2 Chronicles 3:14 kjv
And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubim thereon.
2 Chronicles 3:14 nkjv
And he made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and wove cherubim into it.
2 Chronicles 3:14 niv
He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.
2 Chronicles 3:14 esv
And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and he worked cherubim on it.
2 Chronicles 3:14 nlt
Across the entrance of the Most Holy Place he hung a curtain made of fine linen, decorated with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and embroidered with figures of cherubim.
2 Chronicles 3 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 26:31-33 | "You shall make a veil... for a separation between the Holy Place and the Most Holy." | Description of Tabernacle veil and its function. |
| Exod 36:35 | "He made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen..." | Moses' construction of the Tabernacle veil, matching materials. |
| Lev 16:2 | "tell Aaron... not to come at all times into the Holy Place inside the veil..." | High Priest's restricted access to the Holy of Holies. |
| Heb 9:3 | "Behind the second veil was a second room, called the Most Holy Place..." | New Testament description of the Tabernacle layout and veil. |
| Heb 10:20 | "by a new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh," | The veil symbolizes Christ's body, opening access to God. |
| Matt 27:51 | "And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom..." | The temple veil torn at Christ's crucifixion, signifying new access to God. |
| Mark 15:38 | "And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." | Parallel account of the tearing of the veil. |
| Luke 23:45 | "while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two." | Parallel account of the tearing of the veil. |
| Exod 25:8 | "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." | God's desire for a dwelling place, realized in Tabernacle/Temple. |
| 1 Kgs 6:33-34 | "For the entrance of the sanctuary he made doorposts of olivewood... also two doors of cypress wood..." | Describes the temple entrance doors to the Holy Place. (Different from the inner veil). |
| Exod 25:3-4 | "This is the contribution that you shall accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue, purple, and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen..." | Similar materials for Tabernacle furnishings, demonstrating their significance. |
| Exod 26:1 | "Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns..." | Curtains for the Tabernacle structure made of the same materials. |
| Num 4:5-6 | "When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen..." | Instructions for transporting the Tabernacle's most sacred contents. |
| Isa 1:18 | "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." | Crimson (scarlet) associated with sin, highlighting Christ's cleansing work. |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them..." | Ultimate fulfillment: God dwells directly with His people, no barrier. |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." | Encouragement to approach God directly due to Christ's work, post-veil tearing. |
| Ezek 10:1-22 | "Then I looked, and behold, on the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared..." | Detailed description of cherubim associated with God's throne/glory. |
| Gen 3:24 | "He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life." | Cherubim as guardians preventing access, mirroring their role on the veil. |
| Exod 26:36-37 | "For the entrance of the tent you shall make a screen of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen..." | The outer curtain for the Tabernacle, also with similar materials. |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory..." | Christ embodying God's presence, becoming the true 'tabernacle'. |
2 Chronicles 3 verses
2 Chronicles 3 14 Meaning
This verse describes the making of the veil for Solomon's Temple, a vital sacred textile separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies). It specifies the materials and colors used – blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen – along with the elaborate cherubim woven into it. This veil was a visual barrier signifying the sacred, set-apart presence of God and restricting access to His immediate dwelling.
2 Chronicles 3 14 Context
2 Chronicles 3 describes the construction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, building upon the detailed plans handed down from David, originally given by God (1 Chr 28:11-19). This specific verse focuses on the sacred veil (parokhet), an internal curtain crucial to the temple's function. It directly separates the Holy Place, accessible to priests daily, from the Most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies, which housed the Ark of the Covenant and represented God's immediate presence. Access to this innermost sanctuary was strictly limited to the High Priest, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), highlighting God's immense holiness and mankind's fallen nature that necessitated this separation. Historically and culturally, such an elaborate barrier emphasized the absolute transcendence of the divine, distinct from surrounding polytheistic beliefs where gods might be depicted as more accessible or less holy. The materials chosen were rare and costly, underscoring the honor and wealth dedicated to Yahweh's dwelling place.
2 Chronicles 3 14 Word analysis
- And he made: Refers to Solomon's directives and the skilled craftsmen employed, led by Huram-abi (2 Chr 2:13-14). This was a deliberate act, according to divine blueprint.
- the veil: Hebrew parokhet (פָּרֹכֶת). This specific curtain marked the most profound sacred boundary within the Temple and Tabernacle. Its purpose was to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's throne, resided. It physically limited human access to God's presence, signifying His unapproachable holiness apart from strict ritual requirements.
- of blue (תְּכֵלֶת - tekhelet): A dye extracted from the murex sea snail. Symbolizes the heavens, divinity, and God's holiness and glory. Priests also wore blue in their vestments (Exod 28:31).
- and purple (אַרְגָּמָן - argaman): Another precious dye, likely also from murex snails. Symbolizes royalty, kingship, majesty, and wealth. Associated with the garments of kings and rulers.
- and crimson (שָׁנִי - shani): Specifically "scarlet." A red dye derived from the kermes worm (Coccus ilicis). Symbolizes blood, life, and sacrifice (Exod 25:4). It is also symbolically linked to sin (Isa 1:18), emphasizing the need for atonement.
- and fine linen (בּוּץ - butz or שֵׁשׁ - shesh): High-quality, pure white linen, often associated with Egypt. Symbolizes purity, righteousness, holiness, and the priestly garments (Exod 28:6). Its whiteness provides a stark contrast to the rich colors, emphasizing purity.
- and wrought: Means to weave or embroider skillfully and artistically. This implies immense craftsmanship and value placed on the item, indicating it was not merely functional but also beautiful and reverential.
- cherubims (כְּרוּבִים - keruvim): Plural of cherub. Celestial beings associated with God's throne, His presence, and guardians of sacred space (Gen 3:24; Ezek 1:4-28, 10:1-22). Their presence on the veil reinforces the message of limited and sacred access to the Holy of Holies, reflecting their role in guarding Eden.
- thereon: Indicates the cherubim were embroidered or woven directly into the fabric of the veil itself. This integrated them visually with the barrier function.
- the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen: This phrase enumerates the precise materials and colors used for the most significant textile in the Temple. These four components (sometimes called "four-fold color") consistently appear in the Tabernacle and Temple furnishings. They represent aspects of God's character and salvation: His heavenly nature (blue), royalty (purple), sacrifice (crimson), and purity (fine linen). Together, they point to the multi-faceted glory of God and the necessary mediation for humanity to approach Him.
- the veil...and wrought cherubims thereon: This combination emphasizes the double reinforcement of separation. The veil itself is a barrier, but the imagery of the cherubim, traditionally guardians against unauthorized access to divine presence (as seen at Eden), further underlines the sanctity and impenetrability of the Most Holy Place. It warns of the sacred boundary that sinful humanity could not breach without severe consequence.
2 Chronicles 3 14 Bonus section
The Temple veil was typically quite thick and heavy, designed to physically obscure the Ark of the Covenant and the divine presence it symbolized. The meticulous specification of its materials and imagery points to its deep theological significance, not just an architectural detail. It wasn't simply a curtain but a foundational element of Old Covenant worship, consistently mirroring the Tabernacle's design and reinforcing continuity in divine instruction. The use of blue, purple, scarlet (crimson), and fine twined linen is consistently commanded for sacred coverings and priestly garments throughout the Pentateuch, indicating a divine preference for these materials in signifying sacred space and ministry. The prophetic shadow of the veil, pointing to the flesh of Christ, transforms it from a symbol of separation to a foreshadowing of ultimate union and communion with God.
2 Chronicles 3 14 Commentary
2 Chronicles 3:14 provides a concise detail about the central divider in Solomon's Temple, the veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This veil, replicating the one in the Tabernacle, was a powerful visual sermon. Its elaborate construction with expensive dyes and pure linen underscored the immense value and reverence given to God's dwelling. The inclusion of cherubim woven into the fabric served as a potent symbol: these guardians, seen at the entrance to Eden after humanity's fall, reinforced that humanity's direct access to God was cut off due to sin. The veil, therefore, was a constant reminder of God's transcendent holiness and the insurmountable barrier between a holy God and sinful people. Its eventual tearing at Christ's death marked a monumental shift, signifying the opening of direct access to God through Christ's own sacrificed body, rendering the old barrier obsolete (Heb 10:19-20).