BLUE OR PURPLE THREAD?

I made an observation last Shabbat study about the tzitzit thread color standing out, being set apart, and that I had no scriptural proof.  Well, I have spent several hours studying this very subject and, now, I believe that I have the proof and would like to share what I have learned to see if you believe as I at the end of this brief summation.

I am using “The Scriptures” (TS) and the “Jewish Publication Society Bible” (JPSB) as my main references.  The “King James Version” (KJV) wants to call “purple” “scarlet” in some places (Dan 5: 7-29) and I am not confident that their translations of Hebrew or Aramaic are correct in a lot of cases.  That being said, I do refer back to the KJV to check as there will be someone who will bring up that a certain rob was scarlet and not purple.  If no reference is made, I refer to TS.

The Set-apart Place and the Most Set-apart Place

To understand this summation we have to go back to the earliest mention of “blue” and “purple”.

Exodus 25:4

Exo 25:3 “And this is the contribution which you take up from them: gold, and silver, and bronze,

Exo 25:4 and blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine linen, and goats’ hair

The very first thing you should notice is there is a distinction between the three colors.  This collection of material was being made to build a Set-apart Place for YHWH to dwell in.

Exodus 25:8

Exo 25:8 “And they shall make Me a Set-apart Place, and I shall dwell in their midst.

The colors were significant for purposes later discussed.  At this point, I will be giving an abridged version of my study where I will point out the highlights of color use.  Feel free to research the building of the Set-apart Place, Most Set-apart Place, and Ahron’s clothing as it is very interesting.

To understand the colors blue and purple, I will refer to Strong’s Concordance (which I put little weight in as it tends to keep with traditions in their definitions) and Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions (BDB).  If no reference is made, I am using BDB.

Blue: tekeleth

1) violet, violet stuff

1a) violet thread

1b) violet stuff or fabric

2) blue (covering spectrum from brilliant red through deep purple)

Strong’s

Probably for H7827; the cerulean mussel, that is, the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith: - blue.

Purple: argaman

1) purple, red-purple

Strong’s

Of foreign origin; purple (the color or the dyed stuff): - purple.

As you can see, there could be some confusion between violet and purple (and even blue and purple).  Strong’s does nothing but add to the confusion if there is confusion to be had.

Back to the Set-apart Place.  The outer “walls”, if you will, were curtains made from blue, purple and scarlet.  As you see, again, there is a distinction between scarlet, purple and blue (which is why I find the KJV suspect).  The curtains were joined with 50 blue loops and gold hooks.  Blue is a color that is used to bind or tie together parts of the Set-apart Place and Ahron’s garments.  The veil that separated the Set-apart Place from the Most Set-apart Place (where the Ark was to be placed) was blue, purple and scarlet.  A side note here; there was four walls to the Most Set-apart Place and not one curtain that divided the two.  All of the other materials to cover the tent opening and gate opening were made from blue, purple and scarlet material.

Ahron’s garments

All of Ahron’s garments, save one, were made of blue, purple and scarlet.  These would include his shoulder garment, embroidered bands for the shoulder garment, and breast plate.  The cords that bind all of this together were made of blue as discussed earlier.  The robe was to be made all blue (all versions say blue).  This blue rob will be of importance later.

The breaking of camp: Numbers 4

There were specific things to be done before a move was made.  These are some of the important highlights concerning the colors.

The Ark was covered with the veils of the Most Set-apart Place, leather and then a blue wrapper.

The table of showbread is covered with a blue wrapper.  The utensils for the table were place on top of it and covered with a scarlet and, then, the whole thing was covered in leather.

The lampstand and its utensils were covered with a blue wrapper and then placed in a leather cover.

The blue spread was placed over the gold alter and covered with leather.

The utensils for the alter were covered with a blue wrapper and placed in a covering of leather.

Here is the most exciting part:

Num 4:13 and shall remove the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple wrapper over it

After I wrote that, I had to stand up and walk around – I was to excited to sit!

Why is this so exciting to me?  Well, I will explain.  I believe the ashes represent man and here is why:

The sovereigns of Midyan wore purple robes. Jud 8:26

The Ashshurian officers and rulers wore purple robes. Eze 23: 5-6

Belshatstsar placed a purple robe on Daniel for interpreting the writing on the wall.

Here is why this is the most exciting part!!!

John 19: 2-5

Joh 19:2 And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns and placed it on His head, and they put a purple robe on Him,

Joh 19:3 and came to Him and said, “Greetings, Sovereign of the Yehuḏim!” And they slapped Him in the face.

Joh 19:4 And Pilate went outside again, and said to them, “See, I am bringing Him out to you, to let you know that I find no guilt in Him.”

Joh 19:5 Then יהושע came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “See the Man!”

“See the Man” He is wearing purple and called a man!

Man wears a purple robe and to be in the presence of a Holy Creator your robe had better be blue (violet)!  There is a distinction to be sure.  There is a covenant and commandment we are to follow and that is why there should be a distinction of color for the tzitzit.  The colored thread is to remind us of the commandments.  We are supposed to reach after, in faith, the commandments to be saved.  We had better not be reaching for the “color” of man!  Isn’t it interesting we are to reach for the tzitzit and not any other part of His garment?

I am not sure blue is the “right” color.  I know I have a hard time telling the difference between violet and purple.  I do not, however, have a problem telling the difference between blue and violet or blue and purple.  For this reason alone, I will stick with blue.  It is a reminder that I am to follow the commandments in faith and that it can, in no way, be confused with the color of man.

Peace

Chris