Purple Dye and the Characteristics of CHRIST: Rare Commodities
In Bible Times we see that PURPLE DYE–was AS VALUABLE AS GOLD AND SILVER– Mountains of empty shells have been found at the ancient sites of Sidon and Tyre, famous for producing PURPLE DYE. The RARE AND EXPENSIVE DYE was produced by the CRUSHING of the snails an expert said: “twelve thousand snails of Murex brandaris yield no more than 1.4 gram of pure dye, enough to colour only the trim of a single garment.”
We find there are TWO WOMEN associated with the COLOR PURPLE in the Bible:
1st: We find Lydia, a SELLER OF PURPLE in Acts 16:14 (KJV): And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of PURPLE, of the city of Thyatira, which WORSHIPPED GOD, heard us: whose HEART THE LORD OPENED, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
The expensive dye purple that Lydia sold which was only affordable to royalty was not worth as much ironically as the opening of Lydia’s heart to GOD….
2nd: We find a virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31:10 (KJV): Who can find a VIRTUOUS WOMAN? For her price is far above rubies. and in Proverbs 31:30 (KJV): Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but A WOMAN THAT FEARETH THE LORD, SHE SHALL BE PRAISED. And in Proverbs 31:22 (KJV) says: She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and PURPLE.
But let’s go deeper into this revelation: WHO ELSE WORE PURPLE? CHRIST!
Mark 15:17: And they CLOTHED HIM WITH PURPLE, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about HIS Head,
Mark 15:20: And when they had mocked HIM, THEY TOOK OFF THE PURPLE FROM HIM, and put HIS Own clothes on HIM, and led HIM out to crucify HIM.
John 19:5: Then came JESUS forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and THE PURPLE ROBE. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the MAN!
So PURPLE may be the common denominator here–but the women are identified through PURPLE with CHRIST because they exhibit the characteristics of CHRIST and HEARTS THAT WERE OPENED BY GOD….
SOURCE: CHECK OUT OUR BIBLE STUDY VIDEO SERIES: SONG OF SOLOMON: LOVE STORY OF CHRIST:
