3407. yeriah
Lexical Summary
yeriah: Curtain, Covering

Original Word: יְרִיעָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: yriy`ah
Pronunciation: yeh-ree-AH
Phonetic Spelling: (yer-ee-aw')
KJV: curtain
NASB: curtains, curtain, tent curtains
Word Origin: [from H3415 (יָרַע - trembles)]

1. a hanging (as tremulous)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
curtain

From yara'; a hanging (as tremulous) -- curtain.

see HEBREW yara'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from yara
Definition
curtain
NASB Translation
curtain (23), curtains (28), tent curtains (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
יְרִיעָה54 noun feminine curtain (ᵑ7 יְרִיעֲתָא, Syriac ) — absolute יְרִיעָה Exodus 26:2 24t.; plural absolute יְרִיעֹת Exodus 26:1 17t.; יְרִיעוֺת 1 Chronicles 17:1; construct יְרִיעֹת Exodus 26:7 4t.; יְרִיעוֺת Habakkuk 3:7 2t.; suffix יְרִיעֹתָ֑י Jeremiah 4:20; Jeremiah 10:20; יְרִיעוֺתֵיהֶם Jeremiah 49:29; — curtain, of tabernacle Exodus 26:1,2(3 t. in verse); Exodus 26:8 (twice in verse) + 38 t. Exodus 26 and 36; Numbers 4:25 (all P); 2 Samuel 7:2 = 1 Chronicles 17:1; — in General (tent-) curtains Jeremiah 4:20; Jeremiah 10:20; Jeremiah 49:29; Habakkuk 3:7; Songs 1:5 (in all "" אֹהֶל); יְרִיעֹתיַ֗֗֗טוּ Isaiah 54:2 ("" הַרְחִיבִי מְקוֺם אָהֳלֵךְ), figurative of Jerusalem's prosperity; in simile נוֺטֶה שָׁמַיִם כַּיְרִיעָה Psalm 104:2.

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scope of the Term

יְרִיעָה (yeriah) designates a length of fabric large enough to function as a curtain, panel, or hangings. In Scripture it most often describes the rectangular cloths that formed the coverings and veil systems of the Tabernacle, but the word can also refer to domestic tent-cloths and royal draperies. Its basic sense is “spread-out cloth,” emphasizing both breadth and flexibility.

Frequency and Distribution in Scripture

Approximately fifty-four occurrences appear in thirty-nine verses. The highest concentration is in Exodus 26 and 36, where the construction of the wilderness Tabernacle is detailed. Additional appearances occur in Numbers 4 and 2 Samuel 7, with scattered poetic and prophetic uses (for example, Song of Solomon 1:5). The term is thus anchored in the Pentateuch but remains part of Israel’s vocabulary for portable or symbolic dwellings throughout her history.

Material Composition and Craftsmanship

Exodus specifies two primary sets of טְרִיעוֹת. The inner set, woven of fine twisted linen with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, bore cherubim worked by skilled artisans (Exodus 26:1). The outer set was spun from goat hair (Exodus 26:7), providing weather protection. Measurements (twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide per panel, Exodus 26:2) ensured modularity. Clasps of gold and loops of blue yarn joined the inner curtains, while bronze clasps joined the outer, maintaining the hierarchy of holiness: precious metals nearer the Presence, common metals outward.

Liturgical and Sacred Use

1. Coverings of the Tabernacle: The לְחָנוֹת (cherubim curtains) formed the tent itself, creating the sanctified space where the Ark of the Testimony resided.
2. Veil System: While the word “veil” is technically different, the curtains supplied the structural fabric from which the innermost partition was derived (Exodus 26:33).
3. Priestly Duty: Numbers 4:25 charges the Gershonites to transport the curtains, cords, and coverings, underscoring their sacred custody.
4. Davidic Covenant Backdrop: In 2 Samuel 7:2 David laments, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the Ark of God remains within a tent.” The term reminds the reader that even during united-kingdom zenith the Ark’s glory still lay under fabric, heightening anticipation of the Temple.

Domestic and Military Applications

Curtains also describe ordinary tents. Balaam beheld Israel’s encampment and exclaimed, “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!” (Numbers 24:5). The same vocabulary links the people’s everyday life with the sanctuary’s splendor, portraying covenant community as an extension of holy space. Prophetically, Isaiah 54:2 exhorts, “Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings,” using the metaphor of expanding fabric to announce post-exilic growth.

Symbolic and Theological Themes

1. Divine Presence in Transience: Portable curtains declare that God dwelt with His people even during pilgrimage. Holiness was not confined to stone but accompanied them in motion.
2. Holiness Graduated: Inner curtains of linen and gold reflected heavenly glory; outer goat-hair curtains absorbed wilderness hardship. The gradation illustrates that the path to God moves from common to consecrated.
3. Concealment and Revelation: Curtains both hide and unveil. Only the high priest could pass beyond the innermost barrier on the Day of Atonement, prefiguring fuller access yet to come (Hebrews 9:8).

New Testament Echoes and Typological Import

John 1:14 states, “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.” The incarnate Christ fulfills what the curtains symbolized: Immanuel dwelling not merely behind fabric but in human form. At the crucifixion, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). While the Greek term is καταπέτασμα, the Hebrew reader would recall the יְרִיעָה system that defined approach to God. The rending signifies that the substance has displaced the shadow; access to the Father is now immediate through the Son.

Lessons for Ministry Today

• Excellence in craftsmanship for God’s house honors His beauty; the meticulous detail of the curtains models reverent service.
• Mobility does not negate sanctity. Congregations meeting in temporary spaces can still experience authentic worship when Christ is central.
• The graduated holiness of the Tabernacle finds fulfillment in the believer’s sanctification: outer life visibly engaged with the world, inner life consecrated for communion with God.
• Evangelistic expansion: Isaiah’s call to “stretch out the curtains” encourages churches to enlarge their outreach, trusting the Lord who once dwelt beneath fabric to fill every enlarged place with His presence.

Forms and Transliterations
בִּירִיעֹ֖ת בַּיְרִיעָ֣ה ביריעה ביריעת הַיְרִיעָ֔ה הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הַיְרִיעָֽה׃ הַיְרִיעָה֙ הַיְרִיעֹ֔ת הַיְרִיעֹ֖ת הַיְרִיעֹ֗ת הַיְרִיעֹ֜ת הַיְרִיעֹֽת׃ הַיְרִיעֹת֙ הַיְרִעֹ֜ת היריעה היריעה׃ היריעת היריעת׃ הירעת וִירִיע֧וֹת ויריעות יְרִיע֖וֹת יְרִיעֹ֑ת יְרִיעֹ֖ת יְרִיעֹ֣ת יְרִיעֹ֤ת יְרִיעֹֽת׃ יְרִיעֹת֙ יְרִיעֹתָֽי׃ יְרִיעֽוֹת׃ יְרִיעוֹתֵיהֶ֧ם יְרִיעוֹתָֽי׃ יריעות יריעות׃ יריעותי׃ יריעותיהם יריעת יריעת׃ יריעתי׃ כִּירִיע֖וֹת כַּיְרִיעָֽה׃ כיריעה׃ כיריעות bay·rî·‘āh bayrî‘āh bayriAh bî·rî·‘ōṯ bîrî‘ōṯ biriOt hay·rî·‘āh hay·ri·‘ōṯ hay·rî·‘ōṯ hayrî‘āh hayri‘ōṯ hayrî‘ōṯ hayriAh hayriOt kay·rî·‘āh kayrî‘āh kayriAh kî·rî·‘ō·wṯ kîrî‘ōwṯ kiriot viriot wî·rî·‘ō·wṯ wîrî‘ōwṯ yə·rî·‘ō·ṯāy yə·rî·‘ō·w·ṯāy yə·rî·‘ō·w·ṯê·hem yə·rî·‘ō·wṯ yə·rî·‘ōṯ yərî‘ōṯ yərî‘ōṯāy yərî‘ōwṯ yərî‘ōwṯāy yərî‘ōwṯêhem yeriOt yerioTai yerioteiHem
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 26:1
HEB: תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה עֶ֣שֶׂר יְרִיעֹ֑ת שֵׁ֣שׁ מָשְׁזָ֗ר
NAS: with ten curtains of fine
KJV: [with] ten curtains [of] fine twined
INT: shall make ten curtains of fine twisted

Exodus 26:2
HEB: אֹ֣רֶךְ ׀ הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הָֽאַחַ֗ת שְׁמֹנֶ֤ה
NAS: of each curtain shall be twenty-eight
KJV: of one curtain [shall be] eight
INT: the length curtain of each eight

Exodus 26:2
HEB: אַרְבַּ֣ע בָּאַמָּ֔ה הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֥ה
NAS: of each curtain four
KJV: of one curtain four
INT: four cubits curtain of each measurements

Exodus 26:2
HEB: אַחַ֖ת לְכָל־ הַיְרִיעֹֽת׃
NAS: all the curtains shall have the same
KJV: cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one
INT: shall have the same all the curtains

Exodus 26:3
HEB: חֲמֵ֣שׁ הַיְרִיעֹ֗ת תִּֽהְיֶ֙יןָ֙ חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת
NAS: Five curtains shall be joined to one
KJV: The five curtains shall be coupled together
INT: Five curtains become shall be joined

Exodus 26:3
HEB: אֲחֹתָ֑הּ וְחָמֵ֤שׁ יְרִיעֹת֙ חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת אִשָּׁ֖ה
NAS: and [the other] five curtains [shall be] joined
KJV: and [other] five curtains [shall be] coupled
INT: another five curtains joined to one

Exodus 26:4
HEB: עַ֣ל שְׂפַ֤ת הַיְרִיעָה֙ הָאֶחָ֔ת מִקָּצָ֖ה
NAS: of the outermost curtain in the [first] set,
KJV: of the one curtain from the selvedge
INT: on the edge curtain of the one the selvedge

Exodus 26:4
HEB: תַּעֲשֶׂה֙ בִּשְׂפַ֣ת הַיְרִיעָ֔ה הַקִּ֣יצוֹנָ֔ה בַּמַּחְבֶּ֖רֶת
NAS: [them] on the edge of the curtain that is outermost
KJV: edge of [another] curtain, in the coupling
INT: shall make the edge of the curtain is outermost set

Exodus 26:5
HEB: לֻֽלָאֹ֗ת תַּעֲשֶׂה֮ בַּיְרִיעָ֣ה הָאֶחָת֒ וַחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים
NAS: in the one curtain, and you shall make
KJV: in the one curtain, and fifty
INT: loops shall make curtain the one fifty

Exodus 26:5
HEB: תַּעֲשֶׂה֙ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַיְרִיעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בַּמַּחְבֶּ֣רֶת
NAS: on the edge of the curtain that is in the second
KJV: in the edge of the curtain that [is] in the coupling
INT: shall make the edge of the curtain after set

Exodus 26:6
HEB: וְחִבַּרְתָּ֨ אֶת־ הַיְרִיעֹ֜ת אִשָּׁ֤ה אֶל־
NAS: and join the curtains to one
KJV: and couple the curtains together with
INT: of gold and join the curtains to one about

Exodus 26:7
HEB: וְעָשִׂ֙יתָ֙ יְרִיעֹ֣ת עִזִּ֔ים לְאֹ֖הֶל
NAS: Then you shall make curtains of goats'
KJV: And thou shalt make curtains [of] goats'
INT: shall make curtains of goats' A tent

Exodus 26:7
HEB: עַשְׁתֵּי־ עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה יְרִיעֹ֖ת תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָֽם׃
NAS: you shall make eleven curtains in all.
KJV: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
INT: eleven ten curtains shall make

Exodus 26:8
HEB: אֹ֣רֶךְ ׀ הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הָֽאַחַ֗ת שְׁלֹשִׁים֙
NAS: of each curtain [shall be] thirty
KJV: of one curtain [shall be] thirty
INT: the length curtain of each thirty

Exodus 26:8
HEB: אַרְבַּ֣ע בָּאַמָּ֔ה הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֣ה
NAS: of each curtain four
KJV: of one curtain four
INT: four cubits curtain of each measurements

Exodus 26:8
HEB: לְעַשְׁתֵּ֥י עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה יְרִיעֹֽת׃
NAS: the eleven curtains shall have the same
KJV: and the eleven curtains [shall be all] of one
INT: eleven ten curtains

Exodus 26:9
HEB: אֶת־ חֲמֵ֤שׁ הַיְרִיעֹת֙ לְבָ֔ד וְאֶת־
NAS: five curtains by themselves
KJV: five curtains by themselves, and six
INT: shall join five curtains themselves and the six

Exodus 26:9
HEB: וְאֶת־ שֵׁ֥שׁ הַיְרִיעֹ֖ת לְבָ֑ד וְכָפַלְתָּ֙
NAS: and the [other] six curtains by themselves,
KJV: by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double
INT: themselves and the six curtains themselves shall double

Exodus 26:9
HEB: וְכָפַלְתָּ֙ אֶת־ הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔ית אֶל־
NAS: the sixth curtain at the front
KJV: the sixth curtain in the forefront
INT: themselves shall double curtain the sixth about

Exodus 26:10
HEB: עַ֣ל שְׂפַ֤ת הַיְרִיעָה֙ הָֽאֶחָ֔ת הַקִּיצֹנָ֖ה
NAS: on the edge of the curtain that is outermost
KJV: of the one curtain [that is] outmost
INT: on the edge of the curtain of the one is outermost

Exodus 26:10
HEB: עַ֚ל שְׂפַ֣ת הַיְרִיעָ֔ה הַחֹבֶ֖רֶת הַשֵּׁנִֽית׃
NAS: on the edge of the curtain [that is outermost in] the second
KJV: in the edge of the curtain which coupleth
INT: on the edge of the curtain set the second

Exodus 26:12
HEB: וְסֶ֙רַח֙ הָעֹדֵ֔ף בִּירִיעֹ֖ת הָאֹ֑הֶל חֲצִ֤י
NAS: over in the curtains of the tent,
KJV: that remaineth of the curtains of the tent,
INT: the overlapping is left the curtains of the tent the half

Exodus 26:12
HEB: הָאֹ֑הֶל חֲצִ֤י הַיְרִיעָה֙ הָעֹדֶ֔פֶת תִּסְרַ֕ח
NAS: the half curtain that is left over,
KJV: the half curtain that remaineth,
INT: of the tent the half curtain over shall lap

Exodus 26:13
HEB: בָּעֹדֵ֔ף בְּאֹ֖רֶךְ יְרִיעֹ֣ת הָאֹ֑הֶל יִהְיֶ֨ה
NAS: in the length of the curtains of the tent,
KJV: in the length of the curtains of the tent,
INT: is left the length of the curtains of the tent become

Exodus 36:8
HEB: הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן עֶ֣שֶׂר יְרִיעֹ֑ת שֵׁ֣שׁ מָשְׁזָ֗ר
NAS: with ten curtains; of fine
KJV: ten curtains [of] fine twined
INT: the tabernacle ten curtains of fine twisted

54 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3407
54 Occurrences


bay·rî·‘āh — 2 Occ.
bî·rî·‘ōṯ — 1 Occ.
hay·rî·‘āh — 21 Occ.
hay·rî·‘ōṯ — 10 Occ.
kay·rî·‘āh — 1 Occ.
kî·rî·‘ō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
wî·rî·‘ō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
yə·rî·‘ōṯ — 14 Occ.
yə·rî·‘ō·ṯāy — 2 Occ.
yə·rî·‘ō·w·ṯê·hem — 1 Occ.

3406
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