The second curtain: there is no reference to a “first curtain” in Greek, only to a “first tent” in verse 2, and to a “second curtain” and “a tent called Holy of Holies” in verse 3. Good News Translation attempts to distinguish the two tents by referring to the “first tent” as the outer one, but this leaves the confusion of mentioning a second curtain without a first curtain having been mentioned. Late Jewish writers mention a first curtain in front of the Holy Place. Phillips avoids this difficulty by omitting “second.” Most modern English translations prefer curtain to the traditional “veil,” which now suggests an article of clothing. Since no mention has been made of a first curtain, it may be best to translate Behind the second curtain as “Behind a curtain” or “Behind a drape.”

A literal rendering of the tent called the Most Holy Place may wrongly imply two different tents rather than a single sanctuary consisting of two parts. In order to avoid such complications, it may be better to translate the phrase as “the part of the tent called the Most Holy Room,” since, again, a literal rendering of Place might suggest an enclosed area.

The traditional expression rendered “the Holy of Holies” (Revised Standard Version) is a Hebrew idiom meaning the Most Holy Place (Bible en français courant “the very holy place”). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch refers to a glossary note on “Temple.” In order to indicate clearly the significance of the Most Holy Place, it may be possible to speak of “that room which belongs to God more than any other place” or “that room which has been dedicated to God more than any other room.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .