Dictionaries :: Colour

Colour:

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 (Gen 49:12), manna (Exd 16:31), snow (Isa 1:18), horses (Zec 1:8), raiment (Ecc 9:8). Another Hebrew word so rendered is applied to marble (Est 1:6), and a cognate word to the lily (Sgs 2:16). A different term, meaning "dazzling," is applied to the countenance (Sgs 5:10).

This colour was an emblem of purity and innocence (Mar 16:5; Jhn 20:12; Rev 19:8,14), of joy (Ecc 9:8), and also of victory (Zec 6:3; Rev 6:2). The hangings of the tabernacle court (Exd 27:9; 38:9), the coats, mitres, bonnets, and breeches of the priests (Exd 39:27,28), and the dress of the high priest on the day of Atonement (Lev 16:4,32), were white.

Black, applied to the hair (Lev 13:31; Sgs 5:11), the complexion (Sgs 1:5), and to horses (Zec 6:2,6). The word rendered "brown" in Gen 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 Zec 6:2, 6 and Rev 6:5. It was the emblem of mourning, affliction, calamity (Jer 14:2; Lam 4:8; 5:10).

Red, applied to blood (2Ki 3; 22), a heifer (Num 19:2), pottage of lentils (Gen 25:30), a horse (Zec 1:8), wine (Pro 23:31), the complexion (Gen 25:25; Sgs 5:10). This colour is symbolical of bloodshed (Zec 6:2; Rev 6:4; 12:3).

Purple, a colour obtained from the secretion of a species of shell-fish (the 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 (Jdg 8:26) and high officers (Est 8:15). They were also worn by the wealthy and luxurious (Jer 10:9; Eze 27:7; Luk 16:19; Rev 17:4). With this colour was associated the idea of royalty and majesty (Jdg 8:26; Sgs 3:10; 7:5; Dan 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 (Num 15:38). The loops of the curtains (Exd 26:4), the lace of the high priest's breastplate, the robe of the ephod, and the lace on his mitre, were blue (Exd 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 Gen. 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 (Sgs 4:3). Scarlet robes were worn by the rich and luxurious (2Sa 1:24; Pro 31:21; Jer 4:30. Rev. 17:4). It was also the hue of the warrior's dress (Nah 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 (Exd 26:1,31,36), and also in the high priest's ephod, girdle, and breastplate (Exd 28:5,6,8,15). Scarlet thread is mentioned in connection with the rites of cleansing the leper (Lev 14:4,6,51) and of burning the red heifer (Num 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).