Topical Encyclopedia
The term "vail" is an archaic English word that is synonymous with "veil." In biblical contexts, a vail refers to a covering or curtain, often used symbolically or literally to denote separation, concealment, or modesty. The concept of a vail is significant in various passages throughout the Bible, serving both practical and theological purposes.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the vail is most prominently featured in the context of the Tabernacle and the Temple. The vail served as a physical barrier separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. This vail symbolized the separation between God and humanity due to sin. Only the High Priest was permitted to pass beyond the vail, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people (
Leviticus 16:2, 15).
Exodus 26:33 describes the construction of the vail: "Hang the veil under the clasps, and there behind the veil you shall bring the ark of the Testimony, and the veil will divide for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place."
The vail's presence in the Tabernacle and later in Solomon's Temple (
2 Chronicles 3:14) underscored the holiness of God and the need for atonement and mediation.
New Testament SignificanceIn the New Testament, the vail takes on profound theological significance with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. At the moment of Jesus' death, the vail in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom (
Matthew 27:51,
Mark 15:38,
Luke 23:45). This miraculous event symbolized the removal of the barrier between God and humanity, signifying that through Jesus' sacrificial death, believers now have direct access to God. The tearing of the vail represents the new covenant and the fulfillment of the law through Christ.
Hebrews 10:19-20 elaborates on this theme: "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."
Symbolic and Cultural AspectsBeyond its literal use, the vail also carries symbolic meanings in Scripture. In
2 Corinthians 3:14-16 , the Apostle Paul uses the imagery of a vail to describe the spiritual blindness of those who do not recognize Christ: "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."
In cultural contexts, the vail is also associated with modesty and propriety, as seen in the customs of women covering their heads (
Genesis 24:65,
1 Corinthians 11:5-6).
ConclusionThe concept of the vail in the Bible is rich with meaning, serving as a powerful symbol of separation and reconciliation. It highlights the holiness of God, the need for atonement, and the transformative work of Christ in bridging the gap between God and humanity.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) Hebrews mitpahath (
Ruth 3:15; marg., "sheet" or "apron;" R.V., "mantle"). In Isaiah 3:22 this word is plural, rendered "wimples;" R.V., "shawls" i.e., wraps.
(2.) Massekah (Isaiah 25:7; in Isaiah 28:20 rendered "covering"). The word denotes something spread out and covering or concealing something else (Comp.2 Corinthians 3:13-15).
(3.) Masveh (Exodus 34:33, 35), the veil on the face of Moses. This verse should be read, "And when Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face," as in the Revised Version. When Moses spoke to them he was without the veil; only when he ceased speaking he put on the veil (Comp.2 Corinthians 3:13, etc.).
(4.) Paroheth (Exodus 26:31-35), the veil of the tabernacle and the temple, which hung between the holy place and the most holy (2 Chronicles 3:14). In the temple a partition wall separated these two places. In it were two folding-doors, which are supposed to have been always open, the entrance being concealed by the veil which the high priest lifted when he entered into the sanctuary on the day of Atonement. This veil was rent when Christ died on the cross (Matthew 27:51;Mark 15:38;Luke 23:45).
(5.) Tza'iph (Genesis 24:65). Rebekah "took a vail and covered herself." (See also 38:14, 19.) Hebrew women generally appeared in public without veils (12:14;24:16;29:10;1 Samuel 1:12).
(6.) Radhidh (Cant. 5:7, R.V. "mantle;Isaiah 3:23). The word probably denotes some kind of cloak or wrapper.
(7.) Masak, the veil which hung before the entrance to the holy place (Exodus 26:36, 37).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n. & v. t.) Same as Veil.
2. (n.) Avails; profit; return; proceeds.
3. (n.) An unexpected gain or acquisition; a casual advantage or benefit; a windfall.
4. (n.) Money given to servants by visitors; a gratuity; -- usually in the plural.
5. (v. t.) To let fail; to allow or cause to sink.
6. (v. t.) To lower, or take off, in token of inferiority, reverence, submission, or the like.
7. (v. i.) To yield or recede; to give place; to show respect by yielding, uncovering, or the like.
8. (n.) Submission; decline; descent.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
VAILval.
SeeVEIL.
Greek
2665. katapetasma -- a curtain (the inner veil of the temple)... a compound of kata and a congener of petomai; something spread thoroughly, ie
(specially) the door screen (to the Most Holy Place) in the Jewish Temple --
vail...2571. kalumma -- a covering
... Word Origin from kalupto Definition a covering NASB Word Usage veil (4). a covering,
veil. From kalupto; a cover, ie Veil --vail. see GREEK kalupto....
Strong's Hebrew
4304. mitpachath -- a cloak... Word Origin from taphach Definition a cloak NASB Word Usage cloak (1), cloaks (1).
vail, wimple. From taphach; a wide cloak (for a woman) --
vail, wimple.
...6532. paroketh -- a curtain
...vail. Feminine active participle of the same as perek; a separatrix, ie (the sacred)
screen --vail. see HEBREW perek. 6531, 6532. paroketh. 6533 ....
6809. tsaiph -- a wrapper, shawl, or veil
... Word Usage veil (3).vail. From an unused root meaning to wrap over; a veil --
vail. 6808, 6809. tsaiph. 6810 . Strong's Numbers.
4541. maccekah -- a libation, molten metal or image
... a libation, molten metal or image. Transliteration: maccekah Phonetic Spelling:
(mas-say-kaw') Short Definition: covering. covering, molten image,vail...
7289. radid -- a wide wrapper, large veil
...vail, veil. From radad in the sense of spreading; a veil (as expanded) --vail,
veil. see HEBREW radad. 7288, 7289. radid. 7290 . Strong's Numbers.
4533. masveh -- a veil
... Usage veil (3).vail. Apparently from an unused root meaning to cover; a veil --
vail. 4532, 4533. masveh. 4534 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xiii. 52, "Therefore Every...
... 5. But why were they such as they were? "Because," says St. Paul, "thevail is upon
their heart.... How thevail then is taken away, the Apostle himself tells us....
Perfection in Faith
... The first meaning of my text is this. The child of God is a priest, and
as a priest he is sanctified to enter within thevail. He...
The Redeemer's Prayer
... censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his
hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within thevail: and he...
The Day of Atonement
... the Lord, and died; 2. And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother,
that he come not at all times into the holy place within thevail before the...
The Tenth Chapter of the Gospel of John. Of the Shepherd, and the...
... For Moses represented Him, and for this reason did he put avail before him, when
he was speaking to the people; because as long as they were in the law given...
Cannot be Proved from Scripture, that Believers under the Old...
... entered into heaven. Yet he did not ascend there before Christ, nor before
thevail of the temple had been rent in twain.". But to...
Heavenly Worship
... O Lord God of hosts, my King and my God!" Sion is now desolate; she hath been ravished
by the enemy; she hath been utterly destroyed; hervail hath been rent...
With the Opening of this ChapterWe Come to Quite a Different Theme...
... brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by the new and
living way which He hath consecrated for us through thevail,"that is to...
He Delighted in Latin Studies and the Empty Fables of the Poets...
... But it is true that over the entrance of the grammar school there hangs avail;
[169] but this is not so much a sign of the majesty of the mystery, as of a...
The Day of Atonement
... but the day of atonement being the type of the one great propitiation, it was but
once a year that the high priest entered within thevail with blood as the...
Thesaurus
Vail (44 Occurrences)... Rebekah "took a
vail and covered herself." (See also 38:14, 19.) Hebrew women generally
appeared in public without veils (12:14; 24:16; 29:10; 1 Samuel 1:12).
...Taches (7 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:33 And thou shalt hang up thevail under the taches, that thou mayest
bring in thither within thevail the ark of the testimony: and thevail shall...
Mayst (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:33 And thou shalt hang thevail under the buttons, that thou mayst bring
in thither within thevail the ark of the testimony: and thevail shall...
Buttons (7 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:33 And thou shalt hang thevail under the buttons, that thou mayst bring
in thither within thevail the ark of the testimony: and thevail shall...
Separation (50 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:33 And thou hast put thevail under the hooks, and hast brought in thither
within thevail the ark of the testimony; and thevail hath made a...
Thither (119 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:33 And thou shalt hang up thevail under the taches, that thou mayest
bring in thither within thevail the ark of the testimony: and thevail shall...
Veil (67 Occurrences)
... Rebekah "took avail and covered herself." (See also 38:14, 19.) Hebrew women generally
appeared in public without veils (12:14; 24:16; 29:10; 1 Samuel 1:12)....
Divide (71 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:33 And thou shalt hang up thevail under the taches, that thou mayest
bring in thither within thevail the ark of the testimony: and thevail shall...
Cherubs (52 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:31 And thou hast made avail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined
linen, work of a designer; he maketh it 'with' cherubs; (YLT)....
Partition (4 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:33 And thou hast put thevail under the hooks, and hast brought in thither
within thevail the ark of the testimony; and thevail hath made a...
Resources
What was the Holy of Holies? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was Herod's temple? | GotQuestions.orgIs the priesthood of all believers biblical? | GotQuestions.orgVail: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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