Significance of Colors In The Bible - Praise Dance Ministry

December 16,2008

This post is a response to a very good question about the Biblical significance of colors. When looking for the Biblical significance of colors the worst thing that we can do is over spiritualize it. There are some colors that the Bible describes which have a specific significance, but it is important to understand that all colors represent the glory of God.

Mostly all of the colors that I teach my team and use in ministry are from the earth and the mood or feeling that we naturally get from these colors. God created the earth and every color therein reflects His glory. For example:

Green  – Growth, life (Gen. 1:30)

Gold    -Divinity, kingship

Silver   -Redemption (Gen. 23:15)

Red     -Blood

White  -Purity

Blue     -Heavenly (reminds us of where God is and how large He is Ex 24:10), Hope; Healing (think of hospitals); Grace; Freedom; Holiness Num. 15:38-41

Purple, blue, red, gold, silver, brass =royalty  (Ex. 25:2-8)

Combination colors :

Covenant – Red, Yellow, Blue, Orange, Green, Purple (all the colors of the rainbow) Genesis 9:16

Tabernacle  -Gold, Bronze, Purple, White, Scarlet, Blue, Silver Exodus 25:1-8, 28:5-12

Warfare Black - Gold, Red (these are the colors that are usually exemplified in war)

There may be more, but these colors and meanings are not set in stone but in my opinion give a more vivid description of what is described in Scripture.

Naturally when we see or think about colors they kind of have their own personality – even though colors are not people, but I hope you understand what I am trying to say. For instance black depicts death, judgment, mourning, evil and etc. We know that gold is always associated with royalty. Colors like orange, amber (Ezek 8:2), gold, yellow and all of the beautiful colors are associated with the element of fire.

Another example is yellow. The sun is yellow and naturally when the sun is out we are happier (opposed to a dull, dark and raining day) therefore yellow can represent joy, happiness, and enlightenment. Silver can mean redemption. We have coins that are silver and we use them to redeem or purchase goods. A Biblical example of that is in Gen 23:15. They used coins of silver to purchase things and so do we. The key and important factor here is not to over spiritualize things. White naturally depicts purity, cleanliness, peace, serenity. Another example that I want to give you is the process of refining gold. Gold is refined by fire. Refining is a practice that must be done precisely and methodically to ensure the full recovery of gold, as well as an end product that is free of impurities, which can lead to quality problems. Spiritually we can say that God refines His children with trials and temptations (James 1:2) so that we can come out as pure gold, without blemish and pure.

There are no Scriptures in the Bible that says, this color means this, but there are many examples of why certain materials were used and what colors were used (like in the tabernacle) that we can extrapolate meaning from. So my sister it is as simple as that. While it is good to have biblical examples, God has given us clear and evident examples already in nature and in the natural things that we do. So when someone asks you what a color means in addition to giving them specific scriptures like the few…and there are only but a few as stated above, take them to God’s creation. Show them the evident beauty and self explanatory meaning of colors that are already set and defined before them. I hope this helps. 

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Sonia Kong, PDCM