Dyed
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Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the process of dyeing fabrics was a significant and skilled craft, often associated with wealth and status due to the labor-intensive methods and the rarity of certain dyes. The Bible references dyed materials in various contexts, highlighting their importance in ancient cultures and religious practices.

Biblical References:

1. Purple Dye:
Purple dye, derived from the murex snail, was highly prized and often associated with royalty and nobility. In the Book of Acts, Lydia, a seller of purple goods, is mentioned: "A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God, listened. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message" (Acts 16:14). This indicates the economic and social significance of dyed fabrics.

2. Scarlet and Crimson:
Scarlet and crimson dyes were also prominent in biblical texts. These colors were often used in the construction of the Tabernacle and the garments of the priests. In Exodus 26:1, the instructions for the Tabernacle include: "You are to make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely spun linen, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim skillfully worked into them" . The use of scarlet and other vibrant colors symbolized beauty and divine craftsmanship.

3. Symbolism of Dyed Garments:
Dyed garments often symbolized wealth, power, and sometimes sin. In Isaiah 1:18, the prophet uses the imagery of dyed colors to convey a message of redemption: "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool" . Here, the transformation from dyed colors to white signifies purification and forgiveness.

4. Cultural and Economic Aspects:
The production and trade of dyed fabrics were significant economic activities in ancient times. The city of Tyre, known for its production of purple dye, is mentioned in Ezekiel 27:16: "Aram was your customer because of your many products. They exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares" . This highlights the extensive trade networks and the value placed on dyed materials.

5. Religious and Ceremonial Use:
Dyed fabrics were integral to religious ceremonies and the construction of sacred spaces. The high priest's garments, as described in Exodus 28, included blue, purple, and scarlet yarns, signifying their sacred purpose and the glory of God. The use of these colors in religious contexts underscored their symbolic and aesthetic importance.

In summary, dyed fabrics in the Bible are emblematic of wealth, status, and religious significance. The intricate process of dyeing and the vibrant colors produced were not only a testament to human skill and artistry but also served as powerful symbols in the spiritual and cultural life of ancient Israel and its neighbors.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(imp. & p. p.) of Dye.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ATTIRE; DYED ATTIRE

a-tir': "Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?" asks the prophet Jeremiah in hot remonstrance against Israel's unfaithfulness. "Yet," saith Yahweh, "my people have forgotten me" (2:32). "And I saw that she was defiled," cries Ezekiel against Jerusalem; "she saw men. girded with girdles upon their loins, with flowing turbans [AV exceeding in dyed attire] upon their heads,... after the likeness of the Babylonians in Chaldea,. and. she doted upon them. "(Ezekiel 23:13-16). "And, behold, there met him," says the author of Proverbs (Proverbs 7:10) in his description of the "strange woman," that "lieth in wait at every street corner," "a woman with the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart," whose "house is the way to Sheol" (Proverbs 7:27). These passages show how diversely and elastically the term "attire" was used among the Hebrews. The numerous synonyms for "dress," "attire," "apparel," "clothes," "raiment," "garment," etc., found in English Versions of the Bible, reflect a similar wealth of nomenclature in the original Hebrew and Greek; but the lack of exactness and consistency in the renderings of translators makes the identification of the various articles of dress referred to very difficult, sometimes impossible. See DRESS.

George B. Eager

Greek
4210. porphurous -- purple
... Hence, giving Jesus a cloak, Him as someone merely to be a. [This garment was
perhaps a discarded officers' cloak that had been dyed purple.]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4210.htm - 6k

2847. kokkinos -- scarlet
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: kokkinos Phonetic Spelling:
(kok'-kee-nos) Short Definition: crimson Definition: crimson, scarlet, dyed with ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2847.htm - 6k

4209. porphura -- purple fish, purple dye, purple cloth
... purple. Of Latin origin; the "purple" mussel, ie (by implication) the red-blue
color itself, and finally a garment dyed with it -- purple. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4209.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
6648. tseba -- dye, dyed stuff
... 6647, 6648. tseba. 6649 . dye, dyed stuff. Transliteration: tseba Phonetic
Spelling: (tseh'-bah) Short Definition: work. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6648.htm - 5k

2871. tebul -- a turban
... dyed attire. Passive participle of tabal; properly, dyed, ie A turban (probably
as of colored stuff) -- dyed attire. see HEBREW tabal. 2870b, 2871. ...
/hebrew/2871.htm - 6k

119. adom -- to be red
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition to be red NASB Word Usage dyed
red (6), red (3), ruddy (1). be dyed, made red ruddy. To ...
/hebrew/119.htm - 5k

2556. chamets -- to be sour or leavened
... to be sour or leavened. Transliteration: chamets Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-mates')
Short Definition: leavened. cruel man, dyed, be grieved, leavened ...
/hebrew/2556.htm - 5k

6641. tsabua -- colored, variegated
... speckled. Passive participle of the same as tseba'; dyed (in stripes), ie The hyena --
speckled. see HEBREW tseba'. 6640, 6641. tsabua. 6642 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/6641.htm - 6k

713. argaman -- purple, red-purple
... threads (1). purple. Of foreign origin; purple (the color or the dyed stuff) --
purple. 712, 713. argaman. 714 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/713.htm - 6k

8438. tola -- worm, scarlet stuff
... specifically (often with ellipsis of shaniy) the crimson-grub, but used only (in
this connection) of the color from it, and cloths dyed therewith -- crimson ...
/hebrew/8438.htm - 6k

8144. shani -- scarlet
... crimson, scarlet thread. Of uncertain derivation; crimson, properly, the insect
or its color, also stuff dyed with it -- crimson, scarlet (thread). ...
/hebrew/8144.htm - 6k

8504. tekeleth -- violet, violet thread
... blue. Probably for shcheleth; the cerulean mussel, ie The color (violet) obtained
therefrom or stuff dyed therewith -- blue. see HEBREW shcheleth. 8503, 8504 ...
/hebrew/8504.htm - 6k

Library

That the Ruler Should be Always Chief in Action.
... Which ephod is also rightly ordered to be made of gold, blue, purple, twice dyed
scarlet, and flue twined linen (Exodus 28:8), that it may be shewn by how ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter iii that the ruler.htm

Concerning the Tabernacle which Moses Built in the Wilderness for ...
... gold, and brass, and of the best sorts of wood, and such as would not at all decay
by putrefaction; camels' hair also, and sheep-skins, some of them dyed of a ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 concerning the tabernacle.htm

How the Steps in the Passion of the Saviour were Predetermined in ...
... discover how anciently wine is used as a figure for blood, turn to Isaiah, who asks,
"Who is this that cometh from Edom, from Bosor with garments dyed in red ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xl how the steps in.htm

Women who Saved a Nation
... A woman or two for each warrior, For Sisera a spoil of dyed stuffs, A spoil of
dyed stuffs embroidered, Some pieces of lace for his neck?'. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/women who saved a nation.htm

The Apology of Aristides as it is Preserved in the History of ...
... Moreover it is trodden under foot of men and the other creatures; it is dyed with
the blood of the murdered; it is dug open and filled with dead bodies and ...
/.../kay/the apology of aristides the philosopher/the apology of aristides as.htm

Our Lord in the Garden
... "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? . . . ... What became,
I wonder, of that "dyed" garment? and all that "red apparel"? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/xi our lord in the.htm

Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ...
... curtains, curtains of goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and violet-colored skins
(Ex.26). ... twisted linen, violet, purple, and scarlet twice dyed. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sufficient reason can be.htm

Clement of Alexandria.
... quoted, 308, 418, 428, 495. Clothing, Christian use of, 263. not to be dyed, 265.
of women, 266. ... repentance in, 491. Hair, may be trimmed, but not dyed, 286. ...
/.../clement/who is the rich man that shall be saved/clement of alexandria.htm

Book iv. --Of Marcion's Antitheses.
... With lambs'skins [1582] dyed with heaven's hue; within. Gold ... foretold. [1606]
A?�rial, ie, as he said above, "dyed with heaven's hue.". ...
/.../book iv of marcions antitheses.htm

The Joyous Return
... "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" You have lain in
the lye of evil till you are dyed ingrain with the scarlet of iniquity, and the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the joyous return.htm

Thesaurus
Dyed (10 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ATTIRE; DYED ATTIRE. ... girded with girdles upon their
loins, with flowing turbans [AV exceeding in dyed attire] upon their heads,... ...
/d/dyed.htm - 10k

Goatskins (8 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (See RSV). ...
Exodus 35:7 rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (See RSV). ...
/g/goatskins.htm - 8k

Tanned (7 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (See RSV). ... (See RSV).
Exodus 35:7 rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (See RSV). ...
/t/tanned.htm - 8k

Rams (81 Occurrences)
... RSV NIV). Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Exodus 26:14 You shall ...
/r/rams.htm - 33k

Porpoise (14 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (See NAS). ... (See NAS).
Exodus 35:7 rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (See NAS). ...
/p/porpoise.htm - 11k

Cows (33 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (See NIV). ... (See NIV).
Exodus 35:7 rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (See NIV). ...
/c/cows.htm - 15k

Cow (32 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (WEB NIV). ... Exodus
35:7 rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (WEB NIV). ...
/c/cow.htm - 18k

Skins (27 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red,
sea cow hides, acacia wood, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/skins.htm - 15k

Sealskins (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sealskins (6 Occurrences). Exodus 25:5 and rams'skins
dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia wood, (See JPS ASV). ...
/s/sealskins.htm - 7k

Dyeing
... di, di'-ing (me'oddam, hamuc, tebhul, cebha`): Four different Hebrew words have
been translated "dyed": the King James Version (a) me'-oddam, found in Exodus 25 ...
/d/dyeing.htm - 14k

Resources
What does the Bible say about dyeing hair? | GotQuestions.org

Why does the Bible speak against wearing clothing made of different types of fabric? | GotQuestions.org

What is churchianity? | GotQuestions.org

Dyed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Dyed (10 Occurrences)

Exodus 25:5
rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Exodus 26:14
You shall make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Exodus 35:7
rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Exodus 35:23
Everyone, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS NIV)

Exodus 36:19
He made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Exodus 39:34
the covering of rams' skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Judges 5:30
'Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A lady, two ladies to every man; to Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, a spoil of dyed garments embroidered, of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?'
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Job 38:14
It is changed as clay under the seal, and stands forth as a garment.
(See RSV)

Isaiah 63:1
Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? "It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save."
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 23:15
Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:
(KJV WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Dyed

Dyed Attire

Related Terms

Goatskins (8 Occurrences)

Tanned (7 Occurrences)

Rams (81 Occurrences)

Porpoise (14 Occurrences)

Cows (33 Occurrences)

Cow (32 Occurrences)

Skins (27 Occurrences)

Sealskins (6 Occurrences)

Dyeing

Badgers (16 Occurrences)

Dye (1 Occurrence)

Hides (27 Occurrences)

Necks (28 Occurrences)

Ladies (8 Occurrences)

Warrior (36 Occurrences)

Embroidered (26 Occurrences)

Embroidery (12 Occurrences)

Damsels (9 Occurrences)

Maidens (40 Occurrences)

Broidery (1 Occurrence)

Attire (11 Occurrences)

Sis'era (19 Occurrences)

Spoils (19 Occurrences)

Dividing (23 Occurrences)

Ram (96 Occurrences)

Plunder (118 Occurrences)

Maiden (40 Occurrences)

Spoil (140 Occurrences)

Finding (57 Occurrences)

Lady (37 Occurrences)

Double (49 Occurrences)

Acacia-wood (27 Occurrences)

Covering (191 Occurrences)

Acacia (28 Occurrences)

Neck (97 Occurrences)

Shittim (34 Occurrences)

Divided (102 Occurrences)

Cover (254 Occurrences)

Purple (54 Occurrences)

Sides (170 Occurrences)

Pieces (209 Occurrences)

Colors (12 Occurrences)

Crafts (2 Occurrences)

Wood (226 Occurrences)

Color (18 Occurrences)

Highly (48 Occurrences)

Red (124 Occurrences)

Yarn (37 Occurrences)

Zibeon (7 Occurrences)

Nativity (9 Occurrences)

Ulai (2 Occurrences)

Lydia (5 Occurrences)

Wool (34 Occurrences)

Fringes (4 Occurrences)

Fuller (5 Occurrences)

Thyatira (4 Occurrences)

Traveling (22 Occurrences)

Travelling (17 Occurrences)

Diversities (4 Occurrences)

Diverse (15 Occurrences)

Daphne

Divers (36 Occurrences)

Dress (38 Occurrences)

Marching (17 Occurrences)

Plain (113 Occurrences)

Byssus (40 Occurrences)

Bozrah (9 Occurrences)

Chalde'a (9 Occurrences)

Colored (2 Occurrences)

Crimsoned (1 Occurrence)

Screening (3 Occurrences)

Screen (26 Occurrences)

Sidon (35 Occurrences)

Shielding (3 Occurrences)

Separation (50 Occurrences)

Stately (11 Occurrences)

Material (61 Occurrences)

Blue (51 Occurrences)

Dye
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