Purple was a rare and expensive dye made from sea snails found near ancient Phoenicia. The dye process was long and difficult, extracting a gland from thousands of crushed snails to produce various shades from crimson to dark purple. Only the wealthy could afford purple dye for clothing, representing royalty. In the Bible, purple is associated with both royalty and high priests, but also tragedy and death. Jesus uses a rich man dressed in purple to represent arrogance and lack of compassion in his parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

3. How Is Purple
Made

5. The process of making the dye
was long, difficult and
expensive. Thousands of the
tiny snails had to be found,
their shells cracked, the snail
removed. Mountains of empty
shells have been found at the
ancient sites of Sidon and
Tyre.

6. The snails were left to soak, then
a tiny gland was removed and the
juice extracted and put in a basin,
which was placed in the sunlight.
There a remarkable
transformation took place. In the
sunlight the juice turned white,
then yellow-green, then green,
then violet, then a red which
turned darker and darker.

7. The process had to be stopped
at exactly the right time to obtain
the desired color, which could
range from a bright crimson to a
dark purple, the color of dried
blood. Then either wool, linen or
silk would be dyed. The exact
hue varied between crimson and
violet, but it was always rich,
bright and lasting.

8. It was so rare and so
expensive that only kings,
nobles, priests and magistrates
could wear it
Anyone else caught wearing it
would be put to death

9. There was another way of
making Purple. Mixing equal
amounts of Blue and Red

10. Exodus 25:1-4
The Lord said to Moses,
“Tell the people of Israel
to bring me an offering.
You must receive the
offering for me from all
whose hearts move
them to give.

11. Exodus 25:1-4
“Here are the offerings
you must receive from
them.
“gold, silver and bronze
blue, purple and bright
red yarn

12. Numbers 4:13
They must remove the
ashes from the bronze
altar for burnt offerings.
They must spread a
purple cloth over it.

13. The ashes from the
sacrifices were so holy
that they could only
use holy cloth to
remove them.

14. Daniel 5:7
The king sent for those who try
to figure things out by using
magic. He also sent for those
who study the heavens. All of
them were wise men in Babylon.
He ordered that they be brought
to him.

15. Daniel 5:7
He said to them, “I want one of
you to read this writing and tell
me what it means. If you do, you
will be dressed in purple clothes.
A gold chain will be put around
your neck. And you will be made
the third highest ruler in the
kingdom.”

16. Daniel 5:26
Then Belshazzar commanded
his servants to dress Daniel in
purple clothes. So they did.
They put a gold chain around
his neck. And he was made the
third highest ruler in the
kingdom.

17. Daniel 5:26
Then Belshazzar commanded
his servants to dress Daniel in
purple clothes. So they did.
They put a gold chain around
his neck. And he was made the
third highest ruler in the
kingdom.

18. Purple
Represents
Royalty

19. It can also
Represent
Tragedy and
Death

21. Luke 16: 19-31
“Once there was a rich man. He
was dressed in purple cloth and
fine linen. He lived an easy life
every day.

22. Luke16:19-31
A man named Lazarus was
placed at his gate. Lazarus was
a beggar. His body was covered
with sores. Even dogs came and
licked his sores. All he wanted
was to eat what fell from the rich
man’s table.

23. Luke16:19-31
“The time came when the
beggar died. The angels carried
him to Abraham’s side. The rich
man also died and was buried.
In hell, the rich man was
suffering terribly. He looked up
and saw Abraham far away.
Lazarus was by his side.

24. Luke16:19-31
So the rich man called out,
‘Father Abraham! Have pity on
me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip
of his finger in water. Then he
can cool my tongue with it. I am
in terrible pain in this fire.’

25. Luke16:19-31
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son,
remember what happened in
your lifetime. You received your
good things. Lazarus received
bad things. Now he is comforted
here, and you are in terrible
pain.

26. Luke16:19-31
“The rich man answered, ‘Then I
beg you, father. Send Lazarus to
my family. I have five brothers.
Let Lazarus warn them. Then
they will not come to this place
of terrible suffering.’

27. Luke16:19-31
“Abraham replied, ‘They have
the teachings of Moses and the
Prophets. Let your brothers
listen to them.’
“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said.
‘But if someone from the dead
goes to them, they will turn
away from their sins.’

28. Luke16:19-31
“Abraham said to him, ‘They do
not listen to Moses and the
Prophets. So they will not be
convinced even if someone
rises from the dead.’”

29. Luke16:19-31
“Abraham said to him, ‘They do
not listen to Moses and the
Prophets. So they will not be
convinced even if someone
rises from the dead.’”

30. Revelation 17:4
The woman was dressed in
purple and bright red. She was
gleaming with gold, jewels and
pearls. In her hand she held a
golden cup filled with things that
God hates. It was filled with her
terrible, dirty sins..

31. All of us fit in
Two Categories

33. Genesis 7:6

34. Jesus Said
Anyone
who is not
with me is
against me
Matthew 12:30