Reference: Colour
Easton
The subject of colours holds an important place in the Scriptures.
White occurs as the translation of various Hebrew words. It is applied to milk (Ge 49:12), manna (Ex 16:31), snow (Isa 1:18), horses (Zec 1:8), raiment (Ec 9:8). Another Hebrew word so rendered is applied to marble (Es 1:6), and a cognate word to the lily (Song 2:16). A different term, meaning "dazzling," is applied to the countenance (Song 5:10).
This colour was an emblem of purity and innocence (Mr 16:5; Joh 20:12; Re 19:8,14), of joy (Ec 9:8), and also of victory (Zec 6:3; Re 6:2). The hangings of the tabernacle court (Ex 27:9; 38:9), the coats, mitres, bonnets, and breeches of the priests (Ex 39:27-28), and the dress of the high priest on the day of Atonement (Le 16:4,32), were white.
Black, applied to the hair (Le 13:31; Song 5:11), the complexion (Song 1:5), and to horses (Zec 6:2,6). The word rendered "brown" in Ge 30:32 (R.V., "black") means properly "scorched", i.e., the colour produced by the influence of the sun's rays. "Black" in Job 30:30 means dirty, blackened by sorrow and disease. The word is applied to a mourner's robes (Jer 8:21; 14:2), to a clouded sky (1Ki 18:45), to night (Mic 3:6; Jer 4:28), and to a brook rendered turbid by melted snow (Job 6:16). It is used as symbolical of evil in 6/2/type/emb'>Zec 6:2,6; Re 6:5. It was the emblem of mourning, affliction, calamity (Jer 14:2; La 4:8; 5:10).
Red, applied to blood (2Ki 3; 22), a heifer (Nu 19:2), pottage of lentils (Ge 25:30), a horse (Zec 1:8), wine (Pr 23:31), the complexion (Ge 25:25; Song 5:10). This colour is symbolical of bloodshed (Zec 6:2; Re 6:4; 12:3).
Purple, a colour obtained from the secretion of a species of shell-fish (the Murex trunculus, Illustration: Murex Trunculus) which was found in the Mediterranean, and particularly on the coasts of Phoenicia and Asia Minor. The colouring matter in each separate shell-fish amounted to only a single drop, and hence the great value of this dye. Robes of this colour were worn by kings (Jg 8:26) and high officers (Es 8:15). They were also worn by the wealthy and luxurious (Jer 10:9; Eze 27:7; Lu 16:19; Re 17:4). With this colour was associated the idea of royalty and majesty (Jg 8:26; Song 3:10; 7:5; Da 5:7,16,29).
Blue. This colour was also procured from a species of shell-fish, the chelzon of the Hebrews, and the Helix ianthina of modern naturalists. The tint was emblematic of the sky, the deep dark hue of the Eastern sky. This colour was used in the same way as purple. The ribbon and fringe of the Hebrew dress were of this colour (Nu 15:38). The loops of the curtains (Ex 26:4), the lace of the high priest's breastplate, the robe of the ephod, and the lace on his mitre, were blue (Ex 28:28,31,37).
Scarlet, or Crimson. In Isa 1:18 a Hebrew word is used which denotes the worm or grub whence this dye was procured. In Ge 38:28,30, the word so rendered means "to shine," and expresses the brilliancy of the colour. The small parasitic insects from which this dye was obtained somewhat resembled the cochineal which is found in Eastern countries. It is called by naturalists Coccus ilics. The dye was procured from the female grub alone. The only natural object to which this colour is applied in Scripture is the lips, which are likened to a scarlet thread (Song 4:3). Scarlet robes were worn by the rich and luxurious (2Sa 1:24; Pr 31:21; Jer 4:30; Re 17:4). It was also the hue of the warrior's dress (Na 2:3; Isa 9:5). The Phoenicians excelled in the art of dyeing this colour (2Ch 2:7).
These four colours--white, purple, blue, and scarlet--were used in the textures of the tabernacle curtains (Ex 26:1,31,36), and also in the high priest's ephod, girdle, and breastplate (8/5/type/emb'>Ex 28:5-6,8,15). Scarlet thread is mentioned in connection with the rites of cleansing the leper (Le 14:4,6,51) and of burning the red heifer (Nu 19:6). It was a crimson thread that Rahab was to bind on her window as a sign that she was to be saved alive (Jos 2:18; 6:25) when the city of Jericho was taken.
Vermilion, the red sulphuret of mercury, or cinnabar; a colour used for drawing the figures of idols on the walls of temples (Eze 23:14), or for decorating the walls and beams of houses (Jer 22:14).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the first came forth red, all over, as a mantle of hair, - so they called his name, Esau,
So Esau said unto Jacob. Do let me devour some of the red - this red, for, famished, I am. For this cause, was his name called Edom.
Let me pass through all thy flock to-day, removing from thence every young one that is speckled and spotted and every young one that is dark-coloured among the young sheep, and spotted and speckled among the goats, and they shall he my wages.
And it came to pass when she was in travail, that one put forth a hand, - so the midwife took and bound upon his hand a crimson thread, saying - This came first!
And afterwards, came his brother, on whose hand was the crimson thread, - so his name was called, Zerah.
Darker - his eyes, than wine, - Whiter - his teeth than milk!
And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna, - and the same, was like coriander seed white, and the taste thereof, like flat-cake with honey,
Also the habitation shalt thou make, with ten curtains, of twined linen, and blue, and purple, and crimson, with cherubim, the work of a skilful weaver, shalt thou make them.
And thou shalt make loops of blue on the border of each curtain, at the edge of the set, - and, thus, shalt thou do in the border of the curtain, that is outmost in the second set:
And thou shalt make a veil, of blue and purple, and crimson and fine-twined linen, - of the work of a skilful weaver, shall it be made, with cherubim;
And thou shalt make a screen for the opening of the tent, of blue, and purple and crimson, and fine-twined linen, - the work of an embroiderer.
And thou shalt make the court of the habitation, - on the south side southward, hangings for the court of fine-twined linen, a hundred cubits in length to the one side;
They themselves, therefore, shall take the gold, and the blue and the purple, - and the crimson, and the fine linen. And they shall make the ephod, - of gold, blue and purple crimson and fine-twined linen, the work of a skilful weaver.
And the curious band for fastening it, that is upon it, like the work thereof of the same, shall it be, - of gold blue and purple and crimson and fine-twined linen,
And thou shalt make a breastpiece for giving sentence the work of a skilful weaver, like the work of the ephod, shalt thou make it, of gold, blue, and purple and crimson and fine-twined linen, shalt thou make it.
that they may bind the breastpiece by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue, so that it may remain upon the curious band of the ephod, and the breastpiece not be removed from of the ephod.
And thou shalt put it upon a cord of blue, so shall it be upon the turban, - upon the forefront of the turban, shall it be.
And he made the court, - on the south side southward, the hangings of the court of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits;
And they made the tunics of fine linen the work of a weaver, for Aaron and for his sons: and the turban of fine linen, and the ornamental caps of fine linen, - and the linen drawers, of fine twined linen:
But when the priest vieweth the spot, and lo! there is, no appearance, of it deeper than the skin, and, no dark hair, is therein, then shall the priest shut up him that hath the plague-spot of scall, seven days;
then shall the priest give command, - and there shall be taken - for him that is to be cleansed - two living clean birds, - and cedar wood, and crimson am hyssop;
as for the living bird, he shall take, it, and the cedar wood and the crimson, and the hyssop, - and shall dip them and the living bird, in the blood of the bird that hath been slain over the living water;
and take the cedar wood and the hyssop, and the crimson and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the living water, - and sprinkle the house seven times;
A holy tunic of linen, shall he put on and drawers of linen, shall be upon his flesh, and with a band of linen, shall he gird himself, and with a turban of linen, shall his head be wrapped about, - holy garments, they are, therefore shall he bathe in water his flesh, and so put them on.
Therefore shall the priest who shall be anointed, and installed, to minister as priest in the stead of his father make propitiation, - So then he shall put on the linen garments the holy garments;
Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou shalt say unto them, That they shall make them fringes on the corners of their garments unto their generations - and shall put upon the fringe of the corner a cord of blue:
This, is the statute of the law, which Yahweh hath commanded, saying, - Speak unto the sons of Israel - That they bring unto thee a red heifer, without defect wherein is no blemish, and whereupon hath come no yoke.
Then shall the priest take cedar-wood and hyssop and crimson, - and east lute the midst of the burning up of the heifer.
Lo! when we are coming into the land, this cord of crimson thread, must thou bind in the window by which thou didst let us down, and, thy father and thy mother and thy brethren and all the household of thy father, must thou gather together unto thee unto the house.
And, Rahab the harlot and the household of her father and all that she had, did Joshua save alive, so she hath dwelt in the midst of Israel until this day, - because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
And so it was, that the weight of the nose-rings of gold which he requested, was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, - besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the raiment of purple that were upon the kings of Midian, and besides the ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.
And so it was, that the weight of the nose-rings of gold which he requested, was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, - besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the raiment of purple that were upon the kings of Midian, and besides the ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.
Ye daughters of Israel! For Saul, weep ye, - who clothed you in crimson, decked with lovely things, who hung ornaments of gold on your apparel!
And it came to pass, meanwhile, that, the heavens, had enshrouded themselves with clouds and wind, and there came a great rain, and Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel;
Now, therefore, send me a wise man, to work in gold and in silver and in bronze and in iron, and in purple and crimson and blue, and skilful to execute gravings, - with the wise men who are with me, in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom my father David did provide.
white stuff, cotton and blue, being held fast with cords of fine linen and purple, upon rods of silver, and pillars of white marble, - the couches being of gold and silver, upon a pavement of alabaster and white marble, and pearl and black marble.
And, Mordecai, went forth from the presence of the king, in royal apparel, of blue and white, with a large diadem of gold, and a mantle of fine linen and purple, - and, the city Shusan, was bright and joyful.
Which darken by reason of the cold, over them, is a covering made by the snow:
My skin, turned black, and peeled off me, and, my bones, burned with heat:
Do not look on wine when it becometh red, when it giveth in the cup its sparkle, glideth down smoothly.
She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
Continually, let thy garments be white, - and, ointment upon thy bead, let it not be lacking.
Continually, let thy garments be white, - and, ointment upon thy bead, let it not be lacking.
SHESwarthy, I am but comely, ye daughters of Jerusalem. THEYLike the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
SHEMy beloved, is, mine, and, I, am, his, he that pastureth among lilies!
The supports thereof, made he of silver, the couch thereof, of gold, the seat thereof, of purple, - the midst thereof, hath an inlay of love from the daughters of Jerusalem.
Like a cord of crimson, are thy lips, and, thy mouth, is lovely, - Like a slice of pomegranate, are thy temples, behind thy veil:
SHE.My beloved, is white and ruddy, conspicuous beyond ten thousand: His head, is pure gold, - his locks, are bushy, black as a raven;
Thy head upon thee, is like Carmel, And, the hair of thy head, is like purple, - The king, is held captive by the ringlets!
Come, I pray you, and let us settle the disputer Saith Yahweh, - Though your sins be found like scarlet, As snow, shall they be made white, Though they appear red like crimson, As wool, shall they become.
Come, I pray you, and let us settle the disputer Saith Yahweh, - Though your sins be found like scarlet, As snow, shall they be made white, Though they appear red like crimson, As wool, shall they become.
Surely, every boot of one tramping in tumult, and the war-cloak rolled in blood Then shall serve for burning, food for fire;
For this cause, shall the land mourn, and the heavens above be overcast: Because I have spoken have purposed, and have not repented nor will I turn back therefrom.
And when, thou, art laid waste, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothe thyself with crimson Though thou deck thyself with ornaments of gold Though thou enlarge with antimony thine eyes, In vain, shalt thou make thyself fair, - Paramours have rejected thee, Thy life, will they seek!
For the grievous injury of the daughter of my people, I am grievously injured, - I am enshrouded in gloom, Horror, hath seized me: -
Silver spread into plates, from Tarshish is brought, And gold, from Uphaz, Work for the craftsman and for the hands of the smith, - Blue and purple, is their clothing, Work for the skilled, are they all.
Judah mourneth, And the gates thereof, pine They lie in gloom on the ground, - And the outcry Jerusalem, hath ascended;
Judah mourneth, And the gates thereof, pine They lie in gloom on the ground, - And the outcry Jerusalem, hath ascended;
Who saith - I will build me a roomy house, with spacious roof-chambers, - So he cutteth him open its windows, And it is covered in with cedar, And he painteth it with vermilion.
Darker than a coal, is their visage, They are not known in the streets - Their skin shrivelleth on their bones, is withered, become like a stick.
Our skin, as with a furnace, is scorched, because of the hot winds of famine.
Yet did she add, unto her unchaste doings, when she saw men portrayed upon the wall, likenesses of Chaldeans, Portrayed with vermilion:
Of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt, was thy sail, To serve thee for ensign, - Blue and purple from the shores of Aeolis became thine awning:
The king began crying out again, to bring in the magicians, the Chaldeans and the astrologers, - the king spake and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever it is that shall read this writing, and, the interpretation thereof, shall declare unto me, with purple, shall he be clothed, and have a chain of gold upon his neck, and, as the third in the kingdom, shall he have dominion.
I, however, have heard concerning thee, that thou art able, interpretations, to unfold, and, knotty points, to unravel, - Now, if thou be able, the writing, to read, and, the interpretation thereof, to make known unto me, with purple, shalt thou be clothed, and, a chain of gold, shalt thou have upon thy neck, and, as the third in the kingdom, shalt thou have dominion.
Then Belshazzar, gave word, that they should clothe Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold upon his neck, - and should make a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler over the kingdom.
Therefore, shall it be night to you, for lack of vision, and darkness to you, for lack of divination, - and the sun, shall go in, over the prophets, and the day, shall be overcast because of them;
The shield of his heroes, is made red, the men of war, are clad in crimson, on fire, are the chariot-steels, on the day he maketh ready, - and, the lances, are put in motion.
I looked by night, And lo! a man riding upon a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees, in the shade; and, after him, were horses, red, bay, and white.
I looked by night, And lo! a man riding upon a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees, in the shade; and, after him, were horses, red, bay, and white.
In the first chariot, were red horses, - and, in the second chariot, black horses;
In the first chariot, were red horses, - and, in the second chariot, black horses;
In the first chariot, were red horses, - and, in the second chariot, black horses; and, in the third chariot, white horses, - and, in the fourth chariot, horses spotted, deep red.
They in whose chariot are the black horses, are going forth into the land of the North, and, the white, have gone forth after them, - and, the spotted, have gone forth into the land of the South;
They in whose chariot are the black horses, are going forth into the land of the North, and, the white, have gone forth after them, - and, the spotted, have gone forth into the land of the South;
And, entering into the tomb, they saw a young man, sitting on the right, clothed with a white robe, - and they were greatly alarmed.
Now, a certain man, was rich, and he used to clothe himself with purple and fine linen, making merry day by day, brilliantly.
and beholdeth two messengers, in white garments, sitting, one at the head, and the other at the feet, where had been lying the body of Jesus.
And I saw, and lo! a white horse, - and he that was sitting thereon holding a bow; and there was given unto him a crown, and he went forth conquering, and that he might conquer.
And there went forth another, a red horse, - and, unto him that was sitting thereon, it was given, unto him, to take away peace from the earth, and that, one another, they should slay; and there was given unto him a great sword. And, when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature, saying - Go! And I saw, and lo! a black horse, and he that was sitting thereon holding a pair of balances in his hand.
And there appeared another sign in heaven; and lo! a great red dragon, - having seven heads and ten horns, and, upon his heads, seven diadems;
And, the woman, was arrayed with purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, - having a cup of gold in her hand, full of abominations and the impurities of her lewdness;
And, the woman, was arrayed with purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, - having a cup of gold in her hand, full of abominations and the impurities of her lewdness;
and it hath been given unto her, that she should be arrayed in fine linen, bright, pure, for, the fine linen, is, the righteous acts of the saints.
And, the armies which were in heaven, were following him, upon white horses, clothed with fine linen, white, pure;