2 Chronicles 3:14

And he made the vail [of] blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.

And he made {H6213} the vail {H6532} of blue {H8504}, and purple {H713}, and crimson {H3758}, and fine linen {H948}, and wrought {H5927} cherubims {H3742} thereon.

He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson material and of fine linen, with a design of k'ruvim worked into it.

He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim woven into it.

And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubim thereon.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 3:14 describes a crucial architectural and symbolic element of Solomon's Temple: the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, also known as the Holy of Holies. This verse specifies the rich materials and intricate design of this sacred curtain, emphasizing its importance in ancient Israelite worship.

Context

This verse is part of the detailed account of King Solomon's construction of the first permanent Temple in Jerusalem, a monumental undertaking that fulfilled his father David's desire to build a house for the Lord. The design of this Temple largely followed the pattern of the portable Tabernacle given to Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 26:31-33). The veil mentioned here served the same function as its Tabernacle predecessor: to delineate the most sacred space where God's presence was believed to dwell, accessible only to the High Priest once a year on the Day of Atonement.

Key Themes

  • Divine Separation and Holiness: The veil profoundly symbolized the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity. It underscored God's absolute purity and the reverence required to approach Him. The Most Holy Place represented God's immediate presence, which was too sacred for common access.
  • Symbolism of Materials and Colors:
    • Blue: Often associated with heaven, divinity, and God's heavenly dwelling.
    • Purple: Signified royalty, majesty, and kingly authority, fitting for the King of the universe.
    • Crimson (or Scarlet): Represented life, vitality, and often sacrifice, foreshadowing the blood shed for atonement.
    • Fine Linen: Symbolized purity, righteousness, and holiness.
    • Cherubims: These winged angelic beings were embroidered onto the veil. They frequently appear in Scripture as guardians of God's holy presence, as seen with their role in guarding the Garden of Eden after the fall (Genesis 3:24) and in visions of God's throne (Ezekiel 10). Their presence on the veil reinforced the sanctity and guarded nature of the Holy of Holies.
  • Continuity and Perfection: The Temple's veil, mirroring the Tabernacle's, showed continuity in God's prescribed worship. The lavishness of the materials also highlighted the Temple's grandeur as a fitting dwelling place for the Almighty.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "vail" here is parokhet (ืคึธึผืจึนื›ึถืช), which specifically refers to this inner curtain that screened off the Most Holy Place. The "cherubims" are keruvim (ื›ึฐึผืจื•ึผื‘ึดื™ื), a class of angelic beings closely associated with God's glory and presence.

Significance and Application

The veil of the Temple holds immense theological significance, particularly in light of the New Testament. This ancient barrier gained profound meaning when the temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom at the moment of Christ's death (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). This dramatic event was a divine declaration that the old system of separation was over. Through Jesus' perfect sacrifice, the way to God was now fully opened for all who believe.

The tearing of the veil signifies that:

  • Direct Access to God: No longer is there a physical barrier between God and humanity. Believers can now boldly approach God's throne of grace through Christ, our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:16).
  • A New Covenant: Jesus' death inaugurated a new and living way to God (Hebrews 10:19-20), fulfilling the Law and the sacrificial system. The need for a mediating High Priest and sacrificial animals to cover sins once a year was abolished by Christ's one-time, perfect sacrifice.

Thus, 2 Chronicles 3:14, while detailing an ancient architectural feature, points forward to the ultimate act of redemption that would forever change humanity's relationship with God.

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Cross-References

  • Hebrews 9:3 (3 votes)

    And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

  • Exodus 26:31 (2 votes)

    ยถ And thou shalt make a vail [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

  • Exodus 26:35 (2 votes)

    And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

  • Matthew 27:51 (2 votes)

    And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

  • Hebrews 10:20 (2 votes)

    By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;