White: The Importance of Colours in the Bible

Like black, white is an achromatic colour. The word derives from the same roots as the words “bright” and “light”, which describe the colour white. Along with black, white was one of the first colours used in cave paintings. Palaeolithic artists used chalk or calcite to produce white markings. 
 
In Ancient Egypt, white was connected with the goddess Isis who, according to myth, resurrected her dead husband. The priestesses of Isis dressed only in white linen and the same material was used to wrap mummies. In Ancient Greece, the colour white represented life and nourishment, particularly concerning a mother’s milk. The Ancient Greeks and other civilisations also saw white as a counterpart to black in terms of light and darkness.
 
In Ancient Roman, Vesta, the goddess of the hearth and family, was said to wear white linen robes. Thus, white became a symbol of purity, loyalty and chastity. White was also worn at ceremonial occasions by Roman citizens between the ages of 14 and 18. A man who wished to be elected to public office wore a white toga known as a toga candida. This is where the word candidate stems from.
 
The early Christian church adopted the Roman concept of white representing purity and virtue. Priests were expected to wear white during mass and it became the colour of the Cistercian Order and the official colour worn by the Pope. Similarly, in the secular world, a white unicorn was used as a symbol of purity, chastity and grace. Legend said, only a virgin could capture a unicorn. 
 
Whereas black is the traditional colour of mourning today, before the 16thcentury, widows commonly wore white. Later, in the 18th century, white became a fashionable colour for both men and ladies. White wigs and stockings became a typical part of male dress for the upper classes. 
 
Did you know it was once an unwritten rule that all underwear and bed linen must be white? This may have been because these items were washed more than others and, therefore, more likely to fade and wear out.
 
According to science, we see the colour white when an object reflects all light and colour wavelengths. Snow is white because the ice reflects the sunlight. Clouds are white because the water droplets do not absorb any wavelengths. The White Cliffs of Dover are white because they are made of limestone, which reflects lights. White beaches occur when the sand is made up of limestone or quartz particles, from which light is reflected. 

Many animals use the colour of their skin, fur or feathers as a means of camouflage. White animals are particularly good at hiding in the winter when the land is covered in snow. White animals include ermine, stoats, polar bears, the Beluga whale and white doves. The latter has become an international symbol of peace. 

There are many interpretations of the meaning and symbolism of the colour white. In Western cultures, white usually represents innocence and purity. It is also associated with beginnings and is the reason why babies and children are usually baptised wearing white. Queen Elizabeth II wears white at the opening of each British Parliament session. Debutantes wear white at their first ball. White has been the traditional colour of wedding dresses since the 19thcentury. 
 
White is a sign of cleanliness. Objects that are expected to be kept clean are typically white, for example, dishes, refrigerators, toilets, sinks, bed linen, towels, doctors’ coats and chefs’ outfits.
 
White can also mean peace or surrender. Originating during the Hundred Years’ War, a white flag is used to request a truce or indicate surrender. 
 
In the Bible, white is also a symbol of purity, innocence, honesty and cleanliness; however, there are also other meanings. One repeated representation is illness, particularly in relation to skin disease. When someone is ill, they usually look pale or white, particularly in the hands and face. Verses that refer to this idea include:

• Exodus 4:6: Then the Lord said, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.
• Leviticus 13:4: If the shiny spot on the skin is white but does not appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days.
• Leviticus 13:10-26: (10) The priest is to examine them, and if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white and if there is raw flesh in the swelling… (13) the priest is to examine them, and if the disease has covered their whole body, he shall pronounce them clean. Since it has all turned white, they are clean…(16-17) If the raw flesh changes and turns white, they must go to the priest. The priest is to examine them, and if the sores have turned white, the priest shall pronounce the affected person clean; then they will be clean… (19-21) and in the place where the boil was, a white swelling or reddish-white spot appears, they must present themselves to the priest. The priest is to examine it, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce that person unclean. It is a defiling skin disease that has broken out where the boil was.  But if, when the priest examines it, there is no white hair in it and it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days.
• Leviticus 13:38-43: (38-39) When a man or woman has white spots on the skin, the priest is to examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; they are clean… (42-43) But if he has a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is a defiling disease breaking out on his head or forehead. The priest is to examine him, and if the swollen sore on his head or forehead is reddish-white like a defiling skin disease
• Numbers 12:10: When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease
• 2 Kings 5:27: Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.
• Joel 1:7: It has laid waste my vines and ruined my fig trees. It has stripped off their bark and thrown it away, leaving their branches white.

 
The example from Joel talks about plants rather than humans. Joel speaks about a plague of locusts that have destroyed his vines and fig trees, stripping them of their bark. The inner layers of many trees are white; this fact is mentioned in the book of Genesis:

• Genesis 30:37: Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches.

 
Sometimes, the writers of the Bible have used the colour white to describe something’s appearance. In these cases, they may not contain hidden meanings but rather a way of helping the reader picture the scene:

• Genesis 49:12: His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth white from milk.
• Exodus 16:31: The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.
• Leviticus 11:18: the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey
• Deuteronomy 14:16: the little owl, the great owl, the white owl
• Judges 5:10: You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road

 
There are many examples of white being used as a symbol of purity. A couple of these refer to the repentance of sin, for example:

• Ecclesiastes 9:8: Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil
• Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson,they shall be like wool.”

Other references to white as a symbol of purity appear in verses about Jesus, particularly after his resurrection or during his transfiguration.

• Matthew 17:2: There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
• Matthew 28:3: His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
• Mark 9:3: His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
• Mark 16:5: As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
• John 20:12: and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
• Acts 1:10: They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

 
You may remember from previous articles that the gardens of the palace of Susa contained white hangings and, later, Mordecai was clothed in blue and white. These also refer to purity as well as peace.

• Esther 1:6: The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones.
• Esther 8:15: 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.

 
The remaining examples of the colour white that I have found are all related to prophesy. White horses, for example, symbolise truth and righteousness. The other prophetic uses of the colour likely refer to similar things; however, scholars have debated at length over their exact meaning. If you have the time, you may wish to read up about the following verses on the internet or in books but for now, I will just list them so that you can get a general idea about the prophecies. As you will see, the majority appear in the book of Revelation. 

• Daniel 7:9: As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.
• Zechariah 1:8: During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses. 
• Zechariah 6:3: the third white, and the fourth dappled—all of them powerful.
• Revelation 1:14: The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.
• Revelation 2:17: Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
• Revelation 3:4-5: Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
• Revelation 3:18: I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
• Revelation 4:4: Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.
• Revelation 6:2: I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
• Revelation 7:9: After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
• Revelation 7:13-14: Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
• Revelation 14:14:  I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
• Revelation 19:14: The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
• Revelation 20:11: Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.

 
This ends The Importance of Colours in the Bible series. I hope you have enjoyed studying the Bible through colours and learnt something new. For fun, let’s end with phrases and idioms involving the colour white. As always, feel free to add your own examples. 
 

• Whitewash – to conceal an unpleasant reality
• White lie – an innocent lie, usually told out of politeness
• White noise – the frequency of all sounds combined
• White knight – traditional a hero who saves someone from danger or hostile takeover
• White-collar workers – people who work in offices
• White feather – a symbol of cowardice
• White as a ghost – pale from shock
• White as a sheet – pale from illness
• White elephant – a useless, unwanted possession 
• Lily-white – completely white in colour
• Whiter than white – someone who is completely good and never does anything bad
• White-livered – someone who is scared of everything