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.

EXODUS 26:33KJV
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Exodus 26:33 (KJV)

What does Exodus 26:33 mean?

Exodus 26:33 describes how Moses is to hang a special curtain, called the veil, inside the tabernacle so that it separates the main area (the holy place) from the innermost area (the most holy place), where the ark of the testimony will be placed. This veil acts as a divider between two distinct sacred spaces within the tabernacle.

In this verse, God is giving Moses specific instructions about the layout of the tabernacle, the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness. The "vail" is a thick curtain hung under "taches" (clasps or hooks), and it marks off the most sacred area, which only the high priest could enter once a year. The ark of the testimony, a wooden chest holding the tablets of the covenant, is to be placed behind this veil.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 26:33

  • "Vail" (פָּרֹכֶת, parokhet): This word refers to a heavy, woven curtain. Its purpose here is to create a physical and symbolic barrier between the holy place and the most holy place, emphasizing the separation between God's presence and the people.
  • "Taches" (קֶרֶס, qeres): These are hooks or clasps used to hang the veil. Mentioning them highlights the practical detail in how the sacred space was constructed.
  • "Divide" (בָּדַל, badal): This verb means to separate or make a distinction. The use of this word underscores that the veil is not just a decoration but sets apart two very different spaces in terms of holiness.

Why Exodus 26:33 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the most holy place was not accessible to everyone, but was set apart for the presence of God and for specific rituals, showing the seriousness of approaching God in the Israelite tradition.
  • The detailed instructions about the veil and its placement help the reader understand the careful structure and boundaries within the tabernacle, which is a major theme in Exodus.
  • By specifying the location of the ark of the testimony, the verse connects the physical arrangement of the tabernacle to the covenant relationship between God and Israel, since the ark held the tablets of the law.

Where else these words appear

“taches” Hebrew H7165 · used in 7 verses

  • Exodus 26:6 And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
  • Exodus 35:11 The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,
  • Exodus 36:18 And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.

“vail” Hebrew H6532 · used in 23 verses

  • Exodus 26:31 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 39:34 And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering,
  • Leviticus 16:2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

“divide” Hebrew H914 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
  • Numbers 16:9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
  • Ezra 8:24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,

“testimony” Hebrew H5715 · used in 57 verses

  • Exodus 16:34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
  • Exodus 40:21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.