10 Colors and their meaning
What if I told you that white symbolizes sin and black means the presence of God? How crazy does that sound to you?
People are used to a certain understanding of things, especially colors, conditioned by what they’ve always been told. Let me show you today that white is not always good and black is not always bad. Keep reading to discover more!
As we all know, the world today is obsessed with symbols and their meanings. There’s been a regain of popularity concerning spiritual topics. People are all about energies, and mind, and symbolism! It’s quite interesting to notice that the world is thirsty for spirituality.
Unfortunately, people often seek the meaning of things at the wrong place. Most are turning to spiritism and esotericism to get their answer, but the bible, the word of God, has all the answers one can need for fulfillment.
"To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” Job 12:13
If you have ever been questioning yourself about the meaning of colors, here is a quick guide of biblical meaning. It will help you understand your dreams or visions, pick a theme for your event or just satisfy your curiosity.
White
Ever wondered why people get married in white and not grey? Simply because white is the symbol for purity. Everybody knows it by now. In fact, when it comes to weddings, traditionally, only the virgins were allowed to wear white to symbolize their purity, and display the pride of their parents, for not defiling their bodies with men. However, it’s not only regarding marriage that this applies. White is the color of the sinless person, washed by the blood of Jesus, manifested in the love of God the Father.
"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Isaiah 1:18The color white is also the symbol of wisdom, coming from the elders that aged to see their hair changed in the color of snow.
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.
Proverbs 16:31.These meanings are quite well known, and even the unbelievers accept it. However, white can also have a very unknown and negative meaning as it can represent corruption, hypocrisy and sin.
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall stick to you, and to your seed forever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.- 2 Kings 5:27Guehazi had a well traced future as Elishah’s successor . But his greedy heart got corrupted at the sight of Naaman’s fortune. Because of his sin and lies, he was punished with leprosy and cursed out of the people of Israel for the rest of his life. Leprosy was a well known skin condition in Israel, which rendered the affected person impure and bound to live in seclusion. Leprosy is the symbol of the curse person that is impure because of her sin, and that has to be left away from the people, in order not to bring that curse on everyone.
I bet you didn’t know that one!
Green
This is the color of provision, of prosperity, of healing. Green is a color full of promises. Can’t you see the beauty of the trees when their green leaves are covering them with elegance? Have you seen how a plant embellishes a place simply by its presence? Green is the color of divine provision.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,... Psalms 23:2When you’re lying down in green pastures, you aren’t only resting, but you also have access to food. You are restored in your body and soul.
Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
Proverbs 11:28There’s a prosperity level that cannot be purchased by money. It’s God’s gift of prosperity, manifested in the lives of those who trust Him. That prosperity makes you a tree, a glowing tree whose leaves are thriving. Green symbolises all that.
Crimson/scarlet
The color crimson can be hard to picture if you’re not really about colors names, but it’s simply a dark red color, tending to burgundy.
The meaning of crimson in the bible can be quite contradictory, and its proper understanding is highly dependent on the context.
"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Isaiah 1:18On the first hand, crimson is a symbol of sin that can be wiped away by the power of God, but on the other hand, it can also be related to royalty and luxury:
What are you doing, you devastated one? Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? Why highlight your eyes with makeup? You adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers despise you; they want to kill you.
Jeremiah 4:30Crimson and scarlet were colors used in the temple of God, and were a symbol of distinction. Crimson can therefore also symbolise the worship in the house of God. It’s a luxury linen that was reserved for royal clothings.
Gold
Symbol of high purity, great distinction, ultimate sanctity and holiness.
When we read Exodus 25, we understand the mystery of gold as a symbol of holiness. If white represents sinlessness (sometimes), gold is the symbol of sanctification, consecration.
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
Exodus 25:11Everything in the tabernacle, especially the instruments that were in the Holy of holies, or in the Holy place were covered in pure gold. Gold is rare and pure metal has gone through fire and is exempt of any other molecule that is not gold. It symbolizes God, that is exempt of any impurity. Gold is the symbol of royalty, of higher luxury. It’s no wonder that until today, gold is the most expensive material in its category.
The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass Revelation 21:18
I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Revelations 14:14
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.
Revelation 4:4Gold is the symbol of God’s glory and is also the reward he reserves for the people that will serve him faithfully on this earth. If God doesn’t want anybody to steal his glory, he plans on sharing her with the ones that will have run the race until the end, by leaving their sinful nature to follow him. The New Jerusalem, the city where the elected will live for everlasting, is covered in pure gold, as per the visions John received in the book of revelations.
So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold.
Exodus 32:31Gold can also be used to make idols, such as the golden calf in the times of Aaron, so one should always be careful not to be lured by the devil when seeing gold, especially in forms of statutes or other artifacts that are not biblical.
Silver
Silver is also a luxury material that was used in the making of the tabernacle. To a certain extent, silver also means consecration and holiness, but it’s not as pure as that of gold.
And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver; and the overlaying of their chapiters of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.
Exodus 38:17Silver is also a means of exchange, of making business, ever since the ancient days. Silver was used to buy and purchase things and is a symbol of wealth.
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 13:2God presents himself as the ultimate owner of all wealth in the book of Haggai when he declares:
The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty.
Haggai 2:8For those that are seeking for gain, silver can quickly become an idol for they are never satisfied with what they have.
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
Ecclesiastes 5:10So Silver can also symbolize idolatry to Mammon, the god of money (Matthew 6:24).
Bronze
Bronze is found in the instructions given to Moses regarding the construction of the tabernacle. However, bronze was not found inside of the tabernacle, but outside in the structure of the tent of meeting.
“For the entrance to the tent make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer. Make gold hooks for this curtain and five posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold. And cast five bronze bases for them.
Exodus 26:37-38Bronze symbolizes human nature that cannot access God’s presence. The nature of bronze testifies of its impurity. It is an alloy of many different metals and metalloids. This mixing of materials and chemicals symbolizes the nature of man, full of vices and sin, full of impurities.
So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
Numbers 21:9It’s also a symbol of hope for the man who has sin. Bronze is the color of the serpent that brought healing to the people that were corrupted by idolatry.
Blue
The clothing of the priest and the drapes used in the making of the tabernacle and the temple of God were of blue tint.
They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth—the work of a weaver Exodus 39:22
He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.
2 Chronicles 3:14Blue is the representation of royal clothing, the color of the sky, meaning the higher position of the person wearing this color.
clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen.
Ezekiel 23:6It’s the color of hierarchy, authority, it symbolizes nobility, might, greatness and influence.
Purple
Purple comes from the mixing of blue and scarlet. It’s the mixing of royalty, nobility and highness, with the blood of Jesus. Which is why it is the symbol of priesthood and also of honour.
The sash was made of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn Exodus 39:29
The ultimate High Priest, Jesus, was clothed in purple. He is the highest person worthy of kingship and the Highest Priest, who comes not in the levitical order, but in the order of Melchizedek.
When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
John 19:5It is the symbol of great honour and the virtuous woman is described as wearing such linens.
She makes coverings for her bed;
She is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Proverbs 31:22Red
The most common meaning of red in Christianity is the blood of Jesus. What a glorious symbol of salvation for all us that believe. The tabernacle had several red items included in its building, all symbolizing the blood of Jesus for the purification of sins.
Although this can be one meaning of this color, there are several other connotations that can be attributed to this mythical color.
Prophet Nahum describes red as being a symbol of redemption for the city that was one deprived of her glory. Joining with the same idea of redemption through Jesus’ blood, red is the symbol of regained glory, a renewed covenant of God with a people that has fallen out of grace.
The Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob
like the splendor of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
and have ruined their vines.
The shields of the soldiers are red;
the warriors are clad in scarlet.
The metal on the chariots flashes
on the day they are made ready;
the spears of juniper are brandished
Nahum 2:2-3Yes, the color red is full of hope. But there’s a second signification brought by Apostle John, that is quite less enchanting. As he describes his vision of the end times, here is what he writes in the book of revelations.
Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.
Revelations 6:4
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red.
Revelations 6:12
Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads
Revelations 12:13The other meaning of red can also be quite terrifying. For an unknown reason, the enemy seems to also like this color and it can be a symbol of lack of peace, of a terror in the form of a dragon, therefore a demonic attack.
Finally, if we remind ourselves of the people of Israel, they had to cross the red sea to escape their chasers and they had to cross it by faith. (Psalm 106:9). The red color can also be associated with an obstacle that has the purpose of testing our faith.
Black
We all know black is not the most appreciated color because of his dark signification. Regardless of the beliefs and religion, dark means wickedness, witchcraft and is a symbol of everything that is not good and tending to evil.
The bible agrees with that on many occasions. Black can sometimes mean
Calamity (Exodus 10:15)
Sickness (Job 30:30)
Impurity (Leviticus 11:13)
Yes generally, and even most of the time, blackness or darkness is bad, real bad.
But dark can also be representative of God’s presence that is near. Yes, God can be around dark. You have read well.
You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.Then the Lordspoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice.
Deuteronomy 4:11Black clouds are covering and hiding the presence of God. Solomon says the Lord dwells in a dark cloud (1 kings 8:12). Many people do not know that when getting closer to the throne of God, you will encounter a dark and terrifying cloud. A thick cloud of darkness, whose purpose is to cover the mighty light coming from the Glory of God, the El Kabod.
That is why the bible calls us to fear the Lord. What’s there not to fear when we speak of the Almighty God who created heavens and earth?
In the beginning, nothing that was created belonged to the devil. Everything has a place and purpose in God’s creation, and the purpose of darkness was never to be a hiding place for the enemy’s schemes but rather to cover God mighty Glory.
In a nutshell:
Colors can have different meanings and sometimes, the meanings can be totally opposite from one another, for the same color. That’s why it is important to never neglect the context and to always be guided by the Holy Spirit to understand the message he wants to give you. Whether in dreams or in life, when a color catches your attention, take some time to think and question the Holy Spirit before you draw any conclusion.
I hope you enjoyed discovering the meaning of different colors.
If there’s one color that was not mentioned and that you would like to know more about, please comment so that I can be able to help you.
Don’t forget to like and share.
Blessings,
Prophetess Cycy.