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dyes and dyeing in the Bible
The art of dyeing is one of great antiquity.
The practice of dyeing fabrics and animal skins, and the use of dyed materials holds notable significance in the Bible, though the Bible does not describe the dyeing process itself in detail. Instead, it emphasizes the resulting colors—primarily blue (tekhelet), purple (argaman), scarlet/crimson (tola'at shani), and occasionally others like red-dyed ram skins—and their symbolic, social, religious, and economic importance.
Ram skins dyed red are recorded in Exodus 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19, 34. Red-dyed coverings marked sacred or important tents among ancient nomadic peoples. For the Hebrews, it reminded them of blood atonement for sins.
Rams were key sacrificial animals in the Old Testament system (e.g., used in burnt offerings, guilt offerings, and consecration rituals like those for priests in ">Exodus 29). A rams often symbolized strength, leadership, or a substitute sacrifice.
Dyed red — The vivid red color strongly evoked blood. Blood was central to atonement in the Levitical system: “the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls” (Leviticus 17:11). Red symbolized the shedding of blood required for forgiveness and restoration of relationship with God.
The layer pointed to the necessity of death (the ram had to die to provide its skin) and the application of blood for covering/protection. This symbolized the holy dwelling place of God, shielded from defilement and external threats.
These red skins formed one of the 4 layers of coverings over the Tabernacle structure (the tent where God's presence dwelt among the people). Specifically, they served as the 3rd layer (from the inside out), placed over the goat-hair curtains and under the outermost layer of “badgers' skins” (or possibly sealskins/porpoise skins, depending on translation).
Dyed fabrics were expensive and labor-intensive to produce (especially true purple from sea snails like the murex), making them markers of wealth, status, and royalty. The most prominent dyes appear repeatedly in sacred and royal contexts.
Tyre—What does the Bible say about this seaport whose shores were valued by murex shell collectors?In the Old Testament
The Hebrews probably learned dyeing from the Egyptians (see Exodus 26:1; 28:5-8), who developed it to great perfection.
The book of Judges mentions embroidered dye work in connection with Sisera…
…To Sisera a spoil of dyed work,
A spoil of dyed work embroidered,
Dyed work of double embroidery on the neck of the spoil?’ —Judges 5:30 excerpt
The Phoenician city of Dor (Dora) on the Syrian coast is another place where costly purple dye was produced from great numbers of Murex snails.
Dyeing and dyed materials feature prominently in the construction of the Holy Tabernacle (and later the Temple), as well as in priestly garments and other symbolic uses:
The Tabernacle curtains, veils, and coverings were made of fine linen interwoven with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn (e.g., Exodus 26:1, 31; 35:6; 39).
The high priest's robes included a fully blue robe (tekhelet), along with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet elements (Exodus 28).
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These colors carried deep symbolism:
Blue (tekhelet) — Often linked to heaven, the sky, divine realm, and God's throne (e.g., resembling the sea and heavens leading to God's glory; see traditional Jewish interpretations like in the Talmud).
Purple — Symbolized royalty, kingship, majesty, wealth, and authority (due to its extreme rarity and cost).
Scarlet/crimson — Frequently associated with blood, sacrifice, redemption, and human sin (e.g., “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” in Isaiah 1:18).
Together, these colors represented divinity, royalty, and redemption, pointing to God's presence and holiness in the sanctuary.
Elsewhere, dyed purple or multicolored garments denote nobility and luxury (e.g., kings of Midian in Judges 8:26; Mordecai was honored in royal blue and purple in Esther 8:15; the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31:22 was clothed in fine linen and purple).
Tekhelet (blue) also had a unique everyday command: Israelites were to put a cord of blue on the fringes (tzitzit) of their garments as a reminder of God's commandments (Numbers 15:38, 39).
In the New Testament
Dyed fabrics, especially purple, continue to carry symbolic weight, often tied to wealth, mockery, and kingship:
The rich man in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is "clothed in purple and fine linen" (Luke 16:19), emphasizing luxury and worldly status.
Roman soldiers mock Jesus by dressing Him in a purple robe (and sometimes a scarlet one in parallel accounts), placing a crown of thorns on Him (Mark 15:17; Matthew 27:28; John 19:2, 5). This ironically fulfills the symbolism of royalty—Jesus is the true King—while highlighting human rejection.
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Lydia, one of the first European converts, is a “seller of purple goods” from Thyatira (Acts 16:14), showing the trade's economic importance in the Roman world and connecting to early Christian community.
And a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening, whose heart the Lord opened to pay attention to the things spoken by Paul. —Acts 16:14
In New Testament times, Thyatira was famed for its dyers.
Overall, dyeing in the Bible is not about the technical craft but about what the resulting dyed garments represent:
Royalty and authority (purple especially)
Wealth/status versus spiritual priorities
Redemption through sacrifice (scarlet/red tones)
The colors point forward to Christ (the Messiah) as the ultimate King, Priest, and Redeemer who fulfills these symbols.
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