Purple was a costly dye and fabric associated with the tabernacle, temple furnishings, royalty, wealth, and honor. It was also used mockingly for Jesus by Roman soldiers before His crucifixion.
Definition
Purple was a costly dye and a richly colored fabric associated with honor, wealth, royalty, and important furnishings. It was used in the tabernacle and temple, royal settings, clothing, and luxury trade. Scripture also uses it in scenes of royal display, mockery, wealth, and judgment.
Biblical Usage
Purple appears in the furnishings of the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple, the palanquin of Solomon, and royal garments. Mordecai was clothed in purple, while Roman soldiers clothed Jesus in purple in mockery. The rich man and Babylon are associated with purple, and the color also appears in descriptions of royal or luxurious display.
Historical Background
Phoenicians manufactured purple dye from marine mollusks, especially species of Murex and Purpura. The gland was removed and crushed, producing a milky fluid that became red or purple when exposed to air. Broken shells remained along the coasts of Sidon and Tyre.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>pur'-p'-l ('argaman; Chaldaic 'argewan (2Ch 2:7); compare Arabic 'urjuwan, and Persian 'arghawan; porphura, porphureos Septuagint and New Testament)):</p><p>Purple dye was manufactured by the Phoenicians from a marine mollusk, Murex trunculus. The shell was broken in order to give access to a small gland which was removed and crushed. The crushed gland gives a milky fluid that becomes red or purple on exposure to the air. Piles of these broken shells still remain on the coast at Sidon and Tyre. The purple gland is found in various species of Murex and also of Purpura.</p><p>Purple cloth was used in the furnishings of the tabernacle (Ex 25:4, etc.) and of Solomon's temple (2Ch 2:14; 3:14); in the palanquin of Solomon (So 3:10); and in the hangings of the palace of Ahasuerus (Es 1:6). The kings of Midian had purple raiment (Jud 8:26); the worthy woman of Pr 31:22 has clothing of fine linen and purple. Mordecai was clothed with purple by Ahasuerus (Es 8:15); Jesus by the Roman soldiers (Mr 15:17,20; Joh 19:2,5). The rich man of Lu 16:19 and the scarlet woman of Re 18:12,16 were arrayed in purple. In So 7:5 the bride has hair like purple. Purple is in the merchandise of Babylon (Re 18:12). It is surprising that Ezekiel speaks of the Tyrians as obtaining purple from the isles of Elisha (Eze 27:7) and from Syria (Eze 27:16).</p><p>See COLORS; DYE, DYEING.</p><p>Alfred Ely Day</p>
