Exodus details the materials used to construct the Mishkan (aka Tabernacle). They include blue, purple, and scarlet fabric (or thread), goat hair, and skins. This isn't just an assembly manual. Each element has spiritual significance. For example, the gold represents righteousness and perfection. Silver represents blood and redemption. Bronze or brass represents judgment, and iron represents power and force.
But what about the other materials? What hidden messages might be in the choice of colors for the fabrics and animals for the skins?
What is the meaning of blue, purple, and scarlet in the Tabernacle? these were just very expensive colors to make in those days. and represented the oppulence of the tabernacle.
What is the meaning of blue, purple, and scarlet in the Tabernacle? Blue is the law. Notice the harlot or Rev 17 doesn't use blue.
What is the meaning of blue, purple, and scarlet in the Tabernacle? I know it sounds crazy but the God Yahweh's assembly and operating instructions for the Tabernacle written in the book of Exodus are the same as the government laws and regulations of operations for a modern day slaughter house. So I'm thinking that the fabrics used were for sanitary and disease prevention purposes while it was in operation as a food distributing plant.
What is the meaning of blue, purple, and scarlet in the Tabernacle? BLUE
Blue is a colour that is found frequently in scripture and it is well worth looking up more references and doing a fuller personal study.
The Hebrew word 'tekeleth' is translated blue. It signifies a spectrum of blue from sky blue (Josephus) to a deep dark blue, but can also indicate violet (Strongs). Most translation however use the meaning of 'blue', apart from the NAS which renders it 'violet'.
The Greek word is 'huakinthinos'. This word is found only in Revelation 9:17 where it is translated 'hyacinth blue'
The colour blue is frequently associated with the tabernacle and temple furnishings. For example:
"Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them." Exod 26:1
In conjunction with precious stones, the sky blue colour of sapphire represents heavenly things:
"And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone" Ezek 1:26
Blue is also associated with the commandments of God, the importance of remembering them and also the heavenly calling of those who had been chosen by God to be His people (Numbers 15:38-40).
The ark of the covenant in the Tabernacle was covered with blue cloth representing its close association with the Word of God (Numbers 4:5-7; 11-13).
The robe of the High Priest was also blue, again symbolising the close association with God and His Word (Exodus 28:31-33).
PURPLE
The colour Purple in scripture is translated from the Hebrew words 'argaman' which means purple or red-purple and 'arg@van' meaning purple. The colour purple was found for example in the materials used for constructing of the Tabernacle and Temple. We read that God commanded Moses saying:
"Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them." Exod 26:1
and
"You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim." Exod 26:31
The Greek word 'porphura', which refers to purple and the purple fish, a species of shell fish or mussel from which the dye colour is derived. This species was relatively rare and thus the purple dye was quite valuable. Two more Greek words are 'porphurous' which means purple or dyed in purple and 'porphuropolis' which refers to a seller of purple or fabric dyed in purple. In this context we can think of Lydia to whom Paul preached:
"Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul." Acts 16:14
The colour purple is associated with royalty and status for example: "So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad." Esther 8:15
SCARLET
The Hebrew word 'towla' (Masculine) and 'towle' (feminine) means scarlet or crimson. The Hebrew word 'karmiyl' means crimson, red or carmine. The Hebrew word 'shaniy' means scarlet or crimson. 'Shaniy' signifies the colour obtained from the insect 閳ユoccus ilicis閳? The dried body of the female provides a colouring matter from which dye can be made and then used to colour cloth scarlet or crimson.
In the New Testament the Greek word 'kokkinos' means scarlet or scarlet coloured.
Crimson or scarlet is one of the colours associated with the fine materials used in the construction of the Tabernacle and Temple:
"Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them." Exod 26:1
"..he made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and wove cherubim into it." 2Chron 3:14
Each colour in the Tabernacle construction had a meaning of its own and both crimson and scarlet are associated with sin. For example God says to His people Israel through the prophet Isaiah:
"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow ; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool." Isa 1:18
Scarlet was the colour of the cord that Rahab was told to display from her window if she and her family were to be saved when Jericho was destroyed (Joshua 2:17-21)
When Pilate had condemned Jesus to be crucified the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and clothed him in a scarlet robe, twisted a crown of thorns and placed it upon His head. Thus they mocked Jesus claim to be a King saying "Hail, King of the Jews" (Matthew 27:27-30)
Scarlet is the colour of the beast and the clothing of the woman riding it as described in Revelation. This vision symbolises the corruption of true religion and represents a political and religious system that persecutes the true followers of Christ and represents all that is corrupt in God's sight (Revelation 17:3-6)
In the Song of Solomon scarlet is used in the description of the beauty of the bride where we read "Your lips are like a strand of scarlet.." (Song 4:1-5)
Also Purification.
The colour scarlet is also associated with cleansing and purification "Then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop." Leviticus 14:4
"For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you." Hebrews 9:19-20
What is the meaning of blue, purple, and scarlet in the Tabernacle? Truth, Valor , sacrifice
