The Color Purple: What Does it Mean Biblically?

Isn’t it amazing how God speaks to us in so many ways? Sometimes, it’s not with words with something as simple and beautiful as a color! And let me tell you, the color purple is one of those special colors God uses to share something powerful with us, His children. It’s a color that can touch your heart, bring back a special memory, and hold such deep, wonderful meaning, especially in our faith.

You’ve seen it, haven’t you? Maybe draped so beautifully on the altar at church during certain times of the year, or perhaps you’ve read about it in the incredible stories of the Bible – stories of kings, and most importantly, the amazing story of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today, we’re going on an exciting journey, a faith-filled exploration, to uncover what this special color purple truly represents for every believer. We’re going to look at ten key questions, and I believe, as we uncover these truths, God is going to make its rich symbolism so clear, so vibrant, and so meaningful for your personal walk with Him. When you understand why purple is used and what it signifies, it’s going to bless you! It can absolutely change how you see it, turning a simple glance into a moment of deeper connection with God, a moment of real spiritual understanding. Get ready to be encouraged!

Why Was Purple So Special in Ancient Times? Understanding its Royal Roots

to truly appreciate why purple is so important in our Christian faith, it’s good to take a little step back in time and see why it was such a big deal in the ancient world. Long before it became a powerful symbol in the purple was the color of royalty – kings, emperors, and the wealthiest people you could imagine.¹ And this wasn’t just because they liked the color; oh no, it was because this dye was incredibly rare and super expensive!

The most famous purple dye, known as Tyrian purple, was made through a really tough and costly process. Can you believe it came from the mucus of tiny Murex sea snails found way down in the Mediterranean Sea?³ Just picture this: they had to gather thousands and thousands of these little snails to make just a tiny bit of dye.⁴ Some folks even say it might have taken a quarter of a million snails for just one single ounce of that precious dye!5 Because it was so hard to get, purple dye became as valuable as silver and gold!5 So, naturally, only the richest and most powerful people—like the Roman Emperors and other top officials—could ever afford to wear purple robes or use purple in their big ceremonies.³ The area of Phoenicia, especially a city called Tyre, was famous for making this dye, so much so that “Phoenicia” can actually mean “purple land”!4

So, wearing purple back then? That was a clear, unmistakable sign that you were someone of high status, incredible wealth, and royal power.⁷ It wasn’t just picking out an outfit; it was like making a public announcement about how important you were in society. And get this, Tyrian purple was also known for being super durable; its color actually got brighter and more beautiful with weather and wear, unlike many plant-based dyes that would just fade away.⁴ This whole economic reality—how incredibly difficult and expensive it was to make purple—is what first connected it to earthly power and luxury. This specialness, this high value, is the foundation, the starting point, for understanding why its later use in Christian contexts, whether to honor someone or, sadly, to mock them, carried such incredible weight. God can use anything, even the symbols of the world, to point to His greater truth!

What Does the Old Testament Say About Purple in the Tabernacle and for Priests?

Let’s look at the Old Testament, because it shows us something amazing: purple wasn’t just valued by earthly kings and emperors, it was actually chosen by God Himself for sacred and holy purposes! Its existing connection with royalty and how precious it was made it the perfect color to honor God and to show His supreme, unmatched authority.

When God gave instructions to the Israelites on how to build the Tabernacle—that special, portable sanctuary where His very presence would live among them—guess what? Purple was one of the special materials He commanded them to use. We read in the Book of Exodus that beautiful purple yarn was to be woven into the fine linen curtains of the Tabernacle itself.⁹ It was also used for that important veil, the one separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, and for other hangings inside this sacred tent.¹⁰

And it doesn’t stop there! Purple was a key color in the stunning and holy garments worn by the High Priest. These weren’t just any clothes; they were divinely designed to show the sacredness and dignity of his incredibly important role as a mediator, a bridge, between God and the people. Purple threads were woven into the ephod (that’s a special vest), the breastplate that held twelve precious stones representing the tribes of Israel, and other parts of his holy attire.¹⁰ Using purple in these holy items and garments was a powerful way to emphasize God’s awesome majesty, His complete holiness, and His divine kingship over Israel and all of creation.⁹ It was a visual reminder, that the God they worshipped was the King of all Kings!

Purple was often used right alongside other major colors like blue (which was called techelet in Hebrew) and scarlet (called shani). Blue was understood to point to heaven and God’s divine nature, while scarlet often symbolized sacrifice and making things right with God.⁹ Purple, or argaman as they called it in Hebrew, specifically carried that meaning of royalty and high status.⁷ And here’s something really interesting: when the Tabernacle was moved, the altar where sacrifices were offered was to be covered with a cloth made of pure purple.⁷ This directly linked that royal color to the place of sacrifice and the duties of the priesthood.

Some wise scholars also see an even deeper, forward-looking meaning in the way these colors were combined. Since you can make purple by mixing blue (which often symbolizes the divine or heavenly) and red (often symbolizing humanity, blood, or sacrifice), its use in the Tabernacle could have been a subtle hint, a little glimpse, of a future connection between God and humankind.⁷ And oh, doesn’t that idea find its most beautiful and complete expression in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man, and who serves as our ultimate High Priest! So, you see, in the Old Testament, purple was so much more than just a pretty and expensive color; it was a divinely appointed symbol that declared God’s supreme majesty and the sacredness of worshipping Him. It was preparing the way for the even deeper and more powerful meanings it would gain in the New Testament. God is always working, always preparing!

The Purple Robe of Christ: What Is Its Significance in Jesus’ Passion?

The story of Jesus’ suffering and His crucifixion—what we call His Passion—is right at the very heart of our Christian faith. And in this powerful story, the color purple plays such a moving and, in a way, upside-down role. After Jesus was arrested and cruelly scourged, Roman soldiers, in a terrible act of mockery, dressed Him in a purple robe and forced a crown of thorns onto His head.¹³ They did this to make fun of Him, to ridicule His claim to be the “King of the Jews”.³

This act was just filled with bitter irony. The soldiers used a color that everyone in the world knew as a symbol of the highest earthly power, of royalty, and of great wealth, all to humiliate a Man they saw as a powerless prisoner.² For them, it was just a cruel joke, a way to mock His supposed kingship. But for us, as believers, this very act of mockery unintentionally pointed to a much deeper, eternal truth: Jesus is a King! But His kingdom isn’t like the kingdoms of this world; oh no, His is a spiritual kingdom, one built on unconditional love, incredible sacrifice, and unchanging truth.⁵ Just as Jesus Himself told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).¹⁶ He was declaring His divine assignment!

In this light, that purple robe becomes such a powerful symbol of Jesus’ immense suffering, the deep humiliation He endured, and His ultimate, life-giving sacrifice for the sins of all humanity.⁶ The robe, which was meant to degrade Him, instead highlights the unique and beautiful nature of His kingship—a kingship He achieved not through force or worldly power through selfless love and unimaginable suffering. His crown was made of thorns, and His throne would be the cross.¹⁷

The actual robe they used adds another layer for us to think about. Real Tyrian purple was incredibly expensive, as we know.⁵ If the soldiers actually used such a valuable garment, it would just show the extreme lengths they went to in their mockery.⁵ If it was a cheaper imitation, well, the intent to taunt Him with a symbol of royalty was still just as cruel. Either way, that purple robe underscored the depth of the humiliation Jesus faced for us.

Through Jesus’ suffering and death, the meaning of purple was profoundly transformed in our Christian understanding. Although It kept its connection to royalty, it also took on new, powerful meanings of penance, deep sorrow, incredible redemption, and sacrificial love.² The purple robe of Christ stands as one of the most striking paradoxes in Christianity: a symbol of worldly mockery that became an enduring testament to His suffering, His sacrifice, and the unique, selfless nature of His eternal kingship. It just shows how God can take the symbols of human pride and power and completely redefine them to reveal His own divine truth and His amazing, saving love. What the enemy means for evil, God can turn for good!

Purple in Our Worship: Why Do Churches Use Purple During Lent and Advent?

Many of us, are probably familiar with seeing the color purple in our churches. You might see it on the altar, on beautiful banners, or in the special robes, the vestments, worn by our pastors or priests. This is especially common during two very important seasons in the church year: Advent and Lent.⁵ using purple during these times isn’t just for decoration, not at all! It’s a rich, visual symbol that God uses to help guide our hearts and minds as a congregation.

Purple in Lent:

Lent is that 40-day period (not counting Sundays) that leads us up to the glorious celebration of Easter. It’s a special time for us as Christians to prepare our hearts to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. During Lent, purple (often a deep, thoughtful violet shade) is the main color you’ll see in many churches.¹⁵

• Repentance and Penance: Purple in Lent strongly symbolizes repentance—that means turning away from sin and turning back to our loving God. It calls us as believers to a time of looking inward, of prayer, sometimes fasting, and doing acts of service or giving to others.³ It’s a time to get right with God!
• Mourning and Solemnity: It’s also a color of mourning and sorrow, prompting us to reflect on Jesus Christ’s suffering and His incredible sacrifice on the cross for us.² The atmosphere in the church often becomes a bit more solemn, a bit quieter, as we contemplate this amazing love.
• Humility: Purple reminds us of the need for humility before our mighty God. There’s a wonderful tradition that links the Lenten violet color to the violet flower, which bows its head, beautifully symbolizing humility.¹⁸

Purple in Advent:

Advent is that wonderful season of preparation for Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus. It also helps us look forward with hope to Christ’s promised second coming. And guess what? Purple is also the traditional color for Advent in many churches.⁴

• Preparation and Expectation: Just like in Lent, purple in Advent means preparation. But the feeling is a little different, friend. It’s a time of watchful waiting and hopeful expectation for the coming of Christ, the Light of the World.¹⁸ There’s a joy in the air!
• Hopeful Anticipation: Sometimes, you might see a slightly different shade, maybe a more rose-purple or a bluish-purple, used in Advent. This can be likened to the color of the sky just before the sun rises, emphasizing that joyful hope and eager anticipation of Christ’s arrival.¹⁸ Something good is coming!

The use of purple vestments for our clergy and those purple cloths on the altar and pulpit serve as a constant visual reminder of the spiritual focus of the season.¹³ It’s like a non-verbal language that helps shape our worship experience and encourages us all to go on a communal journey of faith. This visual cue helps the entire congregation enter into the spirit of the season together, whether it’s that reflective solemnity of Lent or the hopeful expectation of Advent. So, the liturgical color itself becomes a wonderful tool for spiritual discipline, guiding us as believers in our preparation to encounter Christ.

To help make it even clearer, here’s a little summary of how purple is used in these special seasons:

Purple in Christian Liturgy: Advent and Lent

Liturgical Season	Primary Meaning/Focus	Associated Practices	Emotional/Spiritual Tone
Advent	Preparation for Christ’s coming (birth & return); Joyful Hope	Prayer, Reflection, Watchfulness	Anticipatory, Hopeful, Expectant
Lent	Repentance & Preparation for Easter; Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice	Fasting, Almsgiving, Prayer, Self-examination	Solemn, Reflective, Penitential

So, when we see purple in it’s like an invitation from God to engage more deeply with the season. It calls us to prepare our hearts, to reflect on our faith, to remember the powerful love and sacrifice of Jesus, and to look forward with great hope to God’s amazing promises. God is always speaking, always inviting us closer!

What Did the Early Church Fathers Teach About the Color Purple?

Those early Church Fathers—they were influential theologians and writers in the first few centuries of Christianity—they also thought and wrote about the meaning of things that were part of the Bible stories and church life, and that includes the color purple! Although they didn’t sit down and create a detailed “color theory” for purple like we might think of today, their writings give us some wonderful insights into how they understood its significance, especially when it came to Christ and how we live our Christian lives.

A general tradition that has been passed down from these early times is that the Church’s use of purple, especially in those reflective seasons like Lent, connects back to its ancient association with royalty and, very importantly, to the Passion of Christ.⁵ Because Jesus, our true King, was mockingly robed in purple during His suffering, the Church came to see this royal color as also representing repentance and penance, all in memory of His incredible sacrifice.⁴

Some of these specific Fathers commented in ways that touch on purple:

• St. Augustine of Hippo (who lived from 354-430 AD) wrote a lot about the nature of Christ’s kingship. He often highlighted that amazing paradox that Jesus’ path to glory and being lifted high was actually through humiliation and suffering.¹⁶ While he might not have focused specifically on the color purple all by itself, his thoughts on Christ’s Passion, where that purple robe was such a prominent feature, really underscore the theme of a King whose reign is established through sacrifice, not through worldly power. God’s ways are higher than our ways!
• St. Jerome (around 347-420 AD), who is famous for translating the Bible into Latin (that’s called the Vulgate), actually expressed some concern about too much extravagance in religious items. He famously criticized the making of super fancy Bible manuscripts that were written with gold lettering on expensive purple-dyed parchments. He wrote, “Parchments are dyed purple, gold is melted into lettering, manuscripts are decked with…source(https://thetextualmechanic.blogspot.com/2016/06/jerome-against-lavish-bible-manuscripts.html?m=1) lies at the door naked and dying”.²¹ What Jerome was saying, is that he preferred simple, accurate copies of Scripture over these showy displays. He suggested that true godliness, true piety, was found in humility and caring for the poor, not in worldly splendor, even if that splendor involved a color associated with scripture or royalty.²¹ This shows us that there was an awareness back then that even a symbol of high honor could be misused if it wasn’t accompanied by genuine faith and charity. It’s what’s in the heart that matters most to God!
• St. John Chrysostom (around 347-407 AD), who was a renowned preacher, also recognized purple as a symbol of worldly royalty and power. When he was talking about the Magi’s visit to the infant Jesus, he noted that a king’s purple robe wouldn’t do him any good if he didn’t approach Christ with true honor and adoration.²² In a sermon on the Gospel of John, while discussing Pilate’s actions during Jesus’ trial, Chrysostom mentioned the purple robe and crown of thorns as part of the soldiers’ mockery. He used this to contrast Jesus’ humble life with the symbols of tyranny, asking how anyone could accuse Jesus of being a worldly threat when His life was so simple, so unlike those who typically wore purple and wielded earthly power.²³

So, these early Christian leaders primarily understood purple through the lens of Christ’s Passion. They recognized its royal connections, which were ironically twisted in the attempt to mock Jesus, yet, in the end, actually affirmed His true, though unconventional, kingship. Their teachings often emphasized the spiritual reality behind the symbol—Christ’s sacrificial love and His humble reign—over just the outward appearance of the color. And St. Jerome’s comments serve as a timeless reminder to the even today, to prioritize genuine faith and compassionate action over external displays of wealth or status. God looks at the heart, friend!

Who Was Lydia, the Seller of Purple, and What Can We Learn From Her Story?

In the Book of Acts, chapter 16, we meet such a remarkable woman named Lydia. The Bible tells us she was a “seller of purple goods” from the city of Thyatira, and she was doing business in Philippi, which was a Roman colony in Macedonia.²⁴ Her story, though it’s brief, offers us some incredibly valuable lessons for our Christian walk today.

Lydia’s job is actually very major. Thyatira, her hometown, was well-known for its trade guilds, including those that produced that expensive purple dye and cloth.²⁴ So, as a dealer in these luxury items, Lydia was likely a successful and relatively wealthy businesswoman.⁸ for a woman in the ancient Roman Empire to be running a business like that, it tells us she was probably intelligent, very capable, and perhaps she was a widow who had taken over or even started her own company.²⁴ She was a go-getter!

But the Bible also tells us something else very important about Lydia: she was “a worshiper of God”.²⁴ This means that even before she met the Apostle Paul, she revered the God of Israel. Perhaps she was a Gentile who was drawn to the Jewish faith and practices (they were often called “God-fearers” or proselytes). She and other women would gather by a river outside of Philippi for prayer on the Sabbath, as there probably wasn’t a formal synagogue in that city.²⁴ She was seeking God!

It was at one of these prayer meetings that Paul encountered Lydia. As Paul shared the wonderful message of Jesus Christ, the Scripture says, “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message” (Acts 16:14).⁸ Isn’t that beautiful? Her conversion was immediate and so sincere. She and the members of her household were baptized, and this marked one of the very first conversions to Christianity in all of Europe!24 God was on the move!

And what Lydia did next, is such a powerful example of faith in action. She showed incredible, generous hospitality by insisting that Paul and his companions (Silas, Timothy, and Luke) stay at her home.²⁴ Her home likely became the very first meeting place for the new Christian community in Philippi—one of the earliest house churches in Europe!24 Her resources, the money she gained from her trade in those purple goods, were now being used to support the work of the Gospel. She put her faith to work!

Lydia’s story teaches us several really important things:

• God prepares hearts: It was the Lord who opened Lydia’s heart to believe. This reminds us that salvation is a beautiful work of God’s grace.⁸ He’s always working behind the scenes!
• The Gospel is for everyone: Lydia was a successful businesswoman, part of a world of commerce and luxury. Her conversion shows us that the good news of Jesus is for people from all walks of life, no matter their social standing or how much wealth they have.¹⁴ Her story is a wonderful positive contrast to that rich young ruler who found it so hard to follow Jesus because of his possessions.⁸ Lydia’s wealth didn’t become a barrier to her faith; instead, it became a way for her to serve God.
• Faith leads to action: Lydia didn’t just say she believed; she acted on her newfound faith through baptism and by generously opening her home to God’s messengers. She proactively used what she had to support the ministry.⁸ That’s living it out!
• Women played vital roles: Lydia is a key example of the important contributions women made to the growth of the early Church. God uses everyone!

Lydia, the seller of purple, stands as such an inspiring figure for us today. She shows that a heart that is open to God can lead to a life completely transformed by faith, a life marked by generosity, and a life that is instrumental in spreading the love of Christ. Her story encourages us, as believers, to use our own unique gifts, our resources, and our positions, whatever they may be, to serve God and support His amazing work in the world. You have something special to offer, friend!

Does Purple Have a Special Meaning in the Book of Revelation?

The Book of Revelation, that final, powerful book of the Bible, is just filled with vivid imagery and complex symbolism that can really speak to our hearts. The color purple shows up in several key passages here, and its meaning is often tied to themes of earthly power, incredible wealth, and sometimes, it points to spiritual corruption.

In Revelation, purple is frequently used to describe the splendor and the opulence, the sheer richness, of worldly kingdoms or entities that stand in opposition to God. For example, that great and wicked city, often referred to as “Babylon the Great,” is depicted as being “clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls” (Revelation 18:16).¹⁴ Similarly, a symbolic woman, who represents this corrupt system, is described as “arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication” (Revelation 17:4).¹⁴

Although these descriptions paint a picture of grandeur, majesty, and power, the context in Revelation gives purple a sense of moral and spiritual ambiguity, often leaning towards the negative. The wealth and authority that are symbolized by those purple garments are associated with idolatry, with the persecution of God’s people, and with deep-seated moral decay.¹⁴ Purple, in these instances, can represent the seductive allure, the deceptive beauty, and the ultimate emptiness of worldly power and riches when they are separated from God and used for ungodly purposes. This portrayal of purple serves as a stark contrast to other symbols in Revelation, like the “fine linen, bright and clean,” which is said to be “the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:8) 14, representing purity and divine approval.

The use of purple in Revelation really underscores how symbols can carry different weights depending on their context. A color that in the Old Testament Tabernacle signified God’s holy majesty, and in the Gospels became linked with Christ’s true, albeit mocked, kingship, can here in Revelation represent the very peak of human arrogance and worldly glory that sets itself against God. This doesn’t mean the color purple itself is inherently evil, not at all! But rather, it shows that the extreme wealth, luxury, and power it often represents can easily lead to pride, to decadence, and to rebellion against God if they are not submitted to Him.

For us as Christian readers, the depiction of purple in Revelation serves as a powerful warning. It cautions us against being dazzled or fooled by the outward splendor of worldly systems that may be inwardly corrupt. It reminds us as believers that true value and lasting glory are found not in earthly riches or power in faithfulness to God and His eternal kingdom. The “splendor” of Babylon, draped in purple, is ultimately shown to be temporary, transient, and destined for judgment. This urges us to seek heavenly treasures and to be discerning, to be wise, about where we place our allegiance and our hope. Let’s keep our eyes on what truly lasts, friend!

How Is Purple Represented in Christian Art and What Does It Tell Us?

Christian art, throughout many, many centuries, has used colors not just because they’re beautiful also to tell powerful stories and convey deep spiritual meanings. And purple is a very major color in this wonderful visual tradition, often used to communicate key aspects of our Christian faith and its amazing narrative.

One of the most common and powerful ways purple is used in Christian art is in pictures and paintings of Jesus Christ’s Passion. Artists frequently show Jesus wearing a purple robe during those heart-wrenching events leading up to His crucifixion, especially when He was being mocked by the Roman soldiers.³ This imagery vividly portrays His suffering and the humiliation He endured also, in that beautiful, paradoxical way God works, it shows His true, divine kingship that the soldiers unknowingly acknowledged through that royal color.⁶ Even in mockery, truth can shine through!

Flowing from this, purple is also used to signify royalty and majesty more broadly. Christ might be depicted as our King in majestic purple robes, especially in scenes of His glory or His ascension into heaven. The Virgin Mary, often revered as the Queen of Heaven, might also be shown wearing or adorned with purple, signifying her unique honor and her closeness to her divine Son. Sometimes, you’ll see saints depicted with touches of purple to indicate their spiritual dignity and their share in Christ’s kingdom.

Given its strong association with that liturgical season of Lent, purple in Christian art can also bring to mind themes of penance, repentance, and solemn reflection.²⁶ Artwork that was created for Lenten devotionals or for church spaces might use shades of purple to set a contemplative and penitential mood, reminding those who see it of the need for spiritual preparation and for remembering Christ’s incredible sacrifice. Similarly, it can be used to depict mourning and sorrow, tying right back into its Lenten symbolism.³

In some interpretations, especially in beautiful mediums like stained glass, purple or violet is seen as a blend of blue (which often symbolizes wisdom, truth, or heaven) and red (which often symbolizes love, passion, sacrifice, or humanity). In this light, purple can represent justice, that perfect, harmonious balance of divine wisdom and sacrificial love.¹³ Isn’t that a beautiful thought?

More contemporary or devotional interpretations might see purple as a royal color that represents faith in our identity in Christ—that as believers, we are loved and we are part of God’s royal family!27 Yes, you are royalty in God’s eyes! Historically, high-ranking clergy like bishops also wore purple, and this might be reflected in artistic portraits or scenes that show church leaders.³

Christian art, therefore, uses purple as a form of “visual theology.” It takes the established meanings of the color—royalty, suffering, penance, majesty—and applies them to make complex Christian ideas accessible and emotionally resonant, touching our hearts. When an artist shows Christ in a purple robe, they are not just painting a scene, friend; they are inviting the viewer to reflect on the powerful theological truths of the Passion. While some uses are directly tied to biblical events, others show an evolving tradition where artists interpret and apply these symbols in fresh, new ways for devotion and teaching. This demonstrates that Christian art is a living tradition, capable of communicating timeless truths through enduring symbols like the color purple, making faith visible and touching the hearts of believers across all generations. God can speak through beauty!

Conclusion: Embracing the Full Spectrum of Purple’s Meaning in Our Faith

as we’ve seen on this journey together, the color purple is so much more than just a shade on the color wheel. For us as Christians, it is woven into the very fabric of salvation history, our liturgical traditions, and our spiritual reflections. From that costly dye that adorned ancient kings, signifying earthly power and wealth 1, it was adopted into the worship of the Old Testament, pointing to God’s supreme holiness and His priestly authority.⁹ What a journey this color has had!

In the New Testament, purple takes on its most poignant, its most heart-touching meaning in the Passion of Christ. There, a purple robe, intended for cruel mockery, became an ironic, yet powerful, symbol of His true, sacrificial kingship.⁶ That incredible event forever linked purple with suffering, with penance, and with the powerful, unconditional love of our Savior. The Church continues to honor these deep themes by using purple during those solemn, preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent, calling us as believers to repentance, to reflection, and to hopeful expectation.¹⁸ God is always calling us to draw closer!

We encounter purple in the inspiring story of Lydia, that enterprising seller of purple whose open heart and welcoming home helped to establish the early church in Europe. She reminds us that our faith calls for active, joyful generosity.⁸ In the vivid, powerful imagery of Revelation, purple can also serve as a warning, symbolizing the dazzling but often corrupt allure of worldly power that stands in stark contrast to God’s eternal, unshakable kingdom.¹⁴ Christian art, through the ages, has beautifully captured these diverse meanings, depicting Christ’s majesty and His suffering, and inviting us into moments of deep contemplation.¹³ And even the simple act of noticing purple in God’s magnificent creation can become a precious moment of worship and connection with Him.²⁸ He’s all around us!

The journey of understanding what purple represents is, in many ways, like a miniature pilgrimage through the beautiful landscape of Christian belief. It touches upon history, theology, worship, art, and our personal spirituality, revealing just how interconnected these aspects of our faith truly are. Purple is not a flat, one-dimensional symbol, friend; oh no, it is a color with deep and varied layers of meaning that can greatly enrich our understanding and our appreciation of our precious Christian heritage.

As we encounter purple—whether it’s in the readings of scripture, during a church service, in a piece of art, or in the simple beauty of a flower—may we be more aware of its rich, incredible story. May it remind us of Christ’s ultimate authority, His powerful sacrifice for us, our call to live lives of humble repentance and joyful hope, and the enduring, layered beauty of our faith. Embracing the full spectrum of purple’s meaning can draw us closer to the God who created all colors and who fills our lives with His glorious presence. Be blessed, as you see God’s hand in every detail!