Reference: Purple
American
The famous and costly Tyrian purple, the royal color of the ancients, is said to have been discovered by the Tyrian Hercules, whose dog having by chance eaten a shellfish called Purpura, and returning to his master with his lips tinged with a purple color, occasioned the discovery of this precious dye. Purple, however, is much more ancient than this, since we find it mentioned by Moses in several places. Two kinds of purple are mentioned in the Old Testament:
1. Argamon, rendered in our version "purple," denoting a reddish purple obtained from a species of muscle or shellfish found on the coasts of the Mediterranean.
2. Techieleth, rendered in the English Bible "blue." This was a bluish or cerulean purple, likewise obtained from another species of shellfish. The "scarlet" or "crimson," for the two words denote essentially the same color, was produced from the coccus in sect, coccus ilicis. All these were sacred colors among the Jews; and the latter was used for the highpriest's ephod, and for veils, ribbons, and cloths, Ex 26:1,4,31,36; 28:31; Nu 4:6-12; 15:38.
The "purple" of the ancients seems to have included many different tints derived originally from the shellfish, and modified by various arts in which the Tyrians excelled. As each fish yielded but a few drops of coloring matter, the choicest purple bore a very high price. Purple robes were worn by the kings and first magistrates of ancient Rome, and Nero forbade their use by his subjects under pain of death. Our Savior was clothed with a royal robe of purple, in mockery of his title, "The King of the Jews" Joh 19:2,5. Compare also Jg 8:26; Es 8:15; Pr 31:22; Da 5:7; Lu 16:19. Moses used much wool dyed of a crimson and used much wool dyed of a crimson and purple color in the work of the tabernacle, and in the ornaments of the high priest, Ex 25:4; 26:1,31,36; 39:1; 2Ch 3:14. The Babylonians also clothed their idols in robes of a purple and azure color, Jer 10:9; Eze 23:15; 27:7,16.
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and blue, and purple, and crimson and fine linen, and goats hair;
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.
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 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 a screen for the opening of the tent, of blue, and purple and crimson, and fine-twined linen, - the work of an embroiderer.
And of the blue and the purple, and the crimson, made they cloths of variegated stuff for ministering in the sanctuary, - and they made the holy garments which were for Aaron, - As Yahweh commanded Moses.
and put thereon a covering of badgers skin, and spread a complete wrapper of blue over above, - and put in the staves thereof. And over the Presence-table, shall they spread a wrapper of blue and put thereon the dishes and the pans and the bowls and the libation cups, the perpetual bread also, thereupon, shall remain; read more. and they shall spread over them a wrapper of crimson, and cover the same with a covering of badgers skin, - and shall put in the staves thereof. Then shall they take a wrapper of blue, and cover the light-giving lampstand, and the lamps thereof, and the snuffers thereof and the snuff-trays thereof, - and all the oil-vessels, thereof, wherewith they minister thereunto; and shall put the same and all the vessels thereof, within a covering of, badger's skin, - and shall put it upon a frame. And upon the altar of gold, shall they spread a wrapper of blue, and shall cover the same in a covering of badgers skin, - and shall put in the staves thereof, And they shall take all the utensils of attendance wherewith they attend in the sanctuary, and put them within a wrapper of blue, and cover the same in a covering of badgers skin, - and put them on a frame.
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:
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, 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.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
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.
Girded with waistcloths upon their loins With overhanging high turbans upon their heads, In appearance, knights all of theme-The likeness of the sons of Babylon of Chaldea, the land of their birth.
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:
Syria, was a trader of thine For the abundance of thy manufactures,- With carbuncle and purple and em- broidery and fine linen and coral and rubies, Took they part in thy traffic:
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.
Now, a certain man, was rich, and he used to clothe himself with purple and fine linen, making merry day by day, brilliantly.
And, the soldiers, plaiting a crown out of thorns, placed it upon his head, and, a purple robe, cast they about him;
Jesus, therefore, came forth outside, wearing the thorn crown, and the purple mantle. And he saith unto them - Lo! the Man!
Fausets
argan. Obtained by the Tyrians from the shell fish Murex purpura, and Murex conchylium. (Ex 25:4; 35:25; Jg 8:26; Pr 31:22).
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and blue, and purple, and crimson and fine linen, and goats hair;
And, all the women who were wise-hearted, with their hands, did spin, - and brought in that which they had spun - the blue, and the purple, the crimson, and the fine linen.
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.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
Hastings
Morish
A colour often mentioned with blue and scarlet in connection with the tabernacle. Ex 25:4, etc. Among the spoils taken from the Midianites under Gideon was "purple raiment that was on the kings," and it is used as a symbol of royalty. Jg 8:26. In derision the soldiers put a crown of thorns and a 'purple' robe on the Lord, as king of the Jews. Mr 15:17,20; Joh 19:2,5. The rich man in Lu 16:19 was clothed in purple; and papal Rome is seen as a woman clothed in purple and scarlet, royalty and splendour. Re 17:4; 18:12,16.
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and blue, and purple, and crimson and fine linen, and goats hair;
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 they array him in purple, and set upon him, when they have plaited it; a crown of thorns, -
And, when they had mocked him, they put off him, the purple, and put on him, his own garments. And they lead him forth, that they may crucify him.
Now, a certain man, was rich, and he used to clothe himself with purple and fine linen, making merry day by day, brilliantly.
And, the soldiers, plaiting a crown out of thorns, placed it upon his head, and, a purple robe, cast they about him;
Jesus, therefore, came forth outside, wearing the thorn crown, and the purple mantle. And he saith unto them - Lo! the Man!
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;
cargo of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and every article of ivory, and every article of wood most precious, and of copper, and of iron, and of marble,
as they say - Alas! alas! the great city! She that was arrayed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stone, and pearl, -
Watsons
PURPLE, ?????, Ex 25:4, &c; ???????, Mr 15:17,20; Lu 16:19; Joh 19:2,5; Re 17:4; 18:12,16. This is supposed to be the very precious colour extracted from the purpura or murex, a species of shell fish; and the same with the famous Tyrian dye, so costly, and so much celebrated in antiquity. The purple dye is called in 1 Macc. 4:23, "purple of the sea," or sea purple; it being the blood or juice of a turbinated shell fish, which the Jews call ?????. (See Scarlet.) Among the blessings pronounced by Moses upon the tribes of Israel, those of Zebulun and Issachar are, "They shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of the treasures hid in the sand," De 33:19. Jonathan Ben Uzziel explains the latter clause thus: "From the sand are produced looking glasses, and glass in general; the treasures, the method of finding and working which, was revealed to these tribes." Several ancient writers inform us, that there were havens in the coasts of the Zebulunites, in which the sand proper for making glass was found. The words of Tacitus are remarkable: "Et Belus amnis Judaico mari illabitur, circa ejus os lectae arenae admixto nitro in vitrum excoquuntur." "The river Belus falls into the Jewish sea, about whose mouth those sands mixed with nitre are collected, out of which glass is formed." But it seems much more natural to explain "the treasures hid in the sand," of those highly valuable murices and purpurae which were found on the sea coast, near the country of Zebulun and Issachar, and of which those tribes partook in common with their Heathen neighbours of Tyre, who rendered the curious dyes made from those shell fish so famous among the Romans by the names of Sarranum ostrum, Tyrii colores. In reference to the purple vestment, Lu 16:19, it may be observed that this was not appropriately a royal robe. In the earlier times it was the dress of any of high rank. Thus all the courtiers were styled by the historians purpurati. This colour is more properly crimson than purple; for the LXX, Josephus, and Philo, constantly use ???????? to express the Hebrew ?????, by which the Talmudists understood crimson; and that this Hebrew word expressed, not the Tyrian purple, but that brought to the city from another country, appears from Eze 27:7. The purple robe put on our Saviour, Joh 19:2,5, is explained by a Roman custom, the dressing of a person in the robes of state, as the investiture of office. Hence the robe brought by Herod's or the Roman soldiers, scoffingly, was as though it had been the pictae vestes usually sent by the Roman senate. In Ac 16:14, Lydia is said to be "a seller of purple." Mr. Harmer styles purple the most sublime of all earthly colours, having the gaudiness of red, of which it retains a shade, softened with the gravity of blue.
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and blue, and purple, and crimson and fine linen, and goats hair;
The peoples, unto the mountain, will they call, There, will they offer the sacrifices of righteousness, - For, the abundance of the seas, will they suck, Hidden treasures of the sand.
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:
and they array him in purple, and set upon him, when they have plaited it; a crown of thorns, -
And, when they had mocked him, they put off him, the purple, and put on him, his own garments. And they lead him forth, that they may crucify him.
Now, a certain man, was rich, and he used to clothe himself with purple and fine linen, making merry day by day, brilliantly.
Now, a certain man, was rich, and he used to clothe himself with purple and fine linen, making merry day by day, brilliantly.
And, the soldiers, plaiting a crown out of thorns, placed it upon his head, and, a purple robe, cast they about him;
And, the soldiers, plaiting a crown out of thorns, placed it upon his head, and, a purple robe, cast they about him;
Jesus, therefore, came forth outside, wearing the thorn crown, and the purple mantle. And he saith unto them - Lo! the Man!
Jesus, therefore, came forth outside, wearing the thorn crown, and the purple mantle. And he saith unto them - Lo! the Man!
And, a certain woman, by name Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, devout towards God, was hearkening, whose heart, the Lord, fully opened, to be giving heed unto the things being spoken by Paul.
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;
cargo of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and every article of ivory, and every article of wood most precious, and of copper, and of iron, and of marble,
as they say - Alas! alas! the great city! She that was arrayed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stone, and pearl, -