πέτομαι; something spread thoroughly, i.e. (specially) the door screen (to the Most Holy Place) in the Jewish Temple:--vail.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term καταπέτασμα (katapétasma, `{{G2665}}`) is a compound word derived from κατά (kata, `{{G2596}}`), meaning "down" or "thoroughly," and a root related to πέτομαι (petomai, `{{G4072}}`), which signifies "to fly" or "to spread." Thus, the literal sense conveys something "spread thoroughly" or "spread down." In its specialized biblical usage, καταπέτασμα refers exclusively to the "veil" or "curtain" within the Jewish Tabernacle and Temple. This was not merely any curtain, but specifically the inner curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies), where the Ark of the Covenant resided and God's presence was uniquely manifested. The term emphasizes its function as a complete barrier, thoroughly covering the entrance to the inner sanctuary.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term καταπέτασμα appears seven times in the New Testament, with significant theological implications.
In the Synoptic Gospels, it is prominently featured in the accounts of Jesus' crucifixion:
* [[Matthew 27:51]]: "And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split."
* [[Mark 15:38]]: "And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."
* [[Luke 23:45]]: "and the sun was darkened; and the veil of the temple was torn in two in the middle."
These three parallel accounts describe the miraculous tearing of the temple veil at the moment of Jesus' death. This was not a tearing by human hands but an act initiated "from top to bottom" (Matthew, Mark), signifying divine agency. The tearing of this specific veil, which guarded the Most Holy Place, is presented as a profound sign accompanying the culmination of Christ's atoning work.
The Epistle to the Hebrews provides a detailed theological exposition of καταπέτασμα:
* [[Hebrews 6:19]]: "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil." Here, the veil is used figuratively to represent the boundary between the earthly realm and God's heavenly presence, into which Christ, our forerunner, has entered.
* [[Hebrews 9:3]]: "Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies." This verse explicitly identifies καταπέτασμα as the "second veil," distinguishing it from the first curtain at the entrance to the Holy Place, and confirming its role as the barrier to the Most Holy Place.
* [[Hebrews 10:20]]: "by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh." This verse presents the most profound theological interpretation, explicitly equating Christ's "flesh" (his incarnate body and sacrificial death) with the torn veil, through which believers now have direct access to God.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary Hebrew equivalent for καταπέτασμα in the Septuagint (LXX) is פָּרֹכֶת (parokhet, `{{H6532}}`), which specifically denotes the veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle (e.g., [[Exodus 26:31]], [[Leviticus 16:2]]). This connection is crucial for understanding the Old Testament background to the New Testament's use of καταπέτασμα.
Related concepts include:
* **Tabernacle/Temple:** The physical structure where the veil was located, symbolizing God's dwelling among His people.
* **Holy Place and Most Holy Place:** The distinct areas within the sanctuary, separated by the veil, representing increasing degrees of holiness and proximity to God.
* **High Priest:** The only individual permitted to pass beyond the veil, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement, bearing the blood of sacrifice ([[Leviticus 16]]).
* **Atonement:** The theological concept of making amends for sin, traditionally achieved through sacrificial offerings and mediated by the High Priest, prior to Christ's ultimate sacrifice.
* **Access to God:** The central theme underscored by the tearing of the veil, moving from restricted, mediated access to direct access.
### Theological Significance
The καταπέτασμα holds immense theological significance, primarily centered on the concepts of separation, mediation, and ultimate access to God.
1. **Symbol of Separation:** Prior to Christ, the veil served as a stark physical reminder of the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity. It demarcated a sacred space that only the High Priest could enter, and only under strict conditions, emphasizing humanity's unworthiness and the need for mediation. It communicated the inaccessibility of God's immediate presence due to sin.
2. **Fulfillment in Christ's Sacrifice:** The tearing of the καταπέτασμα at Jesus' death is a pivotal moment in redemptive history. This miraculous event, occurring precisely when Christ "breathed His last," signifies that the barrier between God and humanity has been removed by divine initiative. Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, as the ultimate and perfect High Priest and sacrifice, fulfilled the purpose of the Old Covenant sacrificial system. The need for a physical veil and a mediating human priesthood was rendered obsolete.
3. **New and Living Way:** The Epistle to the Hebrews profoundly interprets the torn veil as symbolic of Christ's "flesh" ([[Hebrews 10:20]]). Through His incarnation, suffering, and death, Jesus himself *became* the way into God's presence. His broken body *is* the torn veil, opening a "new and living way" for all believers to draw near to God with confidence, not through ritualistic access to an earthly sanctuary, but through spiritual access to the heavenly one. This signifies the inauguration of the New Covenant, where direct communion with God is now possible for all who are in Christ.
### Summary
The Greek word καταπέτασμα (katapétasma, `{{G2665}}`) specifically denotes the inner veil of the Tabernacle and Temple, which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. This veil symbolized the profound separation between a holy God and sinful humanity, with access to God's immediate presence being strictly limited and mediated by the High Priest. The miraculous tearing of this καταπέτασμα at the moment of Jesus' death, as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, marks a pivotal theological event. This act, divinely initiated, signified the removal of the barrier to God's presence. The Epistle to the Hebrews further elucidates this, equating the torn veil with Christ's own "flesh" (His incarnate life and sacrificial death), thereby establishing a "new and living way" for all believers to enter directly into the presence of God. Thus, καταπέτασμα represents not only a physical barrier but also a powerful theological symbol of humanity's former separation from God and the new, unhindered access granted through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
TRV