πορφύρεος

From the study of Revelation 17:4

Range of meaning

πορφύρεος/πορφυροῦς means purple, especially cloth dyed with true purple made from murex sea snails. κόκκινος means scarlet or crimson, from κόκκος, the 'grain' (actually a dried insect, the kermes) that gave the dye. Both were among the most expensive textiles of the ancient world.

Against the English

English 'purple' and 'scarlet' name the colours accurately, but a modern reader hears only colours. A first-century reader heard price and rank. Purple meant kings, senators and imperial power. Scarlet meant costly display, and also military and elite dress. The KJV's 'purple and scarlet colour' loses nothing important.

Used elsewhere in the period

Pliny the Elder (Natural History, book 9) describes the purple industry and its huge cost. In the Greek Old Testament, purple and scarlet appear together in the tabernacle hangings and the high priest's garments (Exod 25–28). In Jeremiah 4:30 Jerusalem, as an unfaithful woman, 'clothes herself in scarlet' and adorns herself with gold to attract lovers. Revelation 18:12 lists purple and scarlet among the merchants' cargo for Babylon, and 18:16 repeats this verse's description almost word for word for the city.

From the study of John 19:2

Range of meaning

Purple: the colour of dye from the murex sea-snail (porphyra). In ancient terms the range ran from deep crimson through red-purple to violet. True Tyrian purple was enormously expensive and was the mark of kings, high officials and, under Rome, the emperor.

Against the English

Modern "purple" means a violet colour. The ancient word covered reds too, which is why Mark and John say "purple" and Matthew says "scarlet" (kokkinos) for what was probably one cloak.

How it drifted

Colour words have shifted. Modern English 'purple' sits between red and blue; ancient porphyra was named after a dye and an expensive product, not a point on the colour spectrum.

Used elsewhere in the period

Purple as a royal privilege: Judg 8:26 (purple garments of Midianite kings); Dan 5:7, 29 (Belshazzar clothes Daniel in purple); 1 Macc 10:20, 62 and 14:43–44 (purple and a gold clasp as royal and high-priestly right, forbidden to others); Luke 16:19 (the rich man 'dressed in purple'). Suetonius (Nero 32) reports Nero restricting the use of the finest purple dyes.

From the study of John 19:5

Range of meaning

πορφύρεος means purple-dyed, especially with the costly dye made from murex shellfish (“Tyrian purple”). It covered shades from deep red to violet. The dye was very expensive, and purple stood for kingship and for Rome's highest ranks. ἱμάτιον means a cloak or outer garment, or clothing generally.

Against the English

“Purple robe” suggests a long, flowing royal gown. The Greek points to a cloak. Matthew 27:28 calls it a “scarlet chlamys,” the short red military cape that Roman soldiers wore, which is probably what was actually used. The Gospels differ on the colour (Mark and John have purple, Matthew has scarlet), and this is best explained by the wide range of “purple” and by a faded red cloak looking purplish.

Used elsewhere in the period

Purple goes with royalty in 1 Maccabees 10:20, 62 and 14:43–44 (the right to wear purple was granted by kings, and wearing it was restricted). Mark 15:17 has the parallel “clothed him in purple.” Roman generals in a triumph wore purple, and so did emperors.