יְרִיעָה

a hanging (as tremulous)

Definition

The Hebrew noun יְרִיעָה (yᵉrîyʻâh) refers to a curtain, drape, or hanging, specifically a large piece of woven fabric used to form a tent or a partition. In the Bible, it primarily denotes the finely crafted curtains that constituted the Tabernacle's structure and its inner divisions, such as the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:31-33). The term can also refer more generally to the tent coverings of a dwelling (Isaiah 54:2). Its basic sense is a large, flexible textile panel that can be hung, often designed to be tremulous or moving in the breeze.

Biblical Usage

This word is used almost exclusively in the context of the Tabernacle's construction in Exodus (26 times in Exodus 26-36), detailing the specifications for its curtains, their loops, clasps, and goat-hair coverings (e.g., Exodus 26:1-13). Outside of Exodus, it appears in poetic or prophetic texts referring to tent dwellings, as in Isaiah 54:2, where it symbolizes expansion, and in Song of Solomon 1:5, where it poetically describes the curtains of Solomon's pavilion. The usage is consistently tied to sacred architecture or domestic shelter.

Etymology

Derived from the root יָרַע (yāraʻ, H3415), which means 'to tremble,' 'to quiver,' or 'to shake.' The connection suggests the inherent quality of a large hanging cloth that moves or flutters, such as a curtain in the wind or a tent wall. This root gives the word its characteristic sense of something suspended and flexible.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it describes the very fabric of God's dwelling place among His people, the Tabernacle. Understanding יְרִיעָה enriches the reading of Exodus by highlighting the careful, God-ordained design for creating a sacred, separated space for worship. The curtains formed both the boundary and the beauty of the holy tent, prefiguring the temple and, ultimately, the incarnation of Christ as God 'tabernacling' among humanity (John 1:14). Their construction from specific materials and colors points to the glory, royalty, and sacrifice associated with God's presence.

In the ancient Near East, tents made from sewn-together curtains were the primary mobile dwellings for nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples, including the Israelites. The Tabernacle's curtains, however, were not ordinary goat-hair tents but elaborate, symbolic structures made of costly linens, dyed yarns, and precious metals. This elevated a common cultural object into a sacred artifact, signifying that the God of Israel was both immanent (dwelling in a tent like His people) and transcendent (dwelling in unparalleled holiness).

פָּרֹכֶת (pārōket, H6532) — specifically the inner 'veil' partitioning the Most Holy Place. כִּסּוּי (kissûy, H3682) — a general term for a covering or wrap. מָסָךְ (māsāk, H4539) — a screen or covering for a doorway, like the Tabernacle entrance.

Word Details

Scripture References