Scarlet
SCARLET
A color much prized by the ancients, Exo 25:4 26:1,31,36. It is assigned as a merit of Saul, that he clothed the daughters of Israel in scarlet, 2Sa 1:24 . So the diligent and virtuous woman is said to clothe her household in scarlet, Pro 31:21 . The depth and strength of the color are alluded to in Isa 1:18 ; and it is used as a symbol of profligacy in Jer 17:3,4 . This color was obtained from the Coccus Ilicis of Linnaeus, a small insect found on the leaves of a species of oak, the Quercus Cocciferus, in Spain and the countries on the eastern part of the Mediterranean, which was used by the ancients for dyeing a beautiful crimson or deep scarlet color, and was supposed by them to be the berry of a plant or tree. It is the Kermez of the Materia Medica. As a dye it has been superseded in modern times by the cochineal insect, Coccus Cactus, which gives a more brilliant but less durable color. See PURPLE.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Scarlet
See Colours.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Scarlet
Often occurs in Scripture associated with purple and blue. The words so translated occur in the following forms;
1. , shani’, and , shanim’, alone, Gen 38:28-30; Jos 2:18-21; 2Sa 1:24; Pro 31:21; Son 4:3; Jer 4:30; Sept. , Vulg. coccinutm; Isa 1:18, , coccinum,.
2. , tolaath shani’, Exo 25:4; Exo 26:1; Exo 26:31; Exo 26:36; Exo 27:16; Exo 28:5-6; Exo 28:8; Exo 28:15; Exo 35:6; Exo 35:23; Exo 35:25; Exo 38:18; Exo 38:23; Exo 39:3; Num 4:8, , and with , , , , Vulg. bis tinctus, coccus bis tinctus, and vermiculus.
3. , sheni’ tolaath, Lev 14:4; Lev 14:6; Lev 14:49; Lev 14:51-52; Num 19:6; Sept. , with , and ; vermiculus, coccus, and with bis tinctus.
4. , told, alone, Isa 1:18, , vermiculus; Lam 4:5, Vulg. croceis; Nah 2:3, coccineis. In the New Test., Mat 27:28; Heb 9:19; Rev 17:3-4; Rev 18:12; Rev 18:16; , coccineus. The first of these words, shani’, is by some derived from shanah’, , to repeat, and is thus interpreted to mean double dyed, but which, Gesenius observes, is applicable only to the Tyrian purple (see Braunius, De Vest. 1, 15, 214, p. 237; Bochart, Hieroz. 1, 3, p. 525-527). Gesenius prefers an Arabic root meaning to shine, because scarlet garments were admired for their brightness: but Jerome asserts that the word means coccinum (Epist. ad Fabiolam). It is certain that tola denotes a worm, grub, or insect, and the Sept. and Vulg. plainly understood by it the coccus, from which the ancients procured a blood red crimson dye, the Coccus ilicis of Linnaeus, class 4, Tetragyma, the kermez of the Arabians, whence used to be derived the French word cramoisi, and our crimson; but Kilian gives carmensinum, because made from a worm, which, in the Phoenician tongue, is called carmen. Hesychius defines coccus as that from which the Phoenician dye is obtained. It was the female of this remarkable insect that was employed; and though supplanted by the cochineal (Coccus cacti), it is still used for the purpose in India and Persia. It attains the size and form of a pea, is of a violet black color, covered with a whitish powder, adhering to plants, chiefly various species of oak, and so closely resembling grains that its insect nature was not generally known for many centuries. According to Beckman, the epithet vermiculatus was applied to it during the Middle Ages, when this fact became generally understood, and that hence is derived the word vermilion. Hence the Hebrew words mean both the coccus itself, and the deep red or bright rich crimson which was derived from it (as in Son 4:3, thy lips are like a thread of scarlet); and so the word scarlet signified in the time of our translators, rather than the color now called by that name, and which was unknown in the time of James I. This insect is widely distributed over many of the southeastern countries of the ancient world. It occurs abundantly in Spain (Kirby and Spence, Introduction to Entomology [1828], 1, 319, 320). It is found on the Quercus coccifera, or kermes oak, in Palestine (Kitto, Physical History, p. 219). Pliny speaks of the coccus as a red color much esteemed, which he distinguishes from purple (Hist. Nat. 9, 65), and describes as a gay, red, lively bright, approaching the color of fire (ibid. and 21:22). All the ancients concur in saying that this dye was made from a sort of little grains which were gathered from the holm oak (Theophrast. Hist. Plant. 3, 16; Pliny, 16, 12; Dioscorides, 4, 48; Pausan. 10, 36). They not only call them grains, but speak of them as the vegetable productions of the oak itself (Plutarch, Thesaur. p. 7); and Pliny (Hist. Nat. 16, 12) calls them cusculia, from the Greek , which signifies to cut little excrescences, because they cut or scrape off these small grains of the oak. Yet he was not entirely ignorant of their insect character, for he speaks of it becoming a worm (24, 4). It seems, however, that the color thus obtained was not durable (22, 3). It was known at a very early period in Canaan (Gen 38:28); it was one of the colors of the high priest’s ephod (Exo 28:6), and of its girdle (Exo 28:8), of the breastplate (Exo 28:15), and of cloths for sacred uses (Num 4:8); it was used in cleansing the leper (Lev 14:4), to indicate, as Abarbanel thinks, that a healthy complexion was restored to him. It was the dress of females in the time of Saul (2Sa 1:24); of opulent persons in later times (Lam 4:5); of the Babylonian and Median soldiers, who also wore red shields (Nah 2:4; comp. Scuta lectissimis coloribus distinguunt, Tacitus, De Mor. Germ. c. 6, and Philostratus, Epist. de Lacedoemoniis). Three mistranslations of the word occur in our version, She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet (Pro 31:21). Since there is no connection between the color and a defense from the cold, it would be better rendered, as in the margin, double garments. (Comp. Sept. ; Vulg. vestiti duplicibus.)
The next verse of the Sept. begins , She hath made double garments for her husband. In Isa 1:18 and Jer 4:30 the word should be rendered scarlet, and not crimson. The final reference to scarlet is in regard to pagan Rome, which, like all cities, is represented as a female; and since everybody wore scarlet in Rome, and especially during war, she is described as being arrayed in that color. In Exo 39:3, it is said, They did beat gold into their plates, and cut into wires, to work in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, which is explained to mean that these five kinds blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, and gold were twisted into one thread; thus a thread of gold with six threads of blue, and so with the rest, after which they twisted all these threads into one (Braunius, 1, 17, 26). It seems plain, from Exo 35:25, that the blue and purple and scarlet were spun by hand from wool already dyed of these colors. The white ground was invariably designated by the term fine linen. The cloth was thus in stripes or checks of different materials. Wilkinson remarks that the color was in like manner imparted by the Egyptians to the thread, etc. that is, cloth was not dyed after being woven (Manners and Customs, 3, 125). It will have been perceived that great difficulty attends the attempt to determine the precise distinctions of colors known to the ancients by the various preceding names. The only possible method whereby they could have conveyed them to our minds would have been by comparing them to the colors of natural objects, whose appearance was immutable and whose identity was beyond question. Such an attempt has been made by bishop Wilkins in his Real Character. We may illustrate the utility of these requisites by the color blue, which is defined to mean the color produced or exposed to the view by the blowing away, or clearing away, or dispersing of the clouds (Encyclop. Metropol.) But, as is well known, the shades of ethereal blue vary in different countries, and even in different altitudes of the same country; hence the word blue, if illustrated by this standard, would convey a different idea to the inhabitants of different regions. It is most likely that all our ideas of sensible impressions are liable to errors of association. It is, however, satisfactory to know that, like all other dubious matters, these are of minor importance. We add a further reference to Goguet, Origin of Laws, Arts, and Sciences, 2, 95, etc. (Edinb. 1764) SEE COLOR.
The natural history of the may be thus summed up. It is a genus of insects belonging to the order Homoptera, of which the males have a single pair of wings and an obsolete mouth; while the females have no wings, but a perfect mouth (rostrum) formed for piercing plants and sucking their juices. They live on trees and plants of various kinds. Upwards of thirty species are included in the catalogue of British insects; but of these many have probably been introduced on exotic plants. There are numerous species, many of which are known to yield rich dyes, and several have been employed in the arts. Up to the time of the discovery of America none could compete with the species which infests the evergreen oaks (Coccus ilicis); but that has been thrown into the shade by the superior productiveness, if not the superior color, of a Mexican species (C. cacti), whence we obtain cochineal. The insect called kermes by the Arabs is abundant wherever the tree on which it lives is common. All over the south of Europe and throughout Western Asia this occurs in extensive forests. The hills of the south of Judah about Hebron, the sides of Carmel and of Tabor, the slopes of Gilead and Bashan, besides many other localities in Palestine, are sheeted with forests and groves of the evergreen oaks, from which a copious harvest of coccus may be annually gathered. It is no wonder, then, that the dye was so early familiar to the people of Canaan. It is in that stage of the insect when the larva is about fully grown that it contains the coloring matter in greatest abundance. The little scales are picked from the tree and simply dried, when they yield their dye by infusion in water. To make this permanent, what is called a mordant is added a substance which, having no coloring faculty in itself, acts chemically as a bond of union between the dye and the textile material, and often modifies the tint. The ancients used an impure alum for this purpose. Pliny tells us that thus was obtained from the a color of the most brilliant character (Hist. Nat. 9, 65; 21, 22). The hue now produced by the Kermes coccus with alum is a rich blood red; but if the same mordant be used as with cochineal solution of tin it yields a scarlet fully as brilliant as that rich American dye, and perhaps more permanent (Bancroft, Perm. Col. 1, 404). The far greater proportion of coloring matter to the bulk in the latter will always, however, prevent the kermes from regaining its commercial importance. SEE CRIMSON.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Scarlet
This dye was obtained by the Egyptians from the shell-fish Carthamus tinctorius; and by the Hebrews from the Coccus ilicis, an insect which infests oak trees, called kermes by the Arabians.
This colour was early known (Gen. 38:28). It was one of the colours of the ephod (Ex. 28:6), the girdle (8), and the breastplate (15) of the high priest. It is also mentioned in various other connections (Josh. 2:18; 2 Sam. 1:24; Lam. 4:5; Nahum 2:3). A scarlet robe was in mockery placed on our Lord (Matt. 27:28; Luke 23:11). “Sins as scarlet” (Isa. 1:18), i.e., as scarlet robes “glaring and habitual.” Scarlet and crimson were the firmest of dyes, and thus not easily washed out.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Scarlet
argaman, the purple juice of the Tyrian shell fish, Murex trunculus. (See PURPLE; TYRE.) Shani tolaath, an insect color from the cocci or semiglobular bodies as large as a split pea, black but dusted with a grey white powder, on evergreen oaks and other trees. The insect is of the order Homoptera, the females have a mouth able to pierce and suck plants. The Arabs call them kermes, from whence come our “caroline” and “crimson”. The full grown larva has the dye in greatest abundance. They yield their dye by infusion in water. The dye is fixed by a mordant, anciently alum, now solution of tin.
The double dipping is implied in shunt, differently pointed in Hebrew: Isa 1:18, “though your sins be as scarlet (double dyed, deeply fixed so that no tears can wash them away; blood-colored in hue, i.e. of deepest guilt, Isa 1:15; the color of Jesus’ robe when bearing them, Mat 27:28) they shall be as white as snow” (Psa 51:7) (See ATONEMENT, DAY OF.) Rahab’s scarlet thread was the type (Jos 2:18). Scarlet was also used in cleansing the leper (Lev 14:4). The Mishna says a band of twice dyed scarlet wool tied together the living bird, the hyssop, and the cedar, when dipped into the blood and water. Kurtz makes the scarlet wool symbolize vital health; but Isa 1:18 gives a contrary sense. A glaring, gorgeous color (Nah 2:3); that of the spiritual whore or corrupt church, conformed to that of the beast or God-opposed world power on which she rides (Revelation 17; 18).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Scarlet
SCARLET.1. Scarlet, as a dye, was obtained from the body of the female kermes insect (Lecanium ilicis), a native of S.E. Europe, where it lives upon a species of dwarf oak (Qucrcus coccifera). The insect is of the family Coccidae, to which also the cochineal of Mexico belongs. Its Latin name (derived from its appearance) was grana; hence the dye was called grain (cf. Milton, Penser. 33, Par. Lost, xi. 242; Spenser, FQ i. vii. I; see Skeat, Etym. Dict. s.v.).
2. The colour is correctly represented by its name. Mat 27:28 is the only passage in the Gospels where the word scarlet () occurs, and it is there a substitute for the purple of || Mar 15:17; Mar 15:20, Joh 19:2; Joh 19:5, It is the latter word that has changed its meaning (see art. Purple).
The Gr. sense of colour seems to have been so comparatively dim and uncertain, that it is almost impossible to ascertain what the real idea was which they attached to any word alluding to hue (Ruskin, Mod. Painters, iii. 225. Cf. also Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, p. 540).
Yet the ancients, as a rule, carefully distinguished scarlet from purple (Becker, Gallus, p. 446). Probably Mt. gives the colour actually used, Mk. and Jn. the colour intended.
3. The scarlet robe was undoubtedly a military cloak, either that of a common soldier (sagum) or that of a commanding officer (paludamentum). The latter was longer and of better quality; both were regularly of scarlet (Ellicott, Hist. Lectures, p. 348 n. [Note: note.] ). Westcott (on Joh 19:2; Joh 19:5) emphasizes, in the crown and robe, the idea of victory as well as of royalty: this blood-stained robe was the true dress of a kingly conqueror. So He was through life the suffering King, the true Soldier.
F. S. Ranken.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Scarlet
SCARLET.See Colours, 4.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Scarlet
skarlet. See COLORS; DYEING.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Scarlet
Scarlet [PURPLE]
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Scarlet
The word most frequently translated ‘scarlet’ is shani, and this is often accompanied by the word tolaath, ‘worm or grub,’ apparently intimating that the colour was obtained from some insect, as it is now from the cochineal. Scarlet was much used in the needlework and hangings of the tabernacle, in conjunction with blue and purple; but there it apparently refers to some fabric of the colour of scarlet. If the purple be taken as symbolical of royalty and universal dominion, the scarlet may signify earthly grandeur and Israelitish royalty. Exo 39:1-29; Jos 2:18; Jos 2:21; 2Sa 1:24; Pro 31:21; Son 4:3; Isa 1:18. In the N.T. they clothed the Lord in a scarlet robe, , Mat 27:28 (it is ‘purple’ in Mark and John: it may have been an old faded robe that could be called either). Scarlet is also employed with purple to point out the earthly grandeur of Papal Rome. Rev 17:3-4; Rev 18:12; Rev 18:16.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Scarlet
See Color
Color
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Scarlet
Scarlet. Gen 38:28. The Hebrew word tolah signifies a worm, i.e., the coccus worm, from which the color was made.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Scarlet
Scarlet. See Colors.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
SCARLET
Exo 25:4; Lev 14:4; Num 4:8; Jos 2:18; 2Sa 1:24; Pro 31:21; Isa 1:18
Dan 5:29; Mat 27:28; Rev 17:3
Fuente: Thompson Chain-Reference Bible
Scarlet
is derived from kokkos, used of the “berries” (clusters of the eggs of an insect) collected from the ilex coccifera; the color, however, is obtained from the cochineal insect, which attaches itself to the leaves and twigs of the coccifera oak; another species is raised on the leaves of the cactus ficus. The Arabic name for this insect is qirmiz, whence the word “crimson.” It is used (a) of “scarlet” wool, Heb 9:19; cp., in connection with the cleansing of a leper, Lev 14:4, Lev 14:6, “scarlet;” with the offering of the red heifer, Num 19:6; (b) of the robe put on Christ by the soldiers, Mat 27:28; (c) of the “beast” seen in symbolic vision in Rev 17:3, “scarlet-colored;” (d) of the clothing of the “woman” as seen sitting on the “beast,” Rev 17:4; (e) of part of the merchandise of Babylon, Rev 18:12; (f) figuratively, of the glory of the city itself, Rev 18:16; the neuter is used in the last three instances.
Fuente: Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words
Scarlet
, Gen 38:28; Exo 25:4. This tincture or colour expressed by a word which signifies worm colour, was produced from a worm or insect which grew in a coccus, or excrescence of a shrub of the ilex kind, which Pliny calls coccus scolecius, the wormy berry, and Dioscorides terms a small dry twig, to which the grains adhere like lentiles: but these grains, as a great author observes on Solinus, are within full of little worms or maggots, whose juice is remarkable for dying scarlet, and making that famous colour which we admire, and with which the ancients were enraptured. We retain the name in the cochineal, from the opuntia of America; but we improperly call a mineral colour vermilion, which is derived from vermiculus, a little worm. The shrub on which the cochineal insect is found is sometimes called the kermez oak, from kermez, the Arabic word both for the worm and the colour; whence carmasinus, the French cramoisi. and the English crimson.
Fuente: Biblical and Theological Dictionary
Scarlet
Gen 38:30 (a) Since Pharez is found in the genealogy of CHRIST, this thread may indicate that Zarah would need the blood to redeem him. (See Mat 1:3).
Exo 25:4 (c) It may be that this color all through the tabernacle equipment served to remind the Israelites that the blood was always essential in every part of life and service.
Lev 14:4 (c) This probably is a picture of the value of the blood in every sacrifice for sin. Sins are put away only by and through the Blood of JESUS.
Jos 2:18 (c) This is usually taken to be a picture of the precious Blood of CHRIST. The woman was sheltered because of the red cord. The sinner is sheltered under the red Blood of the Saviour.
Son 4:3 (a) The smooth, pretty lips of the bride are compared to the scarlet line. It is a picture of the loveliness of the church (the bride) in the sight of the Bridegroom, her Lord.
Isa 1:18 (a) It is used to describe the stain of sin in contrast with the white garments of salvation.
Mat 27:28 (c) It is a sign of royalty, though used here in mockery.
Rev 17:3 (b) It indicates the enormous sin and wickedness of this woman whose stain of sin covered her completely. The woman represents the apostate church.