CURTAIN
— a piece of cloth or similar material that acts as a decoration, shade, or
screen. The inner part of the
Tabernacle (the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies) was made of
ten blue, purple, and scarlet curtains (Ex. 26:1–13; 36:8–17). Eleven
curtains made of goats’ hair also covered the tabernacle.
Another curtain, or “veil,” of blue, purple, and scarlet
yarn and fine linen thread divided the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies
(Ex. 26:31–33). Still another curtain of similar design functioned as a door
to the tabernacle (Ex. 26:36–37).
In the New Testament the word “curtain” refers to the
curtain of the Temple that separated the inner court from the outer court.
This curtain was torn in two from top to bottom when Jesus died on the cross
(Matt. 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45; veil, KJV, NKJV, NASB), symbolizing
the opening of a new and living way to God (Heb. 6:19; 9:3; 10:20).
Youngblood, Ronald F. ; Bruce, F. F. ;
Harrison, R. K. ; Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's New
Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville : T. Nelson, 1995