Topical Encyclopedia
The term "coloured" does not appear explicitly in the Bible; however, the concept of color and its significance is woven throughout the biblical narrative. In Scripture, colors often carry symbolic meanings and are used to convey deeper spiritual truths. The Bible uses colors to describe various elements, from the natural world to the tabernacle, priestly garments, and visions of the heavenly realm.
Symbolism of Colors in the Bible1.
White: Often associated with purity, holiness, and righteousness. In
Revelation 7:14, the saints are described as having "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." White garments are symbolic of the righteousness imparted to believers through Christ.
2.
Red: Symbolizes blood, sacrifice, and atonement. In
Isaiah 1:18, the Lord declares, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Red is also associated with the blood of Christ, which cleanses from sin.
3.
Blue: Represents heavenly origin and divine revelation. The Israelites were instructed to include a blue cord in the tassels of their garments as a reminder of God's commandments (
Numbers 15:38-39). Blue is often used in the description of the tabernacle and priestly garments, signifying a connection to the divine.
4.
Purple: A color of royalty and wealth. In the ancient world, purple dye was expensive and reserved for nobility. In the Bible, purple is used to describe the garments of kings and the rich. In the New Testament, Lydia, a seller of purple goods, is noted for her conversion and hospitality (
Acts 16:14).
5.
Scarlet: Similar to red, scarlet is associated with sin and sacrifice. The scarlet thread in the account of Rahab (
Joshua 2:18) symbolizes redemption and protection. Scarlet is also used in the tabernacle and priestly garments, indicating the need for atonement.
6.
Green: Represents life, growth, and renewal.
Psalm 23:2 speaks of God leading His people to "green pastures," symbolizing provision and rest. Green is often associated with the flourishing of the righteous (
Psalm 92:12-14).
7.
Black: Often symbolizes mourning, suffering, and judgment. In
Lamentations 4:8, the appearance of the people is described as "blacker than soot" due to their suffering. Black can also represent the absence of light and the presence of sin.
Use of Color in Biblical ImageryColors are used extensively in the construction of the tabernacle and the garments of the high priest.
Exodus 28:5-6 describes the use of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn in the ephod, signifying the glory and majesty of God. The use of these colors in worship settings underscores the holiness and beauty of the divine presence.
In prophetic visions, colors are used to convey messages and symbolize spiritual realities. For example, in
Ezekiel 1:26-28, the vision of God's glory includes a rainbow, symbolizing God's covenant and mercy.
Cultural and Historical ContextIn biblical times, the production of colored dyes was a complex and costly process, often reserved for the wealthy or for religious purposes. The significance of color in Scripture is deeply rooted in the cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East, where colors were imbued with meaning and used to communicate status, identity, and spiritual truths.
While the Bible does not address the concept of race or ethnicity in terms of skin color, it emphasizes the unity and equality of all people in Christ.
Galatians 3:28 states, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This verse highlights the spiritual equality and unity of believers, transcending cultural and ethnic distinctions.
Greek
2847. kokkinos -- scarlet... scarlet, crimson. From kokkos (from the kernel-shape of the insect); crimson-colored --
scarlet (colour,
coloured). see GREEK kokkos. (kokkinen) -- 1 Occurrence
...Library
The Glory-Coloured Thread.
... III The Lover Wooing (John i. 19-xii. 50) The Glory-Coloured Thread. It...
weaving. Here are glory-coloured threads of bright yellow....
Publications
... 6d. SCENES IN THE EAST. Consisting of twelveColoured Photographic Views of Places
mentioned in the Bible, beautifully executed, with Descriptive Letterpress....
Beasts Similarly Subject to the Law of Mutation.
... purple, and in the effulgence of his back more gilded than any edging, and in the
sweep of his tail more flowing than any train; many-coloured, diverse-coloured...
On Clothes.
... his riches. What, I ask, more graceful, more gay-coloured, than flowers?
What, I say, more delightful than lilies or roses? "And...
The Races --A Letter
... But the , or thecoloured man of the lower class, was in his glory.
He was smart, clean, shiny, happy, according to his light....
Letter xxxviii. To his Brother Gregory, Concerning the Difference...
... it is insensibly steeped in the variegated bright tints of its dye; imperceptibly
abstracting from our vision the combination of manycoloured things, with the...
Introduction.
... What a many-coloured career that was which began amidst the pastoral solitudes of
Bethlehem, and ended in the chamber where the dying ears heard the blare of...
The Boyhood of Jesus
... There is a lamp in the middle of the room, and round the walls there are
waterpots. There are bright-coloured quilts on a shelf....
The Body of Our Lord Placed in the Sepulchre.
... The men placed the sacred body on a species of leathern hand-barrow, which they
covered wit a brown-coloured cloth, and to which they fastened two long stakes....
September 7, 1890.
... dearest Godmother, that my Holy Child is beautifully adorned for my wedding-day;
[251] perhaps, however, you wonder why I have not put new rose-coloured candles...
Thesaurus
Coloured (21 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Coloured (21 Occurrences). Revelation 10:1 And I
saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed
...Leather (34 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Exodus 25:5 And sheepskinscoloured red, and leather, and hard wood; (BBE)....
Exodus 35:7 And sheepskinscoloured red, and leather, and hard wood, (BBE)....
Sheepskins (7 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:5 And sheepskinscoloured red, and leather, and hard wood; (BBE).... (BBE).
Exodus 35:7 And sheepskinscoloured red, and leather, and hard wood, (BBE)....
Colours (20 Occurrences)
... 5:30 Are they not getting, are they not parting the goods among them: a young girl
or two to every man; and to Sisera robes ofcoloured needlework, worked in...
Needlework (23 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:4 This is what they are to make: a priest's bag, an ephod, and a robe,
and a coat ofcoloured needlework, a head-dress, and a linen band; they are to...
Electrum (3 Occurrences)
... great cloud with flames of fire coming after one another, and a bright light shining
round about it and in the heart of it was somethingcoloured like electrum...
Banded (15 Occurrences)
... And at the time when the flock were with young, I saw in a dream that all the
he-goats which were joined with the she-goats were banded and marked andcoloured...
Marked (163 Occurrences)
... 30:33 And so you will be able to put my honour to the test in time to come; if you
see among my flocks any goats which are not marked orcoloured, or any sheep...
Robes (124 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:4 This is what they are to make: a priest's bag, an ephod, and a robe,
and a coat ofcoloured needlework, a head-dress, and a linen band; they are to...
Colour (22 Occurrences)
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