Mark 15:38
New International Version
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

New Living Translation
And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

English Standard Version
And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Berean Standard Bible
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Berean Literal Bible
And the veil of the temple was torn into two from top to bottom.

King James Bible
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

New King James Version
Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

New American Standard Bible
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

NASB 1995
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

NASB 1977
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.

Amplified Bible
And the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom.

American Standard Version
And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.

Contemporary English Version
At once the curtain in the temple tore in two from top to bottom.

English Revised Version
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom.

Good News Translation
The curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

International Standard Version
The curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.

Majority Standard Bible
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

NET Bible
And the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom.

New Heart English Bible
The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the vail of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom.

Weymouth New Testament
And the curtain in the Sanctuary was torn in two, from top to bottom.

World English Bible
The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom,

Berean Literal Bible
And the veil of the temple was torn into two from top to bottom.

Young's Literal Translation
and the veil of the sanctuary was rent in two, from top to bottom,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the veil of the temple was split in two from above to below.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the veil of the temple was torn in two, from the top to the bottom.

New American Bible
The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.

New Revised Standard Version
And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the door curtains of the temple were rent in two, from the top to the bottom.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the curtain of the entrance of The Temple was ripped in two from the top unto the bottom.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And the vail of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom.

Godbey New Testament
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top even to the bottom.

Haweis New Testament
And the vail of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.

Mace New Testament
Immediately the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom.

Weymouth New Testament
And the curtain in the Sanctuary was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Worrell New Testament
And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.

Worsley New Testament
And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death of Jesus
37But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last. 38And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”…

Cross References
Matthew 27:51
At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split.

Luke 23:45
The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

Hebrews 10:19-20
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, / by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,

Exodus 26:31-33
Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. / Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. / And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

2 Chronicles 3:14
He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim woven into it.

Hebrews 9:3
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,

Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

Ephesians 2:14-18
For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility / by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace / and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. ...

Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

Leviticus 16:12-15
Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil. / He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die. / And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. ...

2 Corinthians 3:14-16
But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. / And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. / But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Isaiah 25:7
On this mountain He will swallow up the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;

John 2:19-21
Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” / “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” / But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body.

John 19:30
When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.

Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, / through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.


Treasury of Scripture

And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.

Exodus 26:31-34
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 40:20,21
And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: …

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.

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Bottom Curtain End Parted Rent Sanctuary Temple Top Torn Twain Vail Veil
Mark 15
1. Jesus brought bound, and accused before Pilate.
6. Upon the clamor of the people, the murderer Barabbas is released,
12. and Jesus delivered up to be crucified.
16. He is crowned with thorns, spit on, and mocked;
21. faints in bearing his cross;
27. hangs between two thieves;
29. suffers the triumphing reproaches of the crowd;
39. but is confessed by the centurion to be the Son of God;
42. and is honorably buried by Joseph.














And the veil of the temple
The "veil" in the temple was a significant curtain that separated the Holy of Holies—the most sacred part of the temple where God's presence was believed to dwell—from the rest of the temple. This veil was a physical and symbolic barrier between God and humanity, representing the separation caused by sin. The Greek word for "veil" is "katapetasma," which denotes a covering or curtain. Historically, the temple veil was a massive, ornate fabric, emphasizing the grandeur and holiness of the space it concealed. Its presence underscored the inaccessibility of God to the common people, as only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement.

was torn in two
The tearing of the veil is a profound event, symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and humanity. The Greek word "schizo" means to split or divide, indicating a complete and decisive action. This act was not a mere accident or a result of human intervention; it was a divine act signifying that through Jesus' sacrificial death, the separation caused by sin was abolished. The tearing of the veil represents the new covenant, where believers have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, the ultimate High Priest. This event fulfills the prophecy and typology of the Old Testament, where the sacrificial system pointed to the need for a perfect mediator.

from top to bottom
The detail that the veil was torn "from top to bottom" is significant, indicating that the act was initiated by God, not by human hands. The direction of the tear suggests divine intervention, as it would have been impossible for humans to tear such a large and heavy curtain in this manner. This emphasizes that salvation and reconciliation with God are acts of divine grace, not human effort. Theologically, this signifies that God Himself has opened the way for humanity to enter His presence, highlighting the completeness and sufficiency of Christ's atoning work on the cross. Historically, this event would have been shocking to the Jewish people, as it challenged the established religious order and the role of the temple in worship.

Verse 38. - And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. There were two veils - one before the holy place, and the other before the holy of holies. The holy place would correspond to what we call the nave of the church, in which the priests were continually present; the holy of holies would correspond to our chancel choir - the holiest part of the building. This was always kept closed; nor might any one enter it but the high priest, and that only once in the year, on the day of expiation. The veil which was rent at our Lord's death was that which was placed before the holy of holies; it was called the καταπέτασμα. The outer veil was called κάλυμμα. It was the duty of the officiating priest, on the evening of the day of preparation, at the hour of evening prayer, which would correspond to the time of our Lord's death, to enter into the holy place, where he would of course be between the two curtains, or veils, the outer veil, or κάλυμμα, and the inner veil, or καταπέτασμα It would then be his business to roll back the κάλυμμα, or outer veil, thus exposing the holy place to the people, who would be in the. outer court. And then and there they would see, to their amazement, the καραπέτασμα, the inner veil, rent asunder from the top to the bottom. These veils or curtains, according to Josephus, were each forty cubits in height and ten in breadth, of great substance, very massive, and richly embroidered with gold and purple. Now, this rending of the veil signified

(1) that the whole of the Jewish dispensation, with its rites and ceremonies, was now unfolded by Christ; and that thenceforth the middle wall of partition was broken down, so that now, not the Jews only, but the Gentiles also might draw nigh by the blood of Christ. But

(2) it further signified that the way to heaven was laid open by our Lord's death. "When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers." The veil signified that heaven was closed to all, until Christ by his death rent this veil in twain, and laid open the way.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

veil
καταπέτασμα (katapetasma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2665: From a compound of kata and a congener of petomai; something spread thoroughly, i.e. the door screen in the Jewish Temple.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

temple
ναοῦ (naou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3485: A temple, a shrine, that part of the temple where God himself resides. From a primary naio; a fane, shrine, temple.

was torn
ἐσχίσθη (eschisthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4977: To rend, divide asunder, cleave. Apparently a primary verb; to split or sever.

in
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

two
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

from
ἀπ’ (ap’)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

top
ἄνωθεν (anōthen)
Adverb
Strong's 509: From ano; from above; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew.

to
ἕως (heōs)
Preposition
Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.

bottom.
κάτω (katō)
Adverb
Strong's 2736: (a) down, below, also: downwards, (b) lower, under, less, of a length of time. Also katotero; adverb from kata; downwards.


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