What Does Mark 15:38 Mean in the King James?

And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

Mark 15:38 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The Greek verb Mark uses for the heavens splitting open at Jesus’ baptism is used here for the temple veil.

THE MEANING

The temple’s dividing veil stands torn from top to bottom. The boundary itself is ruptured, its opening reaching from above all the way down.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that the dividing boundary remains sealed is undone here: the veil is torn all the way through.

THE ROOT

ἐσχίσθη

eschisthē was split

GROWS FROM

σχίζω

To split or tear apart.

“rent” in this verse is eschisthē was split. This verb describes a rupture, not a curtain being drawn aside. Mark uses the same root when the heavens are described as opened at Jesus’ baptism, joining the Gospel’s opening scene to this torn boundary.

ALSO GROWS

schizomenous: A form of ⁨σχίζω⁩ meaning “being split open.”

σχιζομένους

Mark uses it for the heavens at Jesus’ baptism, echoing the tearing verb used for the veil.

schisma: A split or division.

σχίσμα

The related noun names a division itself, showing that the root reaches beyond cloth to the separation the veil represents.

THE PATTERN

When the boundary that hides divine presence is torn away, what was separated becomes accessible.

And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.

Isaiah 25:7 · KJVThe covering and veil over all peoples are removed, echoing the temple veil’s rupture.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Hebrews 10:19 · KJVThe torn boundary corresponds to access into the holiest.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

Mark 1:10 · KJVThe heavens are split open with the same Greek root used for the veil’s tearing.

THE THREAD

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

Mark 1:10 · KJV

At the baptism, the heavens are ⁨σχιζομένους⁩ (schizomenous, being split open); here the veil is ⁨ἐσχίσθη⁩ (eschisthē, was split). Mark uses one Greek root for both ruptures, linking the opening above Jesus with the temple’s torn boundary.

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