xxvll, 28).- See Scablet. g. I [A. V. 8] ; Zech. vi, 2 ; Rev. vl, 4). Grem was the
The three colors above delRlbed, purple, blue, and - emblem of freshness, vigor, and prosperity (?»• ^^ scarlet, together with white, were employed in the 16; 111, 10; xxxvU, 86). Blue, or hyacisth, or <«^ textures used for the curtains of the tabernacle, and lecn, was the symbol of revdation ; It was pre^miiM"^ for the sacred vestments of the priests. The four ly the celestial color, even among heathen naWJ were used In combination In the outer curtains, the (comp. e. g. Jer. ix, 10, of the idok of Babylon, *od vail, the entrance curtain (Exod. xxvi, 1, 31, 86), and what Eusebius says, Prtep. Evang. ill, 11, of ^f^ the gate of the court (Exod. xxvii, 16), as also in | ovpyc^c Kv^^, and the Crlshna of the Hindoo myl^ the high-priest's ephod, girdle, and breastplate (Exod. | o^) ; and among the Hebrews it was the J***^ xxviii, 6, 6, 8, 16). The first three, to the exclusion ; color, the symbol of the revealed God (comp- Es* ''f white, were used in the pomegranates about the ' xxiv, 10 ; Ezek. I, 26). Hence It was the color ^
COLORS
419
COLOSSI
dominant in the Mosaic ceremonial ; and it was the { color prescribed for the ribbon of the Mnge in the bor- der of the garment of every Israelite, that as they looked on it they might remember all the command- ments of Jehovah (Num. xv, 38, 89). WiOi purple^ as the dress of kings, were associated ideas of rcyaUy and najetty (Judg. viii, 26 ; Esth. viU, 16 ; Cant, ill, 10 ; vii, 5 ; Dan. v, 7, 16, 29 ; comp. Odyu, xix, 225, thepaKmw purpwKtm of the Jopiter Capitolinus at Rome, the purpurea vesHs of Phoebus [Ovid, Metam. ii, 1, 23], the X^aftvdtg irop^vpai of the Dioscuri [Pausan. iv, 27], the Top<pvpoyivvriTOQ of the Byzantines, etc.). Crin^ ton and tcarlet, from thefar resemblance to blood (prob- sbly), became symbolical of life ; hence it was a crim- son thread which Rahab was to bind on her window as a sign that she was to be saved alive when Jericho wss destroyed (Josh. U, 18 ; vi, 26), and it was crimson, which the priest was to use as a means of restoring those who had contracted defilement by touching a dead body (Num. xix, 6-22). From its intensity and fixedness this color is also used to symbolize what is indelible or deeply engrained (Isa. i, 18). The colors chiefly used in the Mosaic ritual were white, hyacinth (blue), purple, and crimson. It is a superficial view which concludes that these were used merely from their brilliancy (Braun, De Veai. 8a, Heb, ; Bfthr, JSym. d. Mo$. Cvk,), See further bejow.
COLORS, Christian Stmbousm of. Colors are made use of in religious symbolism among the Jews, and ui several branches of the Christian Church. Spe- dflc directions were given in the 0. T. for the colors to be used in building of the tabernacle and the mak- ing of the dress for the Jewish priests. Colors are also introduced in giving moral or spiritual lessons, and in describing scenes in revelation, as in Isa. i, 18, m the description of the Transfiguration, and often m the imagery of the Apocalypse. See article above.
Very early in the history of Christianity the sym- bolism of colors was introduced in the ritualism and the art of the Church. In the Greek Church this symbolism has been worked out to such a degree of mmateness that little or no discrimination in the use of colors is allowed to the painter. In the Romish Church somewhat more latitude is allowed to the art- ist Five colors are recognised as having a theological meaning or expression : White, Red, Green, Violet, and Black.
I. Whke is the most often referred to in the Scrip- tures. As the union of all the rays of light, it is the symbol of tntih and tpotleta purity. It is applied to : (1.) God the Father, the source and essence of immuta- ble truth. In Daniel (vii, 9) the Ancient of Days has garments white as snow, with his hair like pure wool. The manna in the wilderness, being white, has been considered as the emblem of the Word of God« (2.) Christy at the Transfiguration, appeared in garments " white as the light" (Matt xvii, 2 ; Mark ix, 8). As the Great Judge, he will be seated on a great white throne (Rev. xx, 11). In works of art, when Christ sppears as the Lord of truth among the doctors of the law, he is represented in white garments. (8.) The o^gdt are never represented in the Scriptures as clothed otherwise than in white— as at the sepulchre of Christ (Matt xxviii, 3), at the Ascension (Acts i, 10). (4.) The mdnti in glory shall walk in white (Rev. iii, 4), shall be airayed in white (iv, 4 ; vii, 9 ; xv, 6, and xix, 8, where the fine linen, clean and white, is the right- eousness of the saints), and they shall receive a white stone (ii, 17). (6.) The priesttj at the consecration of the Temple, were "arrayed in white linen*' (2 Chron. \, 12). In the fourth century the priests of Uie Chris- tian Church wore white garments while performing thenr offices. In the Romish Church white is yet re- tsined for the alb, the cope, the amice, etc., and in the entire priestly garments on the festivals of the Nativity, Epiphany, Easter, etc. In the Church of England the white surplice of the Romish Church is