Lexical Summary tekeleth: Blue, violet, purple Original Word: תְּכֵלֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance blue Probably for shcheleth; the cerulean mussel, i.e. The color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith -- blue. see HEBREW shcheleth NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition violet, violet thread NASB Translation blue (43), purple (1), violet (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs תְּכֵ֫לֶת48 noun feminine violet, i.e. violet thread and stuff; ᵐ5 usually υἄκινθος, υἀκίθινος; see ThatcherHast. DB COLOURS (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; ᵑ7 תִּכְלָא); — 1 violet thread (spun, Exodus 35:25; woven, Exodus 39:3): a. in Exodus (P) of hangings of tabernacle, ephod, etc., ׳ת + אַרְגָּמָן, תּוֺלַעַת שָׁנִי (q. v.; often also שֵׁשׁ, זהב), Exodus 25:4; Exodus 26:1; Exodus 28:5,6,33; Exodus 35:25 20t.; of temple hangings (+ אַרְגָּמָן, אַרְגְּוָן, כַּרְמִיל, בּוּץ) 2 Chron 2:6; 2 Chronicles 2:13; 2 Chronicles 2:14; loops or cords of ׳ת (alone) Exodus 26:4; Exodus 28:28,31,37; Exodus 36:11; Exodus 39:21,22,31; Numbers 15:38 (all P). b. palace hangings in Shushan + חוּר Esther 1:6. 2 violet stuff, fabric.; ׳לְבוּשֵׁי ת Ezekiel 23:6, ׳גְּלוֺמֵי ת וְרִקְמָה Ezekiel 27:24; וְאַרְגָּמָן לְבוּשָׁם ׳ת Jeremiah 10:9; also in trade Ezekiel 27:7 (+ אַרְגָּמָן, שֵׁשׁ בְּרִקְמָה), compare ׳בֶּגֶד ת for covering sacred utensils Numbers 4:6,7,9,11,12 (P). Topical Lexicon Term and General Meaning تְּכֵלֶת (teḵēlet) is the vivid blue-violet wool obtained from a rare mollusk dye, consistently linked with worship, royalty, and covenant identity in Israel. Occurrences and Distribution Roughly forty-nine references span Exodus through Ezekiel, with the greatest concentration (twenty-seven) in Exodus 25–39 describing the tabernacle. Subsequent mentions appear in Numbers, 2 Chronicles, Esther, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Cultic and Liturgical Applications Moses was instructed, “Collect blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, fine linen, and goat hair” (Exodus 25:4). Teḵēlet threads were woven into every curtain, veil, and screen of the sanctuary, visually proclaiming that worship is conducted before the God of heaven. Priestly Vestments • Ephod: “of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn” (Exodus 28:6). Thus the high priest was encircled by teḵēlet whenever he represented the nation before God. Tabernacle and Temple Furnishings Curtains (Exodus 26:1), inner veil (26:31), and entrance screen (26:36) combined blue with purple, scarlet, and fine linen. For Solomon’s temple Huram-Abi supplied “blue, purple, and crimson yarn” (2 Chronicles 2:7), and the great veil contained the same palette (2 Chronicles 3:14), signaling continuity between tabernacle and temple. Covenant Reminder in Tassels “Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments… with a cord of blue on each tassel” (Numbers 15:38-39). The visible strand of teḵēlet reminded every Israelite to “remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them.” Royal and Secular Use Mordecai emerged “in royal garments of blue and white” (Esther 8:15). Jeremiah notes that idols were clothed “in blue and purple” (Jeremiah 10:9), revealing the hue’s prestige even among the nations. Ezekiel’s oracle against Tyre describes traders dealing in “blue and embroidered cloth” (Ezekiel 27:24), attesting to its commercial value. Symbolic and Theological Implications 1. Heavenward orientation: Blue mirrors the sky, directing worshipers’ gaze toward God’s throne (cf. Exodus 24:10). Historical and Material Aspects Rabbinic testimony and archaeology identify the dye source as the Mediterranean murex snail. Labor-intensive extraction and sunlight-dependent processing explain the color’s expense and why the knowledge later faded. Dye vats uncovered along Phoenician coastlines corroborate Ezekiel’s description of Tyre’s trade in teḵēlet. Typological and Christological Reflections The high priest’s seamless blue robe (Exodus 28:32) anticipates the seamless garment of Jesus (John 19:23-24). As blue linked priest and sanctuary, so Christ unites heaven and earth, bearing His people’s names before the Father. Contemporary Ministry Application While ceremonial requirements have been fulfilled, teḵēlet still instructs. Believers, a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), cultivate visible and habitual reminders of God’s Word, adorn worship with symbols that lift eyes heavenward, and proclaim the majesty signified by ancient blue. Key References Exodus 25:4; 26:1, 31, 36; 28:6, 31-37; 35:6, 23, 25; Numbers 15:38-41; 2 Chronicles 2:7, 14; 3:14; Esther 1:6; 8:15; Jeremiah 10:9; Ezekiel 23:6; 27:7, 24. Forms and Transliterations בַּתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙ בַּתְּכֵ֣לֶת בתכלת הַתְּכֵ֖לֶת הַתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙ הַתְּכֵ֤לֶת התכלת וּתְכֵ֔לֶת וּתְכֵ֗לֶת וּתְכֵ֤לֶת וּתְכֵ֧לֶת ותכלת תְּכֵ֔לֶת תְּכֵ֖לֶת תְּכֵ֗לֶת תְּכֵ֣לֶת תְּכֵ֤לֶת תְּכֵ֥לֶת תְּכֵ֧לֶת תְּכֵ֨לֶת תְּכֵֽלֶת׃ תְּכֵלֶת֒ תְכֵ֙לֶת֙ תכלת תכלת׃ bat·tə·ḵê·leṯ batteChelet battəḵêleṯ hat·tə·ḵê·leṯ hatteChelet hattəḵêleṯ tə·ḵê·leṯ ṯə·ḵê·leṯ teChelet təḵêleṯ ṯəḵêleṯ ū·ṯə·ḵê·leṯ uteChelet ūṯəḵêleṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 25:4 HEB: וּתְכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת NAS: blue, purple and scarlet KJV: And blue, and purple, and scarlet, INT: blue purple oppressor Exodus 26:1 Exodus 26:4 Exodus 26:31 Exodus 26:36 Exodus 27:16 Exodus 28:5 Exodus 28:6 Exodus 28:8 Exodus 28:15 Exodus 28:28 Exodus 28:31 Exodus 28:33 Exodus 28:37 Exodus 35:6 Exodus 35:23 Exodus 35:25 Exodus 35:35 Exodus 36:8 Exodus 36:11 Exodus 36:35 Exodus 36:37 Exodus 38:18 Exodus 38:23 Exodus 39:1 49 Occurrences |
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