פֹּרֶכֶת
a separatrix, i.e. (the sacred) screen
Definition
The Hebrew word פֹּרֶכֶת (pôreketh) refers specifically to the 'veil' or 'curtain' that served as a sacred partition within the Tabernacle. Its primary function was to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies), where the Ark of the Covenant resided (Exodus 26:33). This veil was a finely crafted textile of blue, purple, and scarlet yarns and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it (Exodus 26:31). It was a fixed, immovable barrier, symbolizing the separation between a holy God and His people, and only the High Priest could pass beyond it, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2).
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in the context of the Tabernacle's construction and ritual in the books of Exodus and Leviticus. All 23 occurrences describe this single, specific curtain. Key passages detailing its construction and placement are Exodus 26:31-35 and Exodus 36:35-36. Its ritual significance is highlighted in passages like Exodus 27:21 and Leviticus 16:2, which govern the lamp outside it and the High Priest's entry behind it.
Etymology
פֹּרֶכֶת is a feminine active participle derived from the root פרך (prk), which carries the sense of 'breaking apart' or 'splitting.' It is related to the noun פֶּרֶךְ (perek, H6531), meaning 'crushing' or 'severity.' Thus, the word's etymology emphasizes its function as a 'separator' or 'that which divides,' perfectly describing its role as the partition in the Tabernacle.
Semantic Range
This word is profoundly theological. The פֹּרֶכֶת visually represented the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity, a theme central to the Old Testament sacrificial system. Its tearing at the moment of Jesus's death (Matthew 27:51) is a direct New Testament fulfillment, symbolizing that through Christ's sacrifice, the separation is removed, and believers now have direct access to God's presence (Hebrews 10:19-20). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of both Testaments by connecting the Tabernacle's physical barrier to the spiritual reconciliation accomplished in Christ.
In its original Ancient Near Eastern and Israelite context, the veil was not merely decorative but a fundamental component of sacred architecture, defining degrees of holiness within a sanctuary. Its elaborate craftsmanship and prescribed materials (Exodus 26:31) communicated the supreme value and unapproachable nature of the space it protected. This differs from a modern understanding of a simple curtain, as it was a divinely mandated, symbolic boundary integral to Israel's worship.
מָסָךְ (masak, H4539) — A general term for a 'screen' or 'covering,' used for the entrance to the Tabernacle courtyard (Exodus 35:17), less specific than the inner partition. כָּפֹרֶת (kapporeth, H3727) — The 'mercy seat' or 'atonement cover' on the Ark inside the Holy of Holies, representing the place of atonement made accessible once the veil was passed.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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