Purple Cloth

A cloth dyed with murex shellfish dye, often linked to wealth and royalty.

About Purple Cloth

Purple cloth was a reddish-purple cloth dyed with substances obtained from several natural sources. The primary source was the murex shellfish. Another source (referred to in the Hebrew words with the root tla‘) was a small worm. The dying process could yield a variety of colors, ranging from a dark red through purple to blue. (see Dye.)

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Key References

Exodus 25:4

blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair;

Judges 8:26

The weight of the gold earrings he had requested was 1,700 shekels, in addition to the crescent ornaments, the pendants, the purple garments of the kings of Midian, and the chains from the necks of their camels.

Mark 15:17

They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head.

Revelation 18:12

cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;

All Scripture References (72)

Exodus (34)
Exodus 25:4

blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair;

Exodus 26:1

“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.

Exodus 26:4

Make loops of blue material on the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and do the same for the end curtain in the second set.

Exodus 26:31

Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.

Exodus 26:36

For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen.

Exodus 27:16

The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.

Exodus 28:5

They shall use gold, along with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

Exodus 28:6

They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn.

Exodus 28:8

And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod must be of one piece, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.

Exodus 28:15

You are also to make a breastpiece of judgment with the same workmanship as the ephod. Construct it with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.

Exodus 28:28

The rings of the breastpiece shall be tied to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece is above the waistband of the ephod and does not swing out from the ephod.

Exodus 28:31

You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth,

Exodus 28:33

Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn all the way around the lower hem, with gold bells between them,

Exodus 28:37

Fasten to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban.

Exodus 35:6

blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair;

Exodus 35:23

Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or articles of fine leather, brought them.

Exodus 35:25

Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen.

Exodus 35:35

He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.

Exodus 36:8

All the skilled craftsmen among the workmen made the ten curtains for the tabernacle. They were made of finely spun linen, as well as blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim skillfully worked into them.

Exodus 36:11

He made loops of blue material on the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and also on the end curtain in the second set.

Exodus 36:35

Next, he made the veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.

Exodus 36:37

For the entrance to the tent, he made a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen,

Exodus 38:18

The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was twenty cubits long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high,

Exodus 38:23

With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.

Exodus 39:1

From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn they made specially woven garments for ministry in the sanctuary, as well as the holy garments for Aaron, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Exodus 39:2

Bezalel made the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn.

Exodus 39:3

They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut threads from them to interweave with the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen—the work of a skilled craftsman.

Exodus 39:5

And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod was of one piece with the ephod, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Exodus 39:8

He made the breastpiece with the same workmanship as the ephod, with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.

Exodus 39:21

Then they tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece was above the waistband of the ephod and would not swing out from the ephod, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Exodus 39:22

They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, the work of a weaver,

Exodus 39:24

They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely spun linen on the lower hem of the robe.

Exodus 39:29

and the sash of finely spun linen, embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Exodus 39:31

Then they fastened to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Leviticus (5)
Leviticus 14:4

the priest shall order that two live clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed.

Leviticus 14:6

And he is to take the live bird together with the cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, and dip them into the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the fresh water.

Leviticus 14:49

He is to take two birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop to purify the house;

Leviticus 14:51

Then he shall take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn, and the live bird, dip them in the blood of the slaughtered bird and the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times.

Leviticus 14:52

And he shall cleanse the house with the bird’s blood, the fresh water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the scarlet yarn.

Numbers (9)
Numbers 4:6

They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.

Numbers 4:7

Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it.

Numbers 4:8

And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles.

Numbers 4:9

They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it.

Numbers 4:11

Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles.

Numbers 4:12

They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame.

Numbers 4:13

Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it,

Numbers 15:38

“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make for themselves tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.

Numbers 19:6

The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.

Judges (1)
Judges 8:26

The weight of the gold earrings he had requested was 1,700 shekels, in addition to the crescent ornaments, the pendants, the purple garments of the kings of Midian, and the chains from the necks of their camels.

2 Chronicles (3)
2 Chronicles 2:6

But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain Him? Who then am I, that I should build a house for Him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before Him?

2 Chronicles 2:13

So now I am sending you Huram-abi, a skillful man endowed with creativity.

2 Chronicles 3:14

He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim woven into it.

Esther (2)
Esther 1:6

Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

Esther 8:15

Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

Proverbs (1)
Proverbs 31:22

She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Song of Solomon (2)
Song of Solomon 3:10

He has made its posts of silver, its base of gold, its seat of purple fabric. Its interior is inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Song of Solomon 7:6

How fair and pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!

Isaiah (1)
Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Jeremiah (1)
Jeremiah 10:9

Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz—the work of a craftsman from the hands of a goldsmith. Their clothes are blue and purple, all fashioned by skilled workers.

Lamentations (1)
Lamentations 4:5

Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.

Ezekiel (4)
Ezekiel 23:6

clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds.

Ezekiel 27:7

Of embroidered fine linen from Egypt they made your sail, which served as your banner. Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah they made your awning.

Ezekiel 27:16

Aram was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.

Ezekiel 27:24

In your marketplace they traded with you fine garments of blue, embroidered work, and multicolored rugs with cords tightly twisted and knotted.

Daniel (3)
Daniel 5:7

The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

Daniel 5:16

But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

Daniel 5:29

Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

Mark (2)
Mark 15:17

They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head.

Mark 15:20

After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

Luke (1)
Luke 16:19

Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.

Revelation (2)
Revelation 17:4

The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.

Revelation 18:12

cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;