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 (Genesis 49:12), manna (Exodus 16:31), snow (Isaiah 1:18), horses (Zechariah 1:8), raiment (Ecclesiastes 9:8). Another Hebrew word so rendered is applied to marble (Esther 1:6), and a cognate word to the lily (Cant. 2:16). A different term, meaning "dazzling," is applied to the countenance (Cant. 5:10).

This colour was an emblem of purity and innocence (Mark 16:5; John 20:12; Revelation 19:8, 14), of joy (Ecclesiastes 9:8), and also of victory (Zechariah 6:3; Revelation 6:2). The hangings of the tabernacle court (Exodus 27:9; 38:9), the coats, mitres, bonnets, and breeches of the priests (Exodus 39:27, 28), and the dress of the high priest on the day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:4, 32), were white.

Black, applied to the hair (Leviticus 13:31; Cant. 5:11), the complexion (Cant. 1:5), and to horses (Zechariah 6:2, 6). The word rendered "brown" in Genesis 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 (Jeremiah 8:21; 14:2), to a clouded sky (1 Kings 18:45), to night (Micah 3:6; Jeremiah 4:28), and to a brook rendered turbid by melted snow (Job 6:16). It is used as symbolical of evil in Zechariah 6:2, 6 and Revelation 6:5. It was the emblem of mourning, affliction, calamity (Jeremiah 14:2; Lamentations 4:8; 5:10).

Red, applied to blood (2 Kings 3;22), a heifer (Numbers 19:2), pottage of lentils (Genesis 25:30), a horse (Zechariah 1:8), wine (Proverbs 23:31), the complexion (Genesis 25:25; Cant. 5:10). This colour is symbolical of bloodshed (Zechariah 6:2; Revelation 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 (Judges 8:26) and high officers (Esther 8:15). They were also worn by the wealthy and luxurious (Jeremiah 10:9; Ezek. 27:7; Luke 16:19; Revelation 17:4). With this colour was associated the idea of royalty and majesty (Judges 8:26; Cant. 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 (Numbers 15:38). The loops of the curtains (Exodus 26:4), the lace of the high priest's breastplate, the robe of the ephod, and the lace on his mitre, were blue (Exodus 28:28, 31, 37).

Scarlet, or Crimson. In Isaiah 1:18 a Hebrew word is used which denotes the worm or grub whence this dye was procured. In Genesis 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 (Cant. 4:3). Scarlet robes were worn by the rich and luxurious (2 Samuel 1:24; Proverbs 31:21; Jeremiah 4:30. Revelation 17:4). It was also the hue of the warrior's dress (Nahum 2:3; Isaiah 9:5). The Phoenicians excelled in the art of dyeing this colour (2 Chronicles 2:7).

These four colours--white, purple, blue, and scarlet--were used in the textures of the tabernacle curtains (Exodus 26:1, 31, 36), and also in the high priest's ephod, girdle, and breastplate (Exodus 28:5, 6, 8, 15). Scarlet thread is mentioned in connection with the rites of cleansing the leper (Leviticus 14:4, 6, 51) and of burning the red heifer (Numbers 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 (Joshua 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 (Ezek. 23:14), or for decorating the walls and beams of houses (Jeremiah 22:14).

(n.) See Color.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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2847.htm - 6k

4392. prophasis -- a pretense
... pretense, outward showing. From a compound of pro and phaino; an outward showing,
ie Pretext -- cloke, colour, pretence, show. see GREEK pro. see GREEK phaino. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4392.htm - 6k

5869. ayin -- an eye
... or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) -- affliction,
outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content ...
/hebrew/5869.htm - 7k

The Next Morning Dawned with all the Strange Half Mystical Glow of ...
... XXIV. The next morning dawned with all the strange half mystical glow
of light and colour? The next morning dawned with all the ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xxiv the next morning dawned.htm

Eighth Tractate. Why Distant Objects Appear Small.
... Or again, it may be that magnitude is known incidentally [as a deduction]
from the observation of colour. With an object at hand ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/eighth tractate why distant objects.htm

The Portrait of a Drunkyard
... wine.31. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his
colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.32. At the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the portrait of a drunkyard.htm

"God Willeth to be Seen and to be Sought: to be Abided and to be ...
... a part of His Passion: despite, spitting and sullying, and buffetting, and many
languoring pains, more than I can tell, and often changing of colour. ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter x god willeth to.htm

That the Divine Perfections are Only a Single but Infinite ...
... Theotimus, the sun is not red, nor black, nor grey, nor green: that great luminary
is not subject to these vicissitudes and changes of colour, having for its ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter i that the divine.htm

Particulars of the Alleged Communication to a Montanist Sister.
... not, however, a void and empty illusion, but such as would offer itself to be even
grasped by the hand, soft and transparent and of an etherial colour, and in ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter ix particulars of the alleged.htm

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price. The Formation and ...
... snail-shells; and these are described as in troops making the sea their
pasture-ground, as if under the guidance of some leader, conspicuous in colour and ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/7 the parable of the.htm

The Argument for Christian Practices Becomes all the Stronger...
... Either smell, you say, or colour, or both together. What will be the senses
of colour and smell? Those of seeing and smelling, I suppose. ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter v the argument for.htm

1 to Pray is as it were to be on Speaking Terms with Me...
... like Me. There is a kind of insect which feeds upon and lives among grass
and green leaves and becomes like them in colour. Also ...
//christianbookshelf.org/singh/at the masters feet/section iii 1 to pray.htm

From the Twelfth Chapter.
... 3. "And there appeared another sign in heaven; and behold a red dragon, having seven
heads."] Now, that he says that this dragon was of a red colour"that is ...
/.../commentary on the apocolypse of the blessed john/from the twelfth chapter.htm

Colour (22 Occurrences)
... This colour was an emblem of purity and innocence (Mark 16:5; John 20:12; Revelation
19:8, 14), of joy (Ecclesiastes 9:8), and also of victory (Zechariah 6:3 ...
/c/colour.htm - 21k

Scarlet-colour (1 Occurrence)
Scarlet-colour. Scarlet-colored, Scarlet-colour. Scarletworm .
Multi-Version Concordance Scarlet-colour (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/scarlet-colour.htm - 6k

Amber (3 Occurrences)
... whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and
a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber ...
/a/amber.htm - 9k

Jacinth (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Properly a flower of a reddish blue or deep purple (hyacinth),
and hence a precious stone of that colour (Revelation 21:20). ...
/j/jacinth.htm - 8k

Eye (145 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews `ain, meaning "flowing"), applied (1) to a fountain,
frequently; (2) to colour (Numbers 11:7; RV, "appearance, " marg. ...
/e/eye.htm - 54k

Dress (38 Occurrences)
... The use of mixed material, as wool and flax, was forbidden (Leviticus
19:19; Deuteronomy 22:11). (2.) Colour. The prevailing colour...
/d/dress.htm - 53k

Brilliant (5 Occurrences)
... wind is coming from the north, a great cloud, and fire catching itself, and brightness
to it round about, and out of its midst as the colour of copper, out of ...
/b/brilliant.htm - 9k

Bdellium (2 Occurrences)
... Occurs only in Genesis 2:12, where it designates a product of the land of Havilah;
and in Numbers 11:7, where the manna is likened to it in colour. ...
/b/bdellium.htm - 8k

Beryl (12 Occurrences)
... The colour of the wheels in Ezekiel's vision was as the colour of a beryl stone
(1:16; 10:9; RV, "stone of Tarshish"). It is mentioned in Cant. 5:14; Dan. ...
/b/beryl.htm - 11k

Chrysoprasus (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Golden leek, a precious stone of the colour of leek's
juice, a greenish-golden colour (Revelation 21:20). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/c/chrysoprasus.htm - 7k

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