feminine active participle of the same as פֶּרֶךְ; a separatrix, i.e. (the sacred) screen; vail.
Transliteration:pôreketh
Pronunciation:po-reh'-keth
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term פֹּרֶכֶת (pôreketh), Strong's number `{{H6532}}`, is a feminine active participle derived from a root (likely related to פֶּרֶךְ) that implies a sense of separation or even forceful division. Its core meaning is that of a "separatrix" or a "divider." In its most common biblical usage, it refers to a "vail" or "curtain" that serves as a physical barrier. This barrier is not merely decorative but functions to delineate sacred space, separating areas of differing holiness or restricting access to the divine presence. The inherent sense of division is critical to understanding its sacred function.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term פֹּרֶכֶת (pôreketh) appears predominantly in the Pentateuch, specifically in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, where it describes the construction and function of the Tabernacle. Its most significant and frequent use refers to the inner curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies) within the Tabernacle.
* **Exodus 26:31-37**: This passage details the specifications for the "vail" (פֹּרֶכֶת), describing its intricate design with cherubim and its placement between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Its purpose was explicitly "to divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy" ([[Exodus 26:33]]). It hung upon four pillars and served to conceal the Ark of the Covenant.
* **Leviticus 16:2**: This verse underscores the gravity of the veil's purpose, stating that Aaron was not to "come at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat." This highlights the strict limitation on access to God's immediate presence, granted only to the High Priest, and then only on the Day of Atonement.
* **Numbers 4:5**: When the Tabernacle was disassembled for transport, the priests were instructed to cover the Ark of the Covenant with the "vail of the covering" (פֹּרֶכֶת הַמָּסָךְ). This emphasizes its role as a protective covering for the most sacred object.
The consistent use of פֹּרֶכֶת (pôreketh) in these contexts reveals its essential function as a sacred boundary, demarcating the most holy space and regulating access to the divine presence. It was a tangible representation of God's transcendence and His separation from sinful humanity.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of separation and sacred space implied by פֹּרֶכֶת (pôreketh) connects it to several other biblical terms and theological ideas:
* **`{{H4539}}` מָסָךְ (masakh)**: This word also refers to a "screen" or "curtain," but specifically the one at the entrance of the Tabernacle or the gate of the court ([[Exodus 26:36]], [[Exodus 35:17]]). While both פֹּרֶכֶת and מָסָךְ are curtains, פֹּרֶכֶת denotes the inner, more exclusive barrier to the Holy of Holies, whereas מָסָךְ typically refers to the outer entryways.
* **`{{H6944}}` קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh)**: The concept of "holiness" is intrinsically linked to the פֹּרֶכֶת. The veil's primary function was to protect the absolute holiness of the Most Holy Place and its divine inhabitant from defilement by human sin.
* **`{{H3722}}` כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporeth)**: The "mercy seat" or "atonement cover" rested above the Ark of the Covenant, behind the פֹּרֶכֶת. The veil thus served as the immediate barrier before the very place where atonement was made.
* **`{{H914}}` בָּדַל (badal)**: This verb means "to divide," "to separate," or "to set apart." The פֹּרֶכֶת is a physical manifestation of this divine act of separation, setting apart the sacred from the common.
### Theological Significance
The פֹּרֶכֶת (pôreketh) carries profound theological significance, serving as a powerful symbol of humanity's relationship with God under the Old Covenant:
1. **Divine Transcendence and Inaccessibility**: The veil vividly represented the absolute holiness of God and His separation from a sinful humanity. It underscored that direct access to God's immediate presence was impossible for the common person, and even for the High Priest, it was only permissible under very specific, divinely ordained conditions ([[Leviticus 16]]). It symbolized the barrier that sin created between God and humanity.
2. **Necessity of Mediation and Atonement**: The annual entry of the High Priest behind the veil on Yom Kippur, bearing the blood of atonement, highlighted the necessity of sacrifice and mediation for sins to be covered and for limited access to be granted. The veil remained, but a way *through* it was provided by divine grace.
3. **Anticipation of Christ's Work**: The most significant theological fulfillment of the פֹּרֶכֶת occurs at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Gospel accounts record that "the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" at the moment of Jesus' death ([[Matthew 27:51]], [[Mark 15:38]], [[Luke 23:45]]). This miraculous event symbolized:
* **Direct Access to God**: Through Christ's sacrificial death, the barrier of sin was removed, and direct access to God's presence was made available to all believers.
* **The End of the Old Covenant System**: The tearing of the veil signified the fulfillment and obsolescence of the temple sacrificial system, as Christ's "one sacrifice for sins has made perfect forever those who are being made holy" ([[Hebrews 10:12-14]]).
* **Christ as the New Way**: The author of Hebrews explicitly connects Christ's body to the torn veil, stating, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body" ([[Hebrews 10:19-20]]). Christ's flesh, broken on the cross, became the "new and living way" into God's presence, tearing down the spiritual barrier that the physical veil represented.
### Summary
The Hebrew word פֹּרֶכֶת (pôreketh), meaning "vail" or "curtain," primarily denotes the sacred barrier within the Tabernacle and Temple that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Its function was to underscore God's absolute holiness and transcendence, limiting direct access to His presence due to human sin. It symbolized the necessary separation between a holy God and an unholy humanity, requiring mediation and atonement. The profound theological significance of the פֹּרֶכֶת culminates in the New Testament with the tearing of the Temple veil at Christ's crucifixion, signifying the removal of the barrier of sin and the opening of a "new and living way" for all believers to enter directly into God's presence through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
TRV