Topical Encyclopedia
The term "violet" in the context of the Bible is often associated with colors and flowers, though it is not explicitly mentioned by name in most translations. The color violet, a shade of purple, holds significant symbolic meaning throughout the Scriptures, often representing royalty, wealth, and priestly authority.
Symbolism of Violet in the Bible1.
Royalty and Wealth: The color violet, closely related to purple, is frequently associated with royalty and wealth in the Bible. This is due to the rarity and costliness of the dye used to produce purple garments in ancient times. In the Book of Esther, Mordecai is honored by King Ahasuerus and is clothed in royal garments of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and a robe of fine linen and purple (
Esther 8:15). This association underscores the color's connection to nobility and honor.
2.
Priestly Garments: Violet, as a shade of purple, is also linked to the priesthood. In the construction of the Tabernacle, God commanded Moses to use blue, purple, and scarlet yarns in the making of the priestly garments and the curtains of the Tabernacle (
Exodus 26:1). These colors were integral to the sacred attire, symbolizing the holiness and divine service of the priests.
3.
The Virtuous Woman: In
Proverbs 31, the virtuous woman is described as clothing her household in scarlet and herself in fine linen and purple (
Proverbs 31:21-22). This depiction highlights her industriousness and the honor and dignity she brings to her family, as purple was a color of high status.
Violet in NatureWhile the specific flower "violet" is not directly mentioned in the Bible, flowers in general are used metaphorically to convey the beauty and transience of life. In the Song of Solomon, the beloved is compared to the beauty of flowers, illustrating the splendor and fleeting nature of human life and love (
Song of Solomon 2:1-2).
Cultural and Historical ContextIn ancient times, the dye for purple and violet colors was extracted from the murex shellfish, found in the Mediterranean Sea. This process was labor-intensive and costly, making purple garments a luxury reserved for the wealthy and powerful. The use of violet and purple in biblical texts reflects this cultural and historical context, emphasizing themes of majesty, sanctity, and divine favor.
ConclusionThe color violet, while not explicitly named in most biblical texts, carries profound symbolic weight through its association with purple. It represents themes of royalty, priesthood, and virtue, woven into the fabric of biblical narratives and teachings.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Any plant or flower of the genus Viola, of many species. The violets are generally low, herbaceous plants, and the flowers of many of the species are blue, while others are white or yellow, or of several colors, as the pansy (Viola tricolor).
2. (n.) The color of a violet, or that part of the spectrum farthest from red. It is the most refrangible part of the spectrum.
3. (n.) In art, a color produced by a combination of red and blue in equal proportions; a bluish purple color.
4. (n.) Any one of numerous species of small violet-colored butterflies belonging to Lycaena, or Rusticus, and allied genera.
5. (n.) Dark blue, inclining to red; bluish purple; having a color produced by red and blue combined.
Greek
4209. porphura -- purple fish, purple dye, purple cloth... There were three familiar shades of purple in the ancient world: deep
violet,
deep scarlet (or crimson), and deep blue (, 2, 220).
...Strong's Hebrew
8504. tekeleth --violet,violet thread... 8503, 8504. tekeleth. 8505 .
violet,
violet thread. Transliteration: tekeleth
Phonetic Spelling: (tek-ay'-leth) Short Definition: blue.
...Library
How Love Spreads Its Excellence Over the Other virtues, Perfecting...
... And the light of the sun, equal as it is on theviolet and the rose, yet will never
make that so fair as this, or make a daisy as lovely as a lily....
The Preaching of Nature.
... Most of us are destined to occupy a lowly place in life. Our position is like
that of the humbleviolet, not of the towering forest tree....
While Vergilius, Going Slowly, was Thinking of These Things...
... wall; there were seats and divans of ebony enriched by cunning hands; lamp-holders
of wrought metal standing high as a man's head, and immenseviolet rugs on...
Christ Teaching Humility
... "The Fable of the Oak and theViolet." In a large garden there grew... "Yes," answered
theviolet, in its humility, "God has given you strength, and me sweetness....
Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies...
... curtains, curtains of goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, andviolet-colored skins
(Ex.26).... twisted linen,violet, purple, and scarlet twice dyed....
Resurgam
... the heart's-ease sprang from its own seed. I am sure that aviolet springs
from aviolet seed. I cannot doubt that the lily hath...
The People of the New Earth
... the tenth, a chrysoprasus (pale yellow and green, classed by moderns under topaz):
the eleventh, a jacinth (a deep red flame colour orviolet colour): the...
On the Holy Eucharist
... There are five colors used, namely, white, red, green,violet, and black....
Violet signifies penance, and is used in Advent and Lent....
Esther, the Queen.
... The palace garden was hung with awnings of white and green andviolet,
fastened with cords and silver rings to pillars of marble....
The Dream of St. Ursula
... He has soft grey wings, lustreless; and his dress, of subdued blue, hasviolet
sleeves, open above the elbow, and showing white sleeves below....
Thesaurus
Violet (3 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) The color of a
violet, or that part of the spectrum farthest from red. It
is the most refrangible part of the spectrum.
...Violet (3 Occurrences).
...Red (124 Occurrences)
... (see EXODUS.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) Of the color of red; that
part of the spectrum which is furthest from theviolet part....
Dyeing
... An analysis of the various Biblical references shows but four colors which were
produced on cloth by dyeing, namely, purple, blue (violet), crimson and scarlet...
Dye (1 Occurrence)
... An analysis of the various Biblical references shows but four colors which were
produced on cloth by dyeing, namely, purple, blue (violet), crimson and scarlet...
Viols (2 Occurrences)
Olive (61 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) One of the tertiary colors, composed ofviolet and green mixed in equal
strength and proportion. 7. (n.) An olivary body. See under Olivary....
Fringes (4 Occurrences)
... These tassels originally contained a thread of tekheleth, "violet." Jewish tradition,
however, has failed to retain the tekheleth, because of doubt as to the...
Ruby (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes
verging toviolet, or intermediate between carmine and hyacinth red....
Ray (2 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) One of the component elements of the total radiation from a body; any definite
or limited portion of the spectrum; as, the red ray; theviolet ray. 10....
Acid (2 Occurrences)
... One of a class of compounds, generally but not always distinguished by their sour
taste, solubility in water, and reddening of vegetable blue orviolet colors....
Resources
What is the meaning of the rainbow? | GotQuestions.orgViolet: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
