Scarlet Sins & Scapegoats?

Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith- the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

“אם יהיו חטאיכם כשנים כשלג ילבינו”
“Even if your sins will be scarlet, they will become white as snow.”

”שָׁנִי

shani – shawnee – scarlet #8144

Original Word: שָׁנִי
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: shani
Phonetic Spelling: shaw-nee’
Definition: scarlet

Isaiah 1:18
HEB: יִֽהְי֨וּ חֲטָאֵיכֶ֤ם כַּשָּׁנִים֙ כַּשֶּׁ֣לֶג יַלְבִּ֔ינוּ
NAS: your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white
KJV: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white
INT: become your sins scarlet snow white

Why does our Heavenly Father call sin as scarlet?

Scarlet is the color of blood and it is the blood of Yeshua/Jesus that removes the sin, sins are not scarlet are they?

In answering this question we must try to remember that words for things that are common usage today, would be totally confusing to people even a hundred years ago. E.g., In conversation today, we might say, “My laptop has a wifi Bluetooth mouse but my tablet and ipad do not.” This statement would mean nothing to someone born in the early 1900’s! A mouse with a bluetooth!! they would think you were completely crazy!

The point is our language and application of words changes, so when we read the scriptures we must remember what was relevant to those people at their time and according to the culture of their native country.

In those days people were not used to color as we are today. They did not decorate or color co-ordinate their homes or clothes; because bright colors were rare, they had not turned color into a science all its’ own as industry has today. There was no such thing as Interior/exterior paint and there were no paint spray cans or colored pencils/pens.

In the middle east their surroundings were mostly desert browns with sparse greenery and when a bright colorful flower animal or insect was observed it caused them to stop and be amazed.

The Hebrew word used for scarlet in this verse is kashanim

from the root word shani שָׁנִי

which is a word for a specific insect.

Crimson, scarlet in the Bible (37 verses). Hebrew: שָׁנִי …

Hebrew Base Word: שָׁנִי.

שָׁנִי

šānî (H8144)

 Crimson, scarlet (thread)

Definition: Crimson, properly, the insect or its color,

also stuff dyed with

Scarlet, crimson.

Properly, the insect ‘coccus ilicis’, the dried body of the female yielding coloring matter from which is made the dye used for cloth to color it scarlet or crimson.

The ka in front of the word is a preposition: like or as

so it would read literally:

though your sins be as or like an insect.

Translators correctly used the word scarlet because the people of that day were very familiar with this unique insect. This unusual insect caused the observers to be amazed because this little creature attached itself to a tree to give birth to its offspring, and when it died and its body dried up, it turned a bright, scarlet, red color. So a bright color such as scarlet would have been rare and thus everyone in Israel thousands of years ago, knew what scarlet/crimson was, or, the reference in the verse, red like crimson.

Scarlet is not only tied into the concept of sin and redemption, but it was also used practically within the confines of the Jewish Temple. Scarlet and crimson were united together in the Temple curtains/veils:

Exodus 35:25

All the skilled women spun with their hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue and purple and the scarlet material [tola’at ha-shani] and in fine linen.

The Hebrew word for material in this passage is towla-at, which is the same word used for crimson-worm. So it appears that this word evolved from representing the worm to also representing any material colored scarlet by the worm itself.

This scarlet material (tola’at shani) is found in mulyiple places in scripture, and had a particular emphasis in decorating the Temple.

Exodus 26:31-33

“You shall also make a veil of violet, purple, and scarlet material [w-towla’at shani] , and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skilled embroiderer. Then you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also of gold, on four bases of silver. You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve as a partition for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.”

Strong’s Hebrew: 3680. כָּסָה (kasah) — to cover

When this scarlet worm is ready to lay its eggs, it attaches itself to the trunk of a tree, more specifically, the Kermes oak found in the Mediterranean region. It secures itself very firmly because it already knows it will not come back down that tree alive!

It is a voluntary sacrifice!

(Is this sounding familiar to another

death on a tree as a voluntary blood sacrifice??)

Its’ eggs, which are birthed beneath its body, remain protected until they hatch and are able to go off on their own. When the worm dies, it secretes a crimson fluid that stains its body and the wood around it.

Many people had the job of gathering these little insects. Once they died dried out and began to decay giving off its scarlet color. These dead insects were then collected, crushed and turned into a scarlet color dye. The dye was then applied to the material used to make clothes for royalty and those in society who could afford such luxuries. Because it was so uncommon to be clothed in bright garments, when a person wearing scarlet clothes came by, it was an obvious clue that they were very important.

Click link below for more detail on this amazing insect.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-secret-of-how-a-worm-preached-the-gospel/

Why does this matter?

Because when someone heard the word

shani שָׁנִי or scarlet

they immediately thought of

this insect that was dead, and literally decaying.

The association with sin would then be quickly recognized as that dead decaying thing in your life, that choked the spiritual life out of you.

In the same way they would also understand that in skillful hands this dead thing could be turned into something of great beauty. Our Heavenly Father was saying that although our sins make us spiritually dead as that scarlet colored insect, He is able and willing to restore us to new spiritual life.

There are historical and archeological references, easily found on line, describing the Assyrian armies uniforms who, in Isaiah day, were Israels’ greatest enemies and eventually conquered them. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility, that most people living in Israel had heard the battle accounts; and that one thing they would have noticed was the uniform of the soldiers in the chariots. These chariots were manned by, some say 2 others 3 warriors, 1 to drive the chariot and the other 2/3 to shoot the arrows while racing as close to the enemy lines as possible; then they would circle around for another attack.

With all the enemies arrows flying, casualties were high, however it seems one arrow was not enough to knock such tough warriors down, and their wounds still bled. The scarlet colored uniforms concealed the blood coming from their wounds, and the enemy could not tell if they were hitting their targets or were fighting against something more supernatural!

Due to this military cultural practice, scarlet became known also as a camouflage.

It was part of the art of war, a means of keeping the soldiers injuries concealed and hidden from those observing the battle.

Applying this to our spiritual condition, it is telling us that when our Heavenly Father says that even though your sins are as scarlet, these sins were not the only ones destroying you but also included are those hidden or secret sins. Hidden sins are those that no one else but our Heavenly Father knows about, and even those sins that are hidden and concealed will be cleansed.

It is interesting that a word for sin is chata’

which is an archer’s term for

missing the mark or target.

And also makes us think of the verse in Ephesians concerning the fiery darts/arrows of the evil one which is why our shield of faith should always be held up high.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The word sin both in Hebrew and Greek means missed the mark, just as any archer might. 

The Mark, the centre, the bulls eye, that man is to make this his aim through life, as to THE GLORY OF GOD.

Paul tells us that to all alike, missing this mark is SIN. The standard is a high one however, we are to aim directly and always at God’s glory and not mans’. 

One of the words for sin in Hebrew, as mentioned does mean:

miss the mark,

meaning that: you didn’t achieve the right goal.

There are other words for sin, and some of them mean something more like: deliberately chose the wrong goal, which is rather more serious.

In Hebrew: HATA

Hebrew Strong’s #2398

Literally: to MISS God’s Standards.

(e.g. Hosea 8:1; Daniel 9:11; Isaiah 5:20-24)

“Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4 KJV cf. Romans 7:7.

God’s Target is His Commandments.

Breaking His Commandments is Missing God’s Target.

Same root, not the same word

Miss the mark is hechti החטיא

which also means: caused somebody to sin

Sin is chet חטא

Hebrew has several other words for sin beyond hata, each with its own specific meaning.

The word pesha, or trespass,

means:sin done out of rebelliousness.

The word aveira means: transgression.

And the word avone, or iniquity,

means:sin done out of moral failing.

A Hebrew word for sin is

חטאה

hhatah,

Strong’s #2403

and literally means: miss the mark.

The Greek translation of the Old Testament often used hamartia,

an equivalent word also meaning: to miss the mark.

Word meanings were often not as precise as English words are, because the Hebrew language had a small vocabulary; and it’s very common in language to use very natural terms as a way to describe things that are much more abstract.

Just as Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The same author told us in Romans 14:23

…whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

It is clear that the will of God, whether we are aware of what it is or not, is the mark. The responsibility is on us to both discover and to do it.

As noted, the common Hebrew term translated sin is chat·taʼthʹ; in Greek the usual word is ha·mar·tiʹa. In both languages, the verb forms (Hebrew, cha·taʼʹ; Greek, ha·mar·taʹno)

mean: miss, in the sense of:

missing or not reaching a goal, way, mark, or right point.

In our case how do we miss the mark?

We all miss the mark of perfection, in the sense that we are all called sinners in the scriptures.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

The reason Messiah Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach left his heavenly home and was born as a human, was to offer up His perfect human life in exchange for the perfect human life that Adam forfeited, when he rebelled against God’s authority.

“and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom paid by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24

chet: a sin

Original Word: חֵטְא
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chet
Phonetic Spelling: (khate)
Definition: a sin

ḥă·ṭā·’ê·ḵem — 1 Occurrence

Isaiah 1:18
HEB: אִם־ יִֽהְי֨וּ חֲטָאֵיכֶ֤ם כַּשָּׁנִים֙ כַּשֶּׁ֣לֶג
NAS: Though your sins are as scarlet,
KJV: the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet,
INT: Though become your sins scarlet snow

The Scapegoat –

Azazel  עזאזל

Ayin Zayin Aleph Zayin Lamed

 

Leviticus 16:9-10: “And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him [for] a sin offering. (10) But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, [and] to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.”

There is something interesting in Jewish writings regarding Rosh Hashanah:

During Yom Kippur in ancient days, two goats were brought before the High Priest.

Both were as identical as possible. 

Lots were then drawn.

One bore the words To the Lord and the other To Azazel.

The word Azazel is an interesting word as there is much debate as to what its meaning really isMany translations just translate it as Azazel in reference to a geological location.  Some of the earlier translations use the word scapegoat. As to whether Azazel meant scapegoat to the ancient Hebrews is said to be questionable.

In 1530 William Tyndale broke the law of the land by translating the Bible into English. This was an act for which he was put to death.  Azazel was the name of a demon and even a common name among Jews used for Satan. To say the other lot fell to Satan who was allowed to escape, did not seem right, so Tyndale considered the word Azazel to be a compound word, as for goat; ez and azal for sending away, hence scapegoat.  However, if we stay with the original understanding of Azazel as a demon or even a reference to Satan himself, we are then open to a deeper and maybe a more relevant understanding of this strange ritual.

It seems obvious that the goat who received the lot, To the Lord, was representative of the Messiah, as we identify to be Jesus/Yeshua. This Messiah gave His life and shed His blood for the sins of all mankind. But what was the reason for the Azazel and sending the goat into the wilderness? because the scapegoat never made it out of the wilderness alive.

The sages had no problem with one goat being slaughtered and shedding its’ blood as a sign of God’s forgiveness of sin, but they also realized just having your sins forgiven was not enough. It was a great relief on Yom Kippur to have all your sins forgiven, ready to start the New Year with a clean sheet, but what about the consequences of those past sins which was primarily the consequence of guilt. It seems it was not uncommon for Jews to amend their rituals and add to God-given directions. An example would be that an individual may not realize until they are older of the many sacrifices made by family members for their benefit. Sometimes the commandment to honor parents cannot be fulfilled if the parents die before they are able to repent, ask for forgiveness and personally thank them. They pray and repent and they receive Gods forgiveness by faith, and that sin is washed away, like the goat shedding its’ blood for their sin; yet some individuals carry that guilt and live with the burden of it for years.

The sages saw that Azazel, a demon, or the enemy himself, is constantly whispering in our ears. We are to remember and be encouraged that after God has forgiven you and cleansed you

the only weapon the enemy has

are his lies.

Because of this it was agreed that the Azazel or the scapegoat also represented the guilt of the sin. God forgave the sin but many still live with the guilt.

One word for wilderness is medabarah which could also be translated as words from the heart.  So, the picture they saw of the scapegoat was the words that the Azazel puts into your heart, words of condemnation and guilt are to be sent away far from the tabernacle or tent.

Again be certain that not only did

God forgive our sins,

He also

removed the guilt

often attached to that sin.

The only guilt we feel is just the lies of the Azazel or the enemy. Messiah came to set the captives free from ALL of it.

The sins were placed on the scapegoat and by so doing removing all guilt being carried; and they did two extra things not mentioned in the Torah which are recorded in the Talmud/Jewish Literature. 

First, they tied a red wool thread around the horn of the scapegoat and cut off a piece of that red wool thread. 

Then when they sent the goat away some priests followed it and when the goat got near a cliff, they made sure the goat fell to his death, accordingly the lies of Azazel were put to death!

When the Pharisees placed their hands on the goat and confessed the sins… it was ALL placed on the scapegoat. When the Pharisees slapped Jesus/Yeshua on His head and called Him blasphemous; this act was, placing the sins of all mankind on the head of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, maybe unintentionally… but it fulfilled their job! So when Messiah died and went to paradise all the guilt went too.

Tradition teaches that when that scapegoat with the red thread tied around its horn was tossed off the cliff, the piece of wool thread that the High Priest cut from the red wool thread on the horn, turned white; as proof that God not only forgave the sins of the nation but took away the guilt as well. 

Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

https://www.minimannamoments.com/at-one-ment-with-the-one-you-love/

This season of self examination should not be only for when we reflect on the Appointed Times; but daily we are to examine our hearts before our Heavenly Father and apply His precious crimson scarlet blood to our lives.

Even if your sins (all our of missing the mark), will be scarlet, be as or like a shani שָׁנִי insect; literally that dead decaying thing in our lifes/chaim that choked the spiritual life out of us – they will become white as snow in skillful hands; and this dead thing can be turned into something of great beauty.

Our Heavenly Father was & is saying that although

our sins make us spiritually dead as that scarlet colored insect,

He is able and willing to restore us to new spiritual life in Him; and in that process, completely removing

ALL sin and ALL the guilt and shame

associated with those sins through the Blood of Jesus/Yeshua, His own sacrificial Lamb and scapegoat.

How?

By staying in right relationship with Him every possible moment, and walking step by step in obedience to the path He designed for each of us.

As we are entering into the week of

Sukkot/Booths/Tabernacles,

it is appropriate to think on the

soon return of our King, our Messiah

when He will tabernacle with us for ever.

All our waiting and hoping

will be turned into

rejoicing and fullness of peace/shalom;

as His presence will not be by faith believing,

but will be tangible and complete.

Hallelujah!

Stay always alert and ready,

for we know not the hour our Lord returns…

Matthew 24:42

for so much more on Sukkot/Tabernacles/Booths

please be sure to click links below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/sheltering-presence-god/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-sheltering-presence-of-god-cont/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/sukkot-the-promise-of-a-permanent-dwelling-place/

Keep your lamps filled trimmed and lit..

our bridegroom is coming and the midnight hour is here.

Shalom aleikhem

friends and family – chaverim and mishpachah!

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week, especially through Sukkot.

You are greatly loved and prayed for daily.

Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation  and the deep inner knowing that you are sealed to the day of redemption by the Blood of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua.

Not sure ..you can be…

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord, Your Passover Lamb/Your High Priest of the Atoning Blood Sacrifice

and soon returning King;

and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.

A Mystery – How Messiah Takes Blue And Red Threads To Make Purple People.

There is not one insignificant detail from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.  Everything in scripture tells us something about Messiah. Hebrew is a pictograph language (picture writing), so colors also have meaning and a significant role in the text.

Because everything is connected – links are provided to previous posts that give more detail on the various areas mentioned in this one.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/ancient-pictographic-hebrew-language/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/alef-bet-alphabet/

From the High Priest’s garments to the furnishings, coverings, curtains, implements; everything in the colors of the Mishkan /Tabernacle of Moses, was designed according to God’s exact specifications given to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

The instructions for the color of the veils or curtains in the Tabernacle were to be blue, purple and red or scarlet.

Exodus 26:1
“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.”

Exodus 26:31

““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.”

https://www.minimannamoments.com/who-are-those-around-the-throne/ 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/a-keruvim-cherub-not-quite-like-we-imagined-part-2/

There were three main colors:  Blue, purple and scarlet, woven throughout the tabernacle from it’s coverings and curtains to the garments of the high priest.  A fourth color, the pure white linen which is not readily visible, served as the foundation of every fabric.

The cloth made for the Mishkan/Tabernacle was woven with the finest tiny threads of blue and red and when they’re positioned so close together they appear to be purple.

Purple is the joining, the melding, combining and blending of blue and red.

This was done as a visual representation

of the place of reconciliation,

the joining

and the place –

‘Ha Makem’-‘The Place’-המקום

was called the Tent of Meeting – it was literally where:

spiritual met physical –

Divine met human –

God met man.

Two realities –

Two realms –

Two dimensions connected.

Shemoth (Exodus) 35:25-26 And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.

Linen was white.

White speaks of purity and righteousness.

And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats’ hair.

10 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels. . . .
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands. . . .
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle. . . .
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple. . . .
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
(Source: Proverbs 31:10-31;

The order was consistently the same Blue, Purple, Red/Scarlet; from right to left, as with Hebrew writing.

Blue is the color of the sky the heavens and so blue represented the heavenly realm and God so it is always listed as first priority.

Blue typifies God’s divinity. It could be said that it’s the color of God.  Blue has a very special meaning to Him representing shamayim – the heavens. It is said God made the sky blue to reflect the glory of His beloved Son!

The middle color purple depicts royalty and is the melding and joining of blue and red the joining of heaven with earth of God to man of spirit with flesh and only in the joining is the purple seen, revealing a total fusing of all that is Him with all that is us. This is the miracle and hard to comprehend – all that is holy, to all that is not and the mystery of the plan of God to become so totally joined that He/Messiah/God will appear to be as sin.

Red/scarlet is a picture of His human side as well as His shed blood.  The color scarlet or red is connected to man through the word in Hebrew – adam=man; which has its roots in the Hebrew word for red. In the middle east the color of the earth is primarily redred earth from which man was created. Also scarlet/red is the symbol of sin and guilt.

It was a prophetic visual of that day to come at Calvary.

These three colors are always recorded in this order:

Blue, purple, scarlet.

The colors are very significant and are the same colors that are used in the garments of the High Priest.

The color Blue represents Heaven for Blue is the color of the sky and a reminder of the heavenly realm.  We are given a description of a glimpse of Heaven when we read of what Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu (the sons of Moses), and the 70 elders of Israel saw when they went up to worship God on Mount Sinai:

Exodus 24:10  And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

The significance of the color blue would be associated in the minds of all the people with the commandments of the Lord representing the 613 Laws. It also spiritually signifies the Healing Power of God. It is the color which represents, biblically, the Word of God. Numbers 15:38-41 denotes this biblical meaning of blue (fringe of the borders a ribband of blue).

The very fact that the sky is blue stands for His presence; Sapphires reflect a beautiful sky-blue color reminding us of not only the blue heaven we can see but also the Heaven far beyond, the Heaven of heavens.

Nehemiah 9:6  Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

The Biblical blue was essential in its use in the Temple in Jerusalem and the scripture commands that this color be worn on the tzitzit, the four-cornered garment of the tallit/prayer shawl.

However, for close to 1500 years, the identity of the Biblical blue was lost to the world.

See previous posts:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/knot-just-another-string-theory/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/life-on-the-fringe/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/mysterious-secret-of-the-hilazon/

Tekhelet is ancient Hebrew for blueviolet, used in Modern Hebrew as a color equivalent to light blue. Information concerning it, remained in passages in the Talmud which describes the source of the blue dye – a snail known as the (C)hilazon. In ancient times purple and blue dyes derived from snails were so rare and sought after that they were literally worth their weight in gold. These precious dyes colored the robes of the kings and princes of Media, Babylon, Egypt, Greece and Rome. To wear them was to be identified with royalty. Notice the red stripes on the inside of the snails shell. By His (blood red) stripes we are healed.

Numbers 15:38-40

The color red in the Bible represents blood.  The life of man is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11) and Messiah’s blood atonement is necessary for the redemption of man. His pure blood paid the penalty for our sins and by His blood, we are washed clean.

Yeshua/Jesus as our Passover sacrifice

Revelation 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

1 Peter 1:18-19  For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But [redeemed] with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Col 1:20-21  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.

It also represented the red ribbon of Rahab, which pointed to the inclusion of the Gentiles in salvation.

A darker shade of red is scarlet. It’s a color used, along with blue and purple in the Tabernacle, and it represents earthiness. The Hebrew word for scarlet has the same root meaning of the Hebrew word for earth. Adam was created from the dust of the earth– he was earthy, and in the story it’s told that Esau was born red all over like a hairy garment — With red hair all over his body, and so they named him Esau. Genesis 25:25

Esau became a profane man– a man related not to spiritual things, but to earthly things. Also from the root word of scarlet comes the word for worm.

The psalmist referred to himself as a worm (Psa 22:6), Isaiah referred to Jacob in his natural state as a worm (Isa 41:14), and Yeshua/Jesus referred to unregenerate man as a worm (Mark 9:444648) — and that is exactly what man is in his natural state, without God.  Man’s life is in the blood. He is earthy.  But, redeemed by the pure and precious blood of Messiah, our life is in the Spirit.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-secret-of-how-a-worm-preached-the-gospel/

Purple represents kingship.

In ancient times, purple dye was expensive, therefore making the color purple symbolic of prestige, nobility and kingship/royalty (Judges 8:26Esther 8:15). 

The Bible also reveals purple to be symbolic of wealth, prosperity and luxury (Exodus 28:5Ezekiel 27:7Proverbs 31:22Song of Solomon 3:107:5Luke 16:19Acts 16:14Revelation 17:418:1216).

Purple reminds us of Jesus because He is the King of kings and He lives and rules in the hearts of those who are His.

Romans 15:12  And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

1 Timothy 1:17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 19:16  And he [Jesus] hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

The color purple, which combines both blue and red, red/scarlet, which points to Yeshua/Jesus’ blood, His life as a man, and His work on earth (scarlet = earthy), and the color blue, which points to His heavenly dwelling place (blue = Heaven).

https://www.minimannamoments.com/a-mystery-why-was-the-priest-in-the-water/

It directs us to the Royal Priesthood, (Melki-Zedek), which combines both the salvation given to us through the sacrifice of Messiah and our love of the Father shown through our obedience to the Law. As Yeshua/Jesus reminds us Matthew 5:17

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 18 For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

However the sacrifices are no longer required because He was the lamb of God that took away the sin of the world. John 1:29

White: Due to its purity of light and color, white represents our clean linen garments of righteousness – the garments of salvation, as we prepare ourselves as His Bride to be clothed in the appropriate wedding garment.

White is the presence of all the light in the visible spectrum. Clouds and snow appear as white because almost all of the sun’s light is reflected by the water in the clouds and snow.  Only a very small amount of the visible spectrum is absorbed.  Fully light and without stain, the color white reminds us of the righteousness of Messiah. 

He is pure light and pure righteousness and when a sinner comes to Him in faith He washes them clean.

Isaiah 1:18  …though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

When Yeshua/Jesus washes us clean from sin, He makes us “white as snow” by giving us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21); representing the perfection of Messiah.

To these four colors was added gold.

The color gold points to God’s deity.  In ancient days, kings, pharaohs, and noblemen were adorned with gold to signify their high position.

King Solomon had an ivory throne overlaid with the best gold (1 Kings 10:18).

When instructions were given for building the furniture in the Tabernacle, God was very specific about the use of gold.  Every piece of furniture pointed to Christ and to His deity.  For example, in the Holy of Holies, the Ark of the Covenant was constructed of acacia wood (symbolic of Yeshua/Jesus’ humanity) and overlaid with pure gold (symbolic of His divinity). The mercy seat was pure gold as well as the two cherubim, one on each side with wings outstretched (Exodus 25:10-21).  The lampstand was constructed of pure gold, and the table of shewbread and the altar of incense were constructed of acacia wood (Christ’s humanity) and overlaid with gold (Christ’s divinity). Another example of gold representing Jesus’ divinity was at His birth. One of the Wise Men presented Him with a gift of gold, a gift befitting the King of kings that pointed to Yeshua/Jesus being the begotten Son of God.

God’s presence was in the Ark and it was also the receptacle of the Holy Spirit.

As the High Priest symbolizes the living Temple – we are the living Temple/Sanctuary today, the gold represents the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh in us.

Just as the gold was interwoven amongst all the other strands of material, so too His Holy Spirit/ Ruach HaKodesh ties all the members of the Body of Messiah together.

Gold represents God’s love because His love is more precious and more valuable than all the gold in the world and interestingly adding the letter L to GOD spells GOLD. And like gold, He is highly desired (Psalm 42:263:1Philippians 3:10) and His value exceeds everything and everyone.

Even in the color order there is a secret – a hidden message.

Before Messiah was born to live in a human body, He was fully God, or you could say fully blue – coming from the realm of the heavens, hashamayim.
Human beings, are often referred to as being red blooded. Adam, one of the words for man, in Hebrew, and can have the meaning of red-blooded man.

In modern Israel the word for blood is the word, dam,

which is the root word for “A-dam.”

If we follow this through then, Messiah, the fully blue of heaven, was born of Mary, a fully red human descended from Adam, it could be suggested that God, (in Messiah) became something He never was before – a perfect combination of the two realms Blue and RedPurple, or in this case – The Perfect Human. As the scripture 1Cor.15:45 says He was the Last Adam and the 1st Adam we know was also created perfect.

We as believers, start out fully red (of the earthly realm), accept the fully blue (Messiahs heavenly realm), and then we also become purple, royalty like Messiah as children of the King of kings……

His purple people.

The power of the coming Savior and the Atonement was prophesied through the prophet Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

On the cross, Matt 27:46 Mark 15:34 the Savior quoted Psalm 22:1 “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

In this messianic psalm verse 6 states, “I am a worm, and no man” The Hebrew word used here for “worm” (tola’at) refers specifically to the crimson worm.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-secret-of-how-a-worm-preached-the-gospel/

The Hebrew words for scarlet (shani) and crimson (tola) signify where the colors were derived from—a worm (most likely Kermes echinatus).

The scarlet or crimson worm is of a family of insects that live on oak trees.

the words scarlet and crimson refer to red colors that come from certain dyes.

Ancient cultures placed great importance on dyes, especially those used for sacred or ceremonial purposes, such as burial clothing or purification rituals (see Leviticus 14:6). The point of a dye is that it is not only colorful but also colorfast, meaning that its rich color will stick to the cloth and not fade or wash away.

Permanent. The colorfast nature of scarlet and crimson dyes is similar to our sins, and “the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” (Alma 45:16). “According to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish” (Alma 34:9).

Only the Blood of Messiah can remove a permanent colorfast stain of sin.

Crimson is a strong, red color, inclining to purple.

It originally referred to the color of the kermes dye produced from an insect, Kermes vermilio, (from where we get our word vermillion); but the name is now sometimes also used as a generic term for slightly bluish-red colors that are between red and rose.

There is a correlation with the Tabernacles’ 4 main colors and the 4 Gospels and also the 4 faced man, the 4 faces of the cherubim.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/a-keruvim-cherub-not-quite-like-we-imagined-part-2/

In Matthew’s gospel Yeshua/Jesus is portrayed most often as King of Kings. Messiah Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The lineage recorded in Matthew proves his rightful, kingly claim to the throne of His father, King David. The Lion corresponds to Him because it’s known as the King of the animal kingdom. As the color most often associated with royalty is purple, so it is the color of Matthew.

Red is the color for Marks gospel. Here, Messiah is most often referred to as the suffering servant.  The ox was used as a servant – a beast of burden, as well as a sacrificial animal.  Yeshua/Jesus went about doing good, healing, restoring.   Mark’s gospel records that He came not to be served, but to serve.  In Marks account,there is no genealogy here probably because the lineage or pedigree of a servant is not necessary.

The Temple veil with depiction of the four gospels.

In Luke, Yeshua/Jesus is portrayed in everyday and familiar domestic settings, we read of Him being among Mary, Martha and Lazarus and other ones that He loved so much. Its in Luke that the Prodigal son is recorded.  White is also associated with this gospel. In Luke’s record, Messiah is most often referred to as the son of Man, one of the 4 faces portrayed on the temple veil.

The reason for the portrayal as a man may be because its easy to get caught up in His Divinity, Holiness, majesty and might, that we sometimes forget that He is also fully human, with human emotions and human sympathies.

Hebrews 4:15 New International Version (NIV). 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin.

He doesn’t merely know how we feel the scripture seems to tell us that He feels what we feel. His lineage recorded here goes all the way back to Adam proving that He is 100% a human man.

Yeshua/Jesus is portrayed most often as the, Very God, from heaven so Blue
is connected with the Gospel of John, for here His Godhood is revealed. The Eagle, which soars high above in the heavens, represents this Gospel and there is no genealogy in John’s account because, as divinity, an eternal being, He has no beginning and no end.

 

The high priest’s garments and the Ephod itself also had a fifth element woven throughout, 5 is the numerical value of grace. 

This 5th element was Pure gold thread.  

Gold depicts God’s divinity and gave durability to the cloth as well as a glistening sheen. Artisans of ancient Israel took the purest fine gold and first hammered or beat it into very thin sheets until it was paper thin.  Next, they cut it into tiny strips, rolled and stretched it until it was very fine thread.  This was woven in amongst the blue, purple, scarlet and white linen and fashioned into the Ephod and the breastplate on which were mounted the 12 precious stones, representing the 12 tribes of Israel.

This hammering, beating, cutting, rolling and stretching is a graphic representation of the beating Messiah received as He took our place.  The scriptures record in Isaiah that He was brutalized so badly by the sadistic Roman soldiers, that He was not even recognizable as human.

All the remaining copious amounts of gold throughout the tabernacle was Beaten and hammered into shape, it was all fashioned in the same way.

The Gospels represent a beautifully woven tapestry of the Blue, Purple, Scarlet, White and Gold.

As the Blue as He healed all who were sick and oppressed of the devil.  Performing miracles, overcoming impossible obstacles and raising the dead.

As the Purple He was The King Who sat down on the mount to teach the people, not as the Scribes and Pharisees but as One having authority and the King Who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.

As the Scarlet/Red as our divine servant went about doing good, the One Who suffered all for our sakes.

As the white He was the Man, sound asleep in the boat who awoke to the cries of those He loved in need of His help. Recognize the Blue in the power and majesty as He commands the wind and waves to be still with a word: SHALOM!

The Gold is represented as the One tested by the devil and proved Him to be the very God in human form.

As the fulfillment drew close as Yeshua prepared Himself to be the instrument of the actual joining, they mocked and beat Him and pressed a thorny crown into His head. And put a robe around Him the scriptures tell us it was a scarlet/purple color.

Behold the man!

So Yeshua/Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look! Here is the man!” Holman Christian Standard Bible.

Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Holman Christian Standard Bible
They stripped Him and dressed Him in a scarlet military robe.

Matthew 27:28

The Soldiers Mock Jesus 27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 And they twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head.

Young’s Literal Translation
and having unclothed him, they put around him a crimson cloak,

Weymouth New Testament
Stripping off His garments, they put on Him a general’s short crimson cloak.

Most other translations say scarlet from the greek κοκκίνην
kokkinēn

Scarlet Robe

Matt. 27:28, “They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.”

Matt. 27:31, “After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.”

Purple Robe

Mark 15:17, “They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him.”

Mark 15:20, “After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.”

John 19:2, “And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him.”

John 19:5, “Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”

The colors are both different and similar depending on the shade and the lighting.  For example, dark scarlet is very similar to darker purple.  In the condition of poor lighting, the distinction is even less apparent since the colors would appear darker.

So, it could simply be that the robe was a dark color that could have been accurately described by either word.

Purple was associated with triumph and emperors so along with the crown of thorns it was a mocking symbol of Yeshua/Jesus royalty.

Marcus Aurelius would have worn similar to this.

The very fact that purple was an expensive color made it affordable only to the royals. That Jesus was made to put it on before his crucifixion, implies that the Romans were sending a strong signal to the Jews against any coup.

It is full of significance. The symbolism of not just the purple, but all four colors of the robe viewed in the Gospel accounts from points of view.

Heb. 10:19-20 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

This then relates to the pattern of the tabernacle of Moses wherein the veil was made of four colors.

Ex. 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

Blue [tekeleth], purple [argaman]scarletlinen.

So we see Messiah clothed in the same, although the two purples refer to the blue and the purple; the word, gorgeous, may be translated white, like white linen.

John 19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple [porphyrus] robe,

Mt. 27:28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet [kokkinos] robe.

Mk. 15:17 And they clothed him with purple [porphyra- purple fish],

Lk. 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous [lampros- white] robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

So, the color purple may have also related to royalty, but the primary point was to show Christ came in the flesh.

There are of course the usual Skeptics who maintain that a contradiction exists between the Gospel accounts because they describe the color of the robe differently. Matthew says that the soldiers “put a scarlet robe” on Jesus (27:27-28), Mark says that “they clothed Him with purple ” (15:16-17), and John states that the soldiers put “a purple robe” on Him (19:1-2). These differences have lead some to believe and advocate that the writers wrote under their own power with no help from a Higher Being, and thus they contradicted one another in their narratives. There is however, a valid explanation for the differences in the Gospel narratives concerning the robe placed upon Messiah after His scourging.

It is not uncommon that we all see colors a little differently. There are people who are color blind and do not see the true color at all. What one person calls blue, someone else may be more specific and call navy blue. A military uniform color may appear to some as dark red, but others who sees the faded uniforms for the first time at the end of a conflict may conclude that the color is more maroon. Another e.g. one child may color an orange-yellow Sun, while another makes a Sun that is bright yellow.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John simply wrote from different perspectives. The same way that people look at colors and see different tones, shades, and tints, they experienced the activities surrounding the life of Yeshua/Jesus from different perspectives and described what they saw individually.

It is very likely that the garment placed upon Yeshua/Jesus after his brutal scourging was similar to the description of the previously mentioned faded uniforms, but in His case we read of “a scarlet robe…faded to resemble purple” (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary). [It is difficult to imagine Pilate arraying Jesus’ bloody body with a new robe. More likely it was one that had been worn and cast off as useless (Barnes).] According to A.T. Robertson, there were various shades of purple and scarlet in the first century and it was not easy to distinguish the colors or tints (1997). In fact, the ancients (especially the Romans) used the term purple when speaking of various shades of red (McGarvey, 1875, p. 361; Barnes, 1997). Consequently, these different colors sometimes would be called by the same name.

So really there is no discrepancy in the scriptures concerning the color of the robe placed around Messiah. It seems that they were simply like others of their day and used the terms scarlet and purple interchangeably.

Purple – Crimson – Scarlet.

Colors in the Bible have a symbolic significance that can remind us of God and His plan of redemption.

As with numbers, colors point us to Yeshua/Jesus by symbolizing His Person and His works. Hebrew hermeneutics PARDES, has an interpretation approach that includes something called a “remez.”  A remez is a hint of a hidden message or a deeper meaning that is below the surface or behind the words.  Numbers and colors are both remezes.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/pardes-what-is-that/

 

Chronologically, the Colors of garments Yeshua/Jesus wore during his arrest and trial:

Yeshua/Jesus wore a blue  poncho/chiton?

Luke 23:11 Herod put a white esthes on Him

John19:2 Pilate put a purple himation on Him.

Mt 27:28 Soldiers put a Scarlet clamus on Him

Mt 27:31 Soldiers put his Blue garment (chiton) back on Him. 

Luke 23:11  But the Herod together-with his armies having-treated him with-contempt, and having-mocked (him), having-cast-around him (a) brilliant white esthes (ἐσθῆτα) (robe) he-sent him back to-the Pilate.

John 19:2 And the soldiers having-plaited (a) crown out-of thorn-plants they-put (it) upon his head, and they-cast-around him (a) purple himation (ἱμάτιον himation),

Matthew 27:28  And having-stripped him they-placed-around to-him (a) scarlet mantle (χλαμύδα chlamuda);

Matthew 27:31   And then they-mocked him they-stripped (off) him the mantle ( χλαμύς chlamus), and they-clothed him in his garments (ἱμάτια himatia); and they-led him away into to-be-crucified.

 

Matthew 27:35  But having-crucified him they-divided-for themselves his garments (ἱμάτια – himatia) casting (a) lot, in-order-that it-might-be-fulfilled, the-(thing) having-been-said by the prophet; They-divided-for-themselves my garments  (ἱμάτια – himatia) with-themselves, and on my vesture (ἱματισμόν – himatismon) they-cast (a) lot.

Note the Textus Receptus has additional Greek text here to connect to Psalm 22:18

Psalm 22:18 They part my garments (‫בְגָדַי beged) (LXX: ἱμάτιά himatia) among them, And upon my vesture (‫לְבוּשִׁ  lĕbuwsh) (LXX: ἱματισμόν himatismon) do they cast lots.

 

 

Finding Colors that Point to Messiah in the Symbolism:

There are many examples in the Bible of colors that point to Yeshua/Jesus.  One of the greatest examples is the door of the Tabernacle.

Exodus 27:16  And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.

Blue points to Heaven, where God dwells.

Purple points to One who would come as Messiah, the King of the Jews

Scarlet (red) points to His blood atonement, paid for the sins of man.

White (fine linen) points to the Righteous One and the righteousness He imputes to all who come to Him in faith.

This was the gate, the entrance to the Tabernacle, a type of door in the fence that surrounded the Tabernacle.  There was only one door through which to enter into the court of the Tabernacle.  Beyond the court, in the Holy Place, was gold furniture and beyond that was the Holy of Holies with the golden Ark and the presence of God.  We know that Jesus is our Door, and only through Him can man come before God.

I am the DOOR: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)

Therefore, we see that by passing through the four-colored veil/curtain, (DOOR) we look forward to our perfect High Priest, Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah.

 

An incredible fulfillment as the Messiah Yeshua was the vessel

in whom heaven and earth

God and man,

spirit and flesh,

infinite and finite –

blue and red became one – completely.

It is finished He said, knowing all that had been accomplished in every prophetic detail. Planned from the beginning including the detailed instructions of the Tabernacles construction;

so that as all that is red and ungodly in us –

is joined to all that is blue and godly in Him –

we become the purple people of His passion –

and He is our High Priest after the order of Malki Zedek.

Happy Thanksgiving to those  in USA who celebrate the day!..

https://www.minimannamoments.com/giving-thanks-with-a-grateful-heart/

and a belated thank you to all veterans who have given their lives for our freedom so we can give thanks.

Apologies for the lateness of the post due to ongoing technical issues pertaining to internet connections!

Shalom & Thank you for your prayers!

Let’s all give thanks to the one who blended blue and red

and became purple for us represented in

the veil, who Himself was rent – breaking down the wall of partition and opening the WAY…

to blue through His red blood

for our scarlet sins

that because of Him

are now white as snow.

Make sure before you leave this page that you are connected to Messiah and that Purple threads have colored your life..

Please, don’t leave this page until..

you are sure you are through the DOOR- the colored veil- and safely in His sheep fold with access to the Holy of Holies.. He is calling YOU today..

we all need to born again from above..His Mercy and Grace are all you need…for therein is His forgiveness.

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.