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/j2000'>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/j2000'>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 out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
and Esau said to Jacob, Give me to eat, I pray thee, of that red pottage; for I am faint. Therefore was his name called Edom.
I will pass through all thy flock today, setting apart all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown rams among the rams, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and of such shall be my hire.
And it came to pass when she travailed, that the one put out his hand, and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
And afterward his brother that had the scarlet thread upon his hand came out, and his name was called Zarah.
His eyes red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
And the house of Israel called its name Manna; and it was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet; with cherubim of cunning work shalt thou make them.
And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the border in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain in the coupling of the second.
And thou shalt also make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work; with cherubim shall it be made;
And thou shalt make a hanging for the door of the tabernacle of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen wrought with needlework.
In the same manner thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle; to the side of the Negev to the south there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of one hundred cubits long for each side;
And they shall take gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen, and they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.
And the special girdle of the ephod, which shall be over it, shall be of its same workmanship, of the same materials: of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and fine twined linen.
And in the same manner thou shalt make the pectoral of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it, of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and of fine twined linen.
And they shall bind the pectoral by its rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the special girdle of the ephod and that the pectoral not be loosed from the ephod.
And thou shalt put it on with a blue lace that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
He made the court likewise; on the south side towards the Negev the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits;
And they made the coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron and for his sons, likewise the mitre of fine linen and the decorations of the tiaras of fine linen and the linen underwear of fine twined linen,
But when the priest looks on the plague of the scall and if it does not look deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up the one that has the plague of the scall seven days;
the priest shall command to take for the one that is to be purified two birds, alive and clean, and cedar wood and scarlet and hyssop;
then he shall take the living bird and the cedar wood, and the scarlet and the hyssop and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the living water;
and he shall take the cedar wood and the hyssop and the scarlet and the living bird and dip them all in the blood of the slain bird and in the living water and sprinkle the house seven times.
He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen underwear upon his flesh and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he cover himself. These are holy garments; and he shall wash his flesh with water and put them on.
And the reconciliation shall be made by the priest who is anointed and whose hand has been filled to be priest in the place of his father; and he shall put on the linen clothes, the holy garments;
Speak unto the sons of Israel and bid them that they make for themselves fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue.
This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying, Speak unto the sons of Israel that they bring thee a red heifer, perfect, in which there is no blemish, and upon which there has never been placed a yoke;
Then the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.
Behold, when we come into the land, thou shall have bound this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by, and thou shall have brought thy father and thy mother and thy brethren and all thy father's household home unto thee.
And Joshua gave Rahab, the harlot, her life and also to her father's household and to all that she had; and she dwells in Israel even unto this day because she hid the messengers, whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, without the ornaments and collars and purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian and without the chains that were about their camels' necks.
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, without the ornaments and collars and purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian and without the chains that were about their camels' necks.
Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
And it came to pass in the meanwhile that the heavens became black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.
Send me now, therefore, a wise man who knows how to work in gold and in silver and in brass and in iron and in purple and crimson and blue and that knows how to engrave figures with the craftsmen that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David, my father, provided.
There were white, green, and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble; the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of porphyre and of marble and of alabaster and of blue.
And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white and with a great crown of gold and with a mantel of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
Do not look upon the wine when it is red, when it gives its colour in the cup, it goes down smoothly.
Lamed She shall not be afraid of the snow for her family, for all her family is clothed with double garments.
Thy garments shall always be white, and thy head shall never lack ointment.
Thy garments shall always be white, and thy head shall never lack ointment.
I am dark, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, more desirable as the booths of Kedar, as the tents of Solomon.
My beloved is mine, and I am his; he feeds among the lilies.
He made its pillars of silver, the bottom of it of gold, the covering of it of purple, its interior being paved with love, for the virgins of Jerusalem.
Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is lovely; thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
My beloved is white and ruddy; the standard-bearer among the ten thousands.
My beloved is white and ruddy; the standard-bearer among the ten thousands. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy and black as a raven.
Thine head upon thee is like scarlet, and the hair of thine head like the purple of the king hung in the galleries.
Then come, shall the LORD say, and we shall be even; if your sins were as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow; if they were red like crimson, they shall become as wool.
Then come, shall the LORD say, and we shall be even; if your sins were as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow; if they were red like crimson, they shall become as wool.
For every battle of him who fights is with shaking of the earth and the rolling of garments in blood; but this shall be with burning and consuming of fire.
For this shall the earth be made desolate, and the heavens above be darkened because I spoke; I purposed and did not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
And thou who art destroyed, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothe thyself with crimson, though thou deck thee with ornaments of gold, though thou paint thy eyes with antimony, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee; they will seek thy life.
For the destruction of the daughter of my people I am devastated; I am in darkness; astonishment has taken hold on me.
Silver spread into plates shall be brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, shall the workman work and the hands of the founder: they shall dress them in blue and purple: they are all the work of cunning men.
Judah mourns, and its gates languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
Judah mourns, and its gates languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cuts out windows in it and covers it with cedar and anoints it with vermilion.
Cheth Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets; their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered; it is dry like a stick.
Our skin became black like an oven because of the terrible famine.
and that she increased her whoredoms, for when she saw men painted upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans painted in colour,
Of fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was thy curtain, that it might serve to be thy sail; ; of blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was thy pavilion.
The king cried in a loud voice that they bring in the magicians, the Chaldeans, and the fortune-tellers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing and show me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold about his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
And I have heard of thee, that thou canst declare that which is in doubt and unravel difficulties: now if thou canst read this writing and show me its interpretation, thou shalt be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold about thy neck and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold about his neck and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Therefore the vision shall be made night unto you, and darkness unto those that divine, and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
The shield of his valiant ones shall be red, the men of his army are in scarlet, the chariot as fire of torches in the day which shall be made ready; the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him there were red horses, speckled, and white.
I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him there were red horses, speckled, 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; in the third chariot white horses and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.
The one with the black horses went forth towards the north country, and the white went forth after them, and the grisled went forth toward the south country.
The one with the black horses went forth towards the north country, and the white went forth after them, and the grisled went forth toward the south country.
And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting to the right hand side, covered in a long white garment; and they were frightened.
There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day;
and saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been placed.
And I saw and, behold, a white horse; and he that was seated upon him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth victorious, that he might also overcome.
And another horse went forth that was red, and unto him that was seated thereon was given power to take away the peace of the earth and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a great sword. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third animal, which said, Come and see. And I saw and, behold, a black horse, and he that was seated upon him had a yoke in his hand.
And there appeared another sign in the heaven; and, behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and of the filthiness of her fornication;
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and of the filthiness of her fornication;
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.
And the armies that are in the heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.