More Colors and Meanings Behind Colors:Biblical

*Ivory*

Shen
(shane)Shenhabbiym
(shen-hab-beem')
Elephantinos
(el-ef-an'-tee-nos)

 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

Color Symbolism:

• beauty - see "body parts" above

Associated Symbols:

• 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])

 

*Grey*

Seybah
(say-baw')Siyb
(seeb)

 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

Associated Symbols:

• 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)

*Crimson*

Karmiyl
(kar-mele')Shaniy
(shaw-nee')Towla'
(to-law')



 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

Associated Symbols:

• 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)

*Amber:*

Chashmal
(khash-mal')

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)

Color Symbolism:

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

Associated Symbols:

• 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)

*Scarlet:*

Shaniy
(shaw-nee')Tala'
(taw-law')Towla'
(to-law')
Kokkinos
(kok'-kee-nos)

 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

Opposite Meaning:

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

Color Symbolism:

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

Associated Symbols:

• 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:*

Shashar
(shaw-shar')

 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)

Color Symbolism:

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

Associated Symbols:

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