Answer: Fiery red (pyrinos), hyacinth blue (hyakinthinos), and sulfur yellow (theiodēs).
Insight: The colors of the armor mirror the destructive elements, visually tying the riders to the judgment they unleash.
Bible Stumpers
Colors in the Bible
While Joseph’s “coat of many colors” is a familiar story, the Bible’s use of color goes far deeper than a single garment.
From the specific hues of the Tabernacle to the vivid imagery of prophetic visions, color often helps illuminate God’s instruction.
We’ve gathered 11 questions on colors in the Bible. See how many you can identify before checking the answers below.
1. In Revelation, the 200 million mounted troops wear breastplates of three specific colors that match the fire, smoke, and brimstone from their horses’ mouths. What are these three colors?
2. In Mark’s account of the Transfiguration, Jesus’ garments become radiant and intensely white. What earthly process is said to be unable to match their brightness?
Answer: Whiter than any launderer on earth could bleach them.
Insight: The brilliance is not external but emanates from His divine nature.
3. In Revelation 4, the rainbow encircling God’s throne is described as having what specific color?
Answer: Emerald (green).
Insight: The single-color rainbow emphasizes mercy and life surrounding divine judgment.
4. In the description of the land of Havilah associated with Eden, which precious material is specifically noted as being “good”?
Answer: Gold.
Insight: The mention of “good” gold in Eden anticipates later uses of gold in the Tabernacle and New Jerusalem, linking Eden with divine dwelling and glory.
5. When Jacob negotiated his wages with Laban, he requested that every speckled and spotted goat be set aside, along with every sheep of what specific color?
Answer: Dark-colored.
Insight: Jacob’s request appeared disadvantageous since most sheep in the region were white; however, through a combination of folk technique and divine blessing, the flock produced a massive amount of dark and spotted offspring for Jacob.
6. The Israelites were commanded to place tassels on their garments with a cord of a specific color. What was the color, and what was its purpose?
Answer: Blue; to remind them to remember and obey all the LORD’s commandments.
Insight: The color likely evoked the heavens, serving as a constant visual cue toward God.
7. How is Esau described at birth in terms of color and appearance?
Answer: Red (or ruddy), and covered with hair like a garment.
Insight: The Hebrew word (admoni) means reddish or ruddy. This led to his name “Edom” (which also means red). It may refer to his skin, hair, or both.
8. In Zechariah’s first vision, what three colors describe the horses seen among the myrtle trees?
Answer: Red, sorrel (or brown), and white.
Insight: These colored horses (with riders) patrol the earth and report that it is at rest. Their colors are widely seen as symbols of bloodshed (red), mixed circumstances or judgment (sorrel or brown), and victory or purity (white), imagery that later echoes in the Four Horsemen of Revelation 6.
9. According to the instructions for transporting the Tabernacle, what color of cloth was placed over the Table of Showbread after the blue covering?
Answer: Scarlet.
Insight: While most holy items were covered only with a blue cloth, the Table of Showbread was uniquely covered with a second layer of scarlet, visually setting it apart during the wilderness marches. Scarlet often symbolizes life and sacrifice, fitting for the table that held the “Bread of the Presence.”
10. In Daniel’s vision of the “Ancient of Days,” how are His clothing and hair described in terms of color?
Answer: Clothing white as snow, and hair like pure wool.
Insight: This imagery of pure white later reappears in Revelation, linking divine holiness and eternal authority across both Testaments.
Bonus. In Leviticus, if a disease on the head or beard appeared deeper than the skin and had thin hair of what color, the priest was to pronounce the person unclean?
Answer: Yellow.
Insight: The presence of thin yellow hair was a diagnostic sign of a serious skin disease, distinguishing it from less severe conditions.
We hope these questions lead you back into Scripture and deepen your understanding.
