Why did the tabernacle use the colors blue, purple and scarlet?

Question

I see a lot of blue in the tabernacle, and when moving it. For example:

Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.—Numbers 4:6 (NIV)

There is also scarlet used in the tabernacle:

They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place. —Numbers 4:8 (NIV)

The special use of purple is used to cover the altar:

They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it.—Numbers 4:13 (NIV)

Is there any particular significance to these colors? Do other biblical texts help us understand what they mean?

Answer 1

I just want to pop in here to add that it's important to remember that the way that we think of "blue", "purple", and "red", is necessarily not the same as how the Biblical audience would have thought of "tekheleth", "argaman", and "shani".

In particular, I'm not sure that the "red+blue=purple" argument is particularly applicable here, since these colours were not made by mixing paints. Tekheleth, as far as we can tell, is a shade of (sky?-)blue made from the glands of the mollusk Murex trunculus. Argaman is a deep red-purple similarly made from a type of mollusk, similar to what was known as "royal purple" or "Tyrian purple". Shani is a crimson red made from crushed scale insects (which is why it's often called tola'at shani, literally "worm crimson" in the Bible).

In terms of their significance, in general these colours are often brought together as symbols of royalty, luxury, and Divinity — the Tabernacle hangings, garments of nobles and kings, etc. Specifically, the relation of tekheleth to the sky and to the ocean is important. See, for example, the Talmud's comment in Menaḥoth 43b: “The tekheleth [thread] resembles the sea, and the sea resembles the heavens, and the heavens resemble G!d’s Throne of Glory”. The High Priest wears a robe entirely of tekheleth, and so one might suggest that the thread of tekheleth worn in the tzitzith allows each Israelite to remember that they are part of a "nation of priests" (Ex. 19:6).

Shani/crimson also has Biblical significance — crimson threads appear in a number of significant places, like the birth of Zerah and Perez, and the story of Rahav. It's also used in the cleansing rituals of the metzora' [leper?] and according to the Mishna (Yoma 4:2), a crimson thread tied to the altar would turn white when the scapegoat for 'Azazel reached its destination (death?), symbolizing the forgiveness of the people — an illustration of Isaiah 1:18. I would argue that in the TaNaKh, shani is a symbol of protection, new life, and forgiveness.

I have little more to say about argaman, and I have to go to work, so I'll leave this here.

Answer 2

I am proposing two options, one obvious and one subtle.

The obvious meaning of blue, purple and scarlet, would be that they are associated with precious fabrics and in some cases even royal colors. I think this is sometimes the meaning that they convey in the Bible.

For example, 

When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. (Esther 8:15)

However what sparked my interest is that many aspects of the temple had blue, purple and scarlet, but only purple was used to cover the altar before it was moved.

Why the focus on purple for the alter but blue covering for everything else?

This question lead me to a theory I would propose. This theory relates the colors to nature, rather than commerce in the world.

• Blue = sky = separation for God in the heavens = included in the veil and curtains of the tabernacle

• Purple = blood (red) mixed with blue = the way to remove the curtain

• Scarlet = purple mixed with fire (orange) = the way sin is burned.

Note: Orange can be seen in nature when the Sun goes 'down' or when a green leaf 'dies' and of course in 'fire'.

This is actually how those colors are made by mixing them in a dish. Blue paint plus red is purple. In the days of old, I think people would have been more familiar with the subject, even though it may have had no more than a subconscious effect on them. Primary colors and their mixing was more important before technology existed.

It makes an interesting spin on many bible verses. How it is applied to the tabernacle needs no explanation.

Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. (Exodus 26:1)

And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. (Exodus 26:31)

Interesting spin on the robe Jesus was clothed with before the crucifixion:

¹⁷And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. ¹⁸And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Mark 15:17-18)

The imagery can be reversed to switch from the blood of Christ, to the blood of his church martyrs.

⁴The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. ⁵And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.” ⁵And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly. (Revelation 17:4-6)

Or we can switch back again to Christ's red blood in the same book:

He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13)

One might think this blood color of the Lord's robe is the blood of his enemies, over whom he has always prevailed, yet as it seems 'dipped' before battle, it seems better to take it as his own blood, by which he purchased this power to wage war and save his loved ones.

I am not saying this is 'the' meaning of the colors. Just saying it seems like a possible meaning in the context of the subjects where these colors are used. In fact knowing myself I would be critical of this view if I read it posted from someone else. I am not attracted to those who go too far with symbolism.

Notes: 

• The signification of the color blue I took from Matthew Henry's commentary of the verses related to the tabernacle.
• All bible references used are from NIV.

Answer 3

Sensus plenior provides means for solving riddles since things which take metaphoric meaning must have that meaning everywhere they occur.

The first clue is that though blue, purple and scarlet are closely associated most of the time, occasionally gold is added to the group. We have a group of colors following the pattern of 3+1.

This is the pattern of the four voices of God. H- heavenly, E-Earthly. Of the four voices only one represents pure heavenly, the other three voices all are mixtures or pure earthly. Priest-HH, Judge-HE, Prophet-EH, King-EE. These also represent the four layers of the Quadriga in reverse. One layer is plain to us, King-EE (literal), and the other three are hidden in a heavenly language (spiritual layer).

Also when two things are closely associated, one is H and the other E. Gold and silver are such a pair. Gold is Divinity in heaven, and silver is Divinity on earth. Gold is God, and Silver is God incarnate.

So the other three colors must represent the three other voices. We have other clues.

Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Here we are told that scarlet and red represent sin. Snow and wool are a pair [1] where snow is the heavenly color of covered sin which is derived from :

Ps 147:16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

where snow is again related directly to wool (or fleece), which references the skin of the lamb "slain from the foundations of the world" [2] which covered Adam and Eve.

The word for 'blue' תלכת has a root meaning 'consume' הלכ (my Hebrew is backwards). The pomegranates were blue, and it has a root meaning exalted or lifted up. And blue laces were used to tie and bind things as well as cover the instruments of the tabernacle.

More clues:

Re 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

The church is the bride of Christ (who was a harlot and then made into a virgin) made in his image, here the woman has purple, gold and scarlet. Christ would have all four colors. The one thing the woman cannot be is a king. So by elimination, Blue is the King.

The pomegranates were on the hem of the garment, which is suggestive of the circle (excluding corners) of the circumcision of a harvested field. The harvested circle was a kingdom. And 'blue' means 'exalted'.

This leaves Judge and Prophet and purple and scarlet.

Purple (ןמגרא ) has the root (םגר) meaning stone, and friend. The stone is the Word of God incarnate, suggestive of the Prophet.

This would leave scarlet as the Judge.

In sensus plenior, a score may be assigned to an interpretation based on the numbers of verses analyzed against the number of verses that need to be analyzed.

The score for meaning of two, four, scarlet and gold is high, for blue and purple is low. Answers are penciled in until the score is 100%. My gut score on the whole analysis is about 30%. In SP a single verse is a deal-breaker.

[1]

Ps 147:16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Da 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Re 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

[2]

Re 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.