Color Symbolism and Color Meaning in The Bible

Amber

The color amber is only found in the KJV book of Ezekiel. Its use demonstrates God's overbearingly bright and immediate presence.

Direct Meaning:

• God's glory and the brightness of His presence. - Ezekiel 1:4; 1:27-28; 8:2 (KJV)

• Christ as the glory of God - Ezekiel 1:28, II Corinthians 4:6, Revelation 21:23

• fire - God's presence (Hebrews 12:29, Exodus 3:2), God's judgment (Genesis 19:24, II Kings 1:10-14, Isaiah 66:15, II Thessalonians 1:7-8)

Black

Black is primarily associated with the negative aspects of human experience - including death, disease, famine, and sorrow - all of which are the results of sin. The exception is the implication of health when describing hair.

Direct Meaning:

• sin - Job 6:15-16
• disease - Job 30:30
• famine - Lamentations 4:8; 5:10, Revelation 6:5-6
• death - Jude 1:12-13
• sorrow - Jeremiah 8:21 (KJV)

• health - Leviticus 13:37, Song of Solomon 1:5-6; 5:11

• judgment - Jeremiah 14:2, Leviticus 13:37, Job 3:5

• sackcloth - mourning (Genesis 37:34, Isaiah 50:3, Revelation 6:12)

Blue

The color blue is used quite extensively in the Old Testament to describe the various hangings in the holy places. It is also used as a symbol of wealth and the corruptions thereof, but it should be noted that purple is used far more frequently for such distinctions. In general blue should be viewed as a heavenly color. Below is only a representation of the color's use in scripture, it occurs far more frequently than demonstrated here.

Direct Meaning:

• describing hangings, curtains, coverings (along with purple and scarlet / crimson) - Exodus 26:1;36; 27:16; 28:8, II Chronicles 3:14; etc.
• holy covering - Exodus 28:31, Numbers 4:5-7;11-12, Esther 8:15
• the Lord's commandments - Numbers 15:38-40

• corruption through vanity, whoredoms and idolotry - Jeremiah 10:8-9, Ezekiel 23:3-8

• heavenly - Exodus 24:10, Ezekiel 1:26; 10:1 (sapphire)
• holy service - Exodus 28:31, Esther 8:15
• chastening - Proverbs 20:30 (KJV)

• water(s) - spirit (John 4:13-14; 7:37-39, Revelation 21:6; 22:17, Matthew 3:11-16), people / multitudes (Revelation 17:15, Jeremiah 46:7-8; 47:1-3, Isaiah 8:7; 17:13)

Crimson

Crimson is used to describe fine materials and sin. The dye was extracted from the dried body of of the insect coccus ilicis; qirmiz (or kermes) as transliterated in Arabic. (Also see scarlet)

Direct Meaning:

• fine materials (along with purple and blue) - 2 Chronicles 2:7;14; 3:14, Jeremiah 4:30
• sin - Isaiah 1:18

• blood - life (Genesis 9:4-5, Deuteronomy 12:23), sacrifice (Exodus12:13; 23:18)
  , remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22, I John 1:7, Revelation 1:5), covenant (Exodus 24:8, Matthew 26:28, Romans 5:9, Hebrews 9:12; 13:12), war (I Kings 2:5, I Chronicles 22:8)

Gray

Grey is used to denote old age (for obvious reasons). We can try to gain a bit more meaning by looking at the symbolism of ash even though the two are never directly associated in Scripture.

Direct Meaning:

• old age - Genesis 42:38, Deuteronomy 32:25, I Samuel 12:2, Job 15:10, Psalm 71:18
• beauty of old age - Proverbs 20:29
• weakness - Hosea 7:9

• ash - of little worth (Genesis 18:27, Job 30:19), destruction (Exodus 9:10, Ezekiel 28:18, Malachi 4:3, II Peter 2:6)
  , purification (Numbers 19:17), sorrow (II Samuel 13:19)
  , mourning (Esther 4:3, Jeremiah 6:26)
  , repentance (Job 42:6, Matthew 11:21), scattered (Psalm 147:16)

Green

Green is primarily associated with plant life. As a result we can view it as a symbol of natural growth and life. The exception is its use in Leviticus to denote disease.

Direct Meaning:

• describing a meat offering - Leviticus 2:14
• describing edible plants - Genesis 1:30; 9:3, II Kings 19:26, Job 39:8, Psalm 37:2
• trees - Exodus 10:15, Deuteronomy 12:2, I Kings 14:23, 2 Kings 16:4; 17:10, II Chronicles 28:4, Psalm 37:35; 52:8, Isaiah 37:27, Jeremiah 2:20

• disease - Leviticus 13:49; 14:37

• rest - Psalm 23:2
• life - Isaiah 15:6, Psalm 23:2, Ezekiel 17:24, Luke 23:31
• growth - Ezekiel 17:24
• fruitful - Jeremiah 11:16; 17:8, Hosea 14:8, Luke 23:31
• fresh / undefiled - Song of Solomon 1:16, Luke 23:31
• maturity - Job 15:31-32
• frailty - Psalm 37:2

• grass - man / flesh (Psalm 37:1-2; 92:7; Revelation 8:7, I Peter 1:24, Isaiah 40:6-8; 51:12), weakness (Psalm 102:4; 102:11, Revelation 8:7), growth (Psalm 72:16; 92:7, Job 5:25)
• trees - coverage (Psalm 37:35), trust (Psalm 52:8), man (Matthew 3:10; 7:15-18, Mark 8:24), The Cross (Acts 5:30, I Peter 2:24)
  

Ivory

Ivory is never mentioned by describing the color of something but always as the material itself. Its use denotes costly ornamentation and fine craftsmanship. It symbolizes beauty when describing the body.

Direct Meaning:

• a throne - I Kings 10:18, II Chronicles 9:17
• cargo / merchandise - I Kings 10:22, II Chronicles 9:21, Ezekiel 27:15, Revelation 18:12
• houses - I Kings 22:39, Amos 3:15
• beds - Amos 6:4
• body parts - Song of Solomon 5:14; 7:4
• inlays - Ezekiel 27:6

• beauty - see "body parts" above

• throne - power (I Kings 1:37, II Kings 25:28), kingship (Genesis 41:40, Deuteronomy 17:18, II Samuel 7:16)
  , glory (I Samuel 2:8, II Chronicles 18:18, Psalm 103:19, Jeremiah 14:21, Matthew 19:28; 25:31), judgment (Psalm 9:4;7; 122:5, Proverbs 20:8, Matthew 19:28), holiness (Psalm 47:8), grace (Hebrews 4:16)
• neck - posession (Genesis 27:40; 41:42; 49:8, Deuteronomy 28:48, II Samuel 22:41, Nehemiah 3:5, Psalm 18:40, Proverbs 3:3, Isaiah 10:27, Jeremiah 27:12; 30:8, Acts 15:10), embrace (Genesis 33:4; 45:14; 46:29, Luke 15:20, Acts 20:37), strength (Song of Solomon 4:4; 7:4), beauty (Isaiah 3:16, Song of Solomon 1:10), stubbornness / rebellion (when hardened or stiff) (Deuteronomy 10:16; 31:27, II Kings 17:14, II Chronicles 36:13, Nehemiah 9:16-17, Isaiah 48:4, Jeremiah 7:26; 17:23, Acts 7:51)
• belly - emotions / desires (Job 15:35; 20:20, Psalm 31:9, Proverbs 13:25; 20:27, Romans 16:18, Revelation 10:9)
• beds - fornication (I Chronicles 5:1, Ezekiel 23:17, Revelation 2:22 [spiritual as well])

Purple

Along with blue, scarlet, and crimson, purple is used to describe hangings and fine materials. The dye was extracted from a particularly scarce family of shellfish which made it quite valuable. Purple became a symbol of royalty and riches due to the scarcity of its dye.

Direct Meaning:

• describing hangings, curtains, coverings (along with blue and scarlet / crimson) - Exodus 26:1;36; 27:16; 28:8, II Chronicles 3:14; etc.
• fine materials - Numbers 4:13, Judges 8:26, Proverbs 31:22, Luke 16:19, Revelation 17:4
• describing the dying trade - II Chronicles 2:7, Ezekiel 27:16, Acts 16:14, Revelation 18:12

• royalty, but in mockery - Mark 15:17;20, John 19:2;5

• royalty - Judges 8:26
• riches - Revelation 18:16, Luke 16:19
• corruption of riches - Revelation 17:4

• robes - righteousness / righteous judgment (Job 29:14, Isaiah 61:10, Luke 15:22, Revelation 6:11; 7:9;14), kingship (I Kings 22:10; 30-33, I Chronicles 15:27, Isaiah 22:21, Jonah 3:6), outward show (Luke 20:46), virginity (II Samuel 13:18-19)
• curtains - seperation / hidden (II Samuel 7:2, I Chronicles 17:1), the heavens (Psalm 104:2, Isaiah 40:60), habitations (Isaiah 54:2, Jeremiah 4:20; 10:20, Habakkuk 3:7)
  

The Hebrew equivalent is 'argaman; Greek porphura. The latter word refers to the source of the dye, namely, a shell-fish found on the shores of the Mediterranean.

Red

There is a diverse use of the color red throughout the Scriptures. Its primary associations are blood and war. Note that references to the Red Sea have been omitted.

Direct Meaning:

• skin color - Genesis 25:25
• stew - Genesis 25:30
• wine - Proverbs 23:31
• sores or plague - Leviticus 13:19;49 etc. (numerous references in Leviticus)
• bloodied water - II Kings 3:22
• clothing - Isaiah 63:2
• shields of mighty men - Nahum 2:3
• horses - Zechariah 1:8; 6:2
• the sky - Matthew 16:2-3
• the great dragon (Satan) - Revelation 12:3

• war - II Kings 3:22; Nahum 2:3
• vengeance - Isaiah 63:2 (read whole chapter)
• temptation of sin - Genesis 25:30, Proverbs 23:31

• wine - teachings, both true and false (fermented), shame (Genesis 9:21-25; 19:31-36)
  
• winepress - God's judgment of the wicked (Revelation 14:19-20)
• blood - see crimson

Scarlet

Scarlet is used to describe fine materials and thread. It was also used in Mosaic purification rituals. Scarlet, like crimson, is used to describe sin. Scarlet can generally be used to symbolize a marker. (Also see crimson)

Direct Meaning:

• a thread - Genesis 38:27-29, Joshua 2:18, Song of Solomon 4:3 (lips are like)
• fine materials (along with purple and blue) - Exodus 25:4; 28:15; 36:37; etc. (many times over), Numbers 4:8, II Samuel 1:24, Proverbs 31:21
• cleansing/purification - Leviticus 14:4;52, Numbers 19:6, Hebrews 9:19
• sin - Isaiah 1:18
• clothing of a valient man - Nahum 2:3
• riches - Revelation 18:12;16

• mocking royalty - Matthew 27:28
• the beast being ridden by the harlot Babylon - Revelation 17:3
• corruption of riches - Revelation 17:4

• a marker - Joshua 2:18;21, Genesis 38:28 (passover)

• virtuous woman - Proverbs 31:21
• beasts - successive worldly kingdoms (Daniel 7:17;23 [Read whole chapter]), ignorant / lacking understanding (Psalm 49:20; 73:22), devouring destruction (Isaiah 56:9, Jeremiah 15:3, Daniel 7:5), brute fleshly nature (II Peter 2:12, Titus 1:11-13)

Vermilion

Vermilion is used only to describe paint, both on a house and in a portrait. Its contextual use suggests lust and unrighteousness. The color was most likely derived from iron oxide (rust) which would support the suggested meaning.

Direct Meaning:

• paint - Jeremiah 22:14 (a house), Ezekiel 23:14 (portraits)

• unrighteousness - Jeremiah 22:13-14
• lust - Ezekiel 23:14 (read whole chapter)

• paint - a false covering (Matthew 23:27, Acts 23:3)
• rust - corruption (Matthew 6:19, James 5:3 [KJV])

White

White is a color of purity and righteousness. It is also used to describe things in nature. Sometimes it is used when describing the body, primarily when healthy and beautiful but also when sick.

Direct Meaning:

• animals - Genesis 30:35, Judges 5:10, Zechariah 1:8; 6:3;6, Revelation 6:2; 19:11;14
• plant flesh - Genesis 30:37, Joel 1:7
• baskets - Genesis 40:16
• teeth - Genesis 49:12
• Manna - Exodus 16:31
• leprosy / plague - Leviticus 13:4;10;19;42, etc., Numbers 12:10, II Kings 5:27
• linen - II Chronicles 5:12, Revelation 15:6; 19:8;14
• garments / raiment - Esther 8:15, Ecclesiastes 9:8, Daniel 7:9, Matthew 17:2; 28:3, Mark 9:3; 16:5, Luke 9:29, John 20:12, Acts 1:10, Revelation 3:4-5;18; 4:4; 6:11; 7:9;13-14; 19:14
• compared as snow - Psalm 51:7, Isaiah 1:18, Daniel 7:9, Mark 9:3
• compared as milk - Lamentations 4:7
• hair - Matthew 5:36, Revelation 1:14
• painted - Matthew 23:27, Acts 23:3
• fields - John 4:35
• a stone - Revelation 2:17
• a cloud - Revelation 14:14
• a throne - Revelation 20:11

• purity / refinement / unblemished / righteousness / heavenly - Psalm 51:7, Ecclesiastes 9:8, Daniel 7:9; 11:35; 12:10, Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:3, Luke 9:29, John 20:12, Acts 1:10, Revelation 3:4-5;18; 4:4; 6:11; 7:9;13-14
• victory - Revelation 6:2; 19:11;14
• false righteousness (when only outward) - Matthew 23:27, Acts 23:3

• baskets - food (Genesis 40:17, Exodus 29:23, Leviticus 8:26, Numbers 6:15, Jeremiah 24:2, Amos 8:1, Matthew 14:20, Mark 8:8), escape (Exodus 2:3, Acts 9:25, II Corinthians 11:33)
  , days (Genesis 40:18)
• teeth - devouring destruction (Deuteronomy 32:24, Psalm 124:6, Proverbs 30:14, Isaiah 41:15, Daniel 7:7;19), terror (Job 41:14, Daniel 7:7;19)
• milk - first teachings (Isaiah 28:9, I Corinthians 3:1-2, Hebrews 5:12-14, I Peter 2:2)
• throne - (see ivory)
  

Yellow

Yellow is used to describe a leperous hair in Leviticus and in some translations the color of gold in Psalm 68. Its occurence in Scripture is too low to derive a symbolic meaning.

Direct Meaning:

• leperous hair - Leviticus 13:30;32;36
• describing the color of gold - Psalm 68:13 (KJV/ASV, green in RSV)