The C. that are specifically mentioned in the Bible are white, black, red, green, blue and yellow. There is talk of white in sheep. Jacob set aside those † œwho had something white in them † when he worked for † ¢ Laban (Gen 30:35). It is the c. of the teeth (Gen 49:12) and of certain donkeys (Jg 5:10), as well as of the snow (Ps 51:7). White is associated with purity (“your sins… will be like white wool”). At the transfiguration the Lord’s garments “became white as light” (Matt 17:2). And the saints in the visions of Revelation are presented with white garments (Rev 3:4; Rev 4:4; Rev 7:9, etc.). We also read several instances where “a white horse” is spoken of (Zech 1:8; Rev 6:2).
Black is mentioned as the c. of healthy hair, when dealing with the problem of recognition of leprosy (Lev 13:31, Lev 13:37). Among the materials accumulated by David for the construction of the †temple were †œblack stones† (1Ch 29:2). Black horses are also mentioned (Zech 6:6; Rev 6:5). Red is c. of the stew that Esau ate (Gen 25:30). Wine is red (Gen 49:12; Isa 27:2), as is blood (2Ki 3:22). Rams’ skins were dyed red for use in the †¢tabernacle (Exo 25:5; Exo 26:14). Leprosy spots could have a reddish appearance (Lev 13:19, Lev 13:24). Green is c. of grass, plants, vegetation in general (Gen 1:11; Gen 9:3). Blue is mentioned as part of the c. of the king’s pavilion †¢Ahasuerus (Est 1:6). †¢Blue. Yellow is c. gold (Ps 68:13) and one of the horses of the Apocalypse (Rev 6:8).
other times it alludes to c. when making comparisons between certain objects. Thus, the manna was †œlike c. of †¢bdellium† (Num 11:7). The wheels that Ezekiel sees were similar “to c. of the †¢chrysolite† (Eze 1:16). Daniel saw a man whose feet were “about c. burnished bronze† (Dan 10:6).
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
type, type
vet, The Egyptians used mineral coloring substances, the Chaldeans used them to color bricks and the Hebrews painted skins (Ex. 25:5) and weaved cloth with threads of various colors (Ex. 27:16). The colors have a certain symbolism: white is an emblem of purity (Mr. 16:5; Rev. 3:4; 19:11) and joy (Ec. 9:8). The white horse means victory in Rev. 6:2, and the black hunger (Rev. 6:5, 6). The color red generally typifies blood, war, and slaughter (Rev. 6:4). Blue is the well-known color of the sky; and purple was worn by the rich and kings (Judges 8:26; Esther 8:15; Lk 16:19).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
(-> priests). There is in the Old Testament a rich symbolism of colors. But the game of colors of the Apocalypse is even more detailed, which we will indicate in more detail.
(1) Old Testament. The colors, which appear linked to the cult in 1 Cr 29,2, are fundamental for the symbolism of the high priest’s garments: “They will make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, crimson and finely twisted linen… and his belt it shall be of gold, blue, purple, crimson, and twisted linen… You shall likewise make the breastplate of judgment of exquisite workmanship… of gold, blue, purple, crimson, and twisted linen… and you shall fill it with precious stones in four rows of stones; a row of a sardic stone, a topaz and a carbuncle; the second row, an emerald, a sapphire and a diamond; the third row, a hyacinth, an agate and an amethyst; the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx and a jasper. They will all be mounted in gold settings” (Ex 28.6-20). This waste of colors and precious stones constitutes one of the highest expressions of Israelite symbology, which has been taken up by Eclo 45.6-12. For the construction of the sanctuary, the red color is especially important (cf. Ex 25,5; 26,14), but among all the color purple stands out for its religious and social symbolism. Purple is the color of the priest (Ex 28,5) and of the tabernacle (Ex 36,8), being, at the same time, the color of the dress of kings (cf. Je 8,26; Cant 7,5) and royal officials (Est 8,15; Ez 23,6; Dn 5,7). Finally, the colors of the rainbow are a sign of peace in Gen 9:13-16.
(2) Apocalypse. The chromatic symbology is part of the visual drama of the Rev. The prophet John must write what he has seen, so that the reader can also see, thus allowing the impression of the colors to enrich him: (a) White is the color of God (cf. Throne: Ap 20,11), of Christ the king (hair: 1,14; like that of God in Dn 7,9) and of those who accompany God: of the Elders of 4,4, of the martyrs who shout under the altar and of the saved who sing the song of glory (cf. 6,11; 7,9.13; 19,14). This is the color of promise: of the stone that Christ gives to his faithful (2,17) and of the dress that he offers to those who triumph (cf. 3,4.5). Only in 6.2 (first horse* 1) has this color received a misleading meaning, (b) Red is the color of the war horse (6.4), of the fire of the horses of death (9.17) and of the Dragon bloody (12,3) that wants to devour the Son of the woman, (c) Close to the red are the scarlet (crimson, made with cochineal and used by the priests in their purifications) and the purple (violet red of a marine mollusk, used by kings and liturgists in their ceremonies); both colors (scarlet and purple) have been usurped by the Prostitute, who uses them in her adornment (17,3-5) and her unfair trade (18,12.16), thus appearing as the incarnation of the sacred and political perversions of the land , (d) Black is death, as indicated by the 3rd horse and the darkening of the sun (cf. 6,5.12). (e) Green is vegetation (8.7; 9.4), but it can also evoke death and/or rot, as indicated by the last horse (6.8). (f) Sky colors. The color symbology centers on God and culminates in the Future City. God has no face, but he reveals himself in a brilliant play of precious colors: jasper and sardony, rainbow of emerald (4,2-3), surrounding a white throne (20,12). For its part, the Final City is a triumph of colors: twelve shades of precious stones, on a background of jasper, shining in indescribable harmony, around a square of crystalline gold (21,11.18-20). Symphony of colors, that is God and the new earth-heaven for Juan.
PIKAZA, Javier, Dictionary of the Bible. History and Word, Divine Word, Navarra 2007
Source: Dictionary of Bible History and Word
The words and expressions used in the Bible to designate colors are not as specific as the terms found in modern color charts. Biblical writers could skillfully convey what colors they meant by using the context of a story or by comparing an unknown object with a familiar one. (Ex 16:31; Re 1:14) For example, common things such as blood, snow, certain birds, fire, precious stones, and so on, were used as references for colors. (2Ki 3:22; Ps 51:7; Ca 5:11; Mt 16:2, 3; Re 9:17) They also gave colors a figurative meaning, associating certain specific ideas with certain colors.
The color yellow and sulfur yellow are mentioned in the scriptures in various contexts. (Le 13:30, 32, 36; Re 9:17.)
Blue is used in reference to various dyed materials, such as thread, rope, cloth, and clothing. (Ex 26:4, 31, 36; 39:22; Nu 4:7) A little blue string was to be placed over the hem of all the Israelites’ garments. (Nu 15:38, 39) Hyacinth blue is one of the beautiful colors that decorated the breastplates mentioned at Revelation 9:17.
Vermilion (Jer 22:14; Eze 23:14) has to do with a type of reddish paint made from iron or lead oxides. It appears to have been originally introduced by the Phoenicians, who imported it from natural deposits in North Africa. Later there were similar deposits in the Middle East.
White is mentioned most often in the scriptures. In addition to its descriptive use, it is also used as a symbol of justice and spiritual cleanliness. (Re 3:4; 7:9, 13, 14) The white horse of Revelation 6:2 and 19:11 symbolizes fair and just warfare under the leadership of Jesus Christ.
Both the poor and the higher ranks dressed in white clothes. When speaking of the clothing of the angels, it is generally said that it is white. (Mr 16:5; Joh 20:12; Rev 19:14) Hair (Le 13:3; Mt 5:36), flesh (Le 13:16), grain fields are also said to be white ready for harvest (Jn 4:35) and God’s throne of righteous judgment (Rev 20:11). Jesus compared the scribes and Pharisees to whited sepulchres. (Mt 23:27) He based his illustration on the custom of whitewashing the tombs around Jerusalem before Passover so that the people who came to the city to celebrate that festival would not touch them and become unclean The Bible distinguishes between different types of white, such as reddish white (Le 13:19, 24) and dull white. (Le 13:39.)
White (grey) is also used with reference to the hair of the elderly (Ge 42:38; Le 19:32; Pr 20:29), although expensive wool is said to be reddish gray. (Eze 27:18.)
Crimson was one of the colors of expensive dyed materials. (2Ch 2:7, 14; 3:14; Na 2:3) Sins are also compared to the deep red of crimson. (Isaiah 1:18.)
The color of fire is used to describe the appearance of the great dragon, Satan the Devil. (Re 12:3) A horse of this color symbolizes war between the nations, as shown at Revelation 6:4.
Scarlet, a bright red, is found in references to ropes, cloth, and clothes, and also to sin. (Ge 38:28, 30; Nu 4:8; Jos 2:18; Jer 4:30; Mt 27:28; Isa 1:18) “The wild beast” described in Revelation 17 is scarlet in color (vs. 3), distinguishing her from “the wild beast” of chapter 13. The harlot riding the scarlet-colored beast is arrayed in purple and scarlet. (Re 17:3-5) Thus the vision pictorially symbolizes the royal claims of the “beast” and the luxury and royalty enjoyed by the woman riding it.
The dark tan (brown) color is only mentioned in relation to sheep. (Ge 30:32, 33, 35, 40)
Black is mentioned when describing hair (Le 13:31; Mt 5:36), horses (Zech 6:2, 6), skin (Job 30:30), and the Sun (Rev 6:12). In Revelation 6:5, 6 the black horse represents famine. The Scriptures also speak of “black marble” and “black paint”. (Es 1:6; Jer 4:30)
Purple and reddish purple are frequently mentioned in the scriptures, although no distinctions are made between the many shades produced by the different dyes or dyeing methods that were used. (Ex 25:4; Nu 4:13; Eze 27:7, 16; Da 5:7, 29; Mr 15:17, 20; Lu 16:19; Re 17:4) Due to its high price, this Color used to be associated with riches, honor and royal majesty.
Red, fiery red, and yellowish red are terms used to describe various items, such as hair (Ge 25:25), dyed ram skins (Ex 25:5), animals (Nu 19:2; Jdg 5:10). ; Zec 1:8), clothing (Isa 63:2), and the evening sky (Mt 16:2, 3). The word…