Exodus 26:31
““You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman shall it be made.”
What does Exodus 26:31 mean?
The veil Moses describes here was the curtain that hung inside the Tabernacle, separating the holy place where priests worked from the most holy place where God's presence dwelt. Only the high priest could pass through it, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The specific colors (blue, purple, scarlet) and the fine linen represent the craftsmanship and beauty that Israel poured into meeting with God, showing that this wasn't a casual or careless barrier but something made with reverence and skill. For those of us reading today, the veil reminds us that while God was present with His people, there was still a distance between ordinary people and God's holiness, a separation that Jesus later removed when He tore the temple veil at His crucifixion, opening access to God for everyone.