Jump to: ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia In the Bible, the color black is often associated with mourning, affliction, and judgment, but it can also symbolize depth and mystery. The use of black in Scripture is both literal and metaphorical, appearing in various contexts that convey different aspects of human experience and divine interaction.Mourning and Affliction Black is frequently linked to mourning and sorrow. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, wearing sackcloth, which was typically black, was a common expression of grief and repentance. In the book of Job, Job laments his suffering and uses imagery associated with darkness: "My skin grows black and peels, and my bones burn with fever" (Job 30:30). This verse highlights the physical and emotional toll of his afflictions. Judgment and Calamity The color black is also used to describe judgment and calamity. In the prophetic literature, blackness often symbolizes the severity of God's judgment. For instance, in the book of Jeremiah, the prophet describes the desolation of the land: "The whole land is desolate, because no one takes it to heart. The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed feasts. All her gates are desolate; her priests groan, her maidens grieve, and she herself is bitter" (Jeremiah 4:28). The imagery of desolation and mourning is often accompanied by darkness, underscoring the gravity of divine judgment. Mystery and Depth While black is predominantly associated with negative connotations, it can also represent mystery and depth. In the Song of Solomon, the Shulammite woman describes herself as "dark, yet lovely" (Song of Solomon 1:5). Here, the term "dark" is not used pejoratively but rather to express her unique beauty and allure. This passage reflects the complexity and richness of human identity and relationships. Symbolism in Apocalyptic Literature In apocalyptic literature, black is used symbolically to convey cosmic disturbances and divine intervention. In the book of Revelation, the opening of the third seal reveals a black horse, symbolizing famine and economic hardship: "Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, 'A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine'" (Revelation 6:5-6). The black horse represents scarcity and the dire consequences of divine judgment on the earth. Cultural and Historical Context Understanding the use of black in the Bible requires an appreciation of the cultural and historical context of the ancient world. Black was a color associated with the natural cycles of life and death, as well as the spiritual realities of sin and redemption. The biblical authors employed the color black to communicate profound truths about the human condition and God's sovereign purposes. In summary, the color black in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, reflecting themes of mourning, judgment, mystery, and divine intervention. Its usage across various books and genres underscores the depth and complexity of biblical theology and the human experience. Easton's Bible Dictionary Properly the absence of all colour. In Proverbs 7:9 the Hebrew word means, as in the margin of the Revised Version, "the pupil of the eye." It is translated "apple" of the eye in Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 17:8; Proverbs 7:2. It is a different word which is rendered "black" in Leviticus 13:31,37; Cant. 1:5; 5:11; and Zechariah 6:2, 6. It is uncertain what the "black marble" of Esther 1:6 was which formed a part of the mosaic pavement. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (a.) Destitute of light, or incapable of reflecting it; of the color of soot or coal; of the darkest or a very dark color, the opposite of whiteInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia HORSE, BLACK(hippos melas): Symbolic of famine ("balance. measure of wheat for a shilling," etc., Revelation 6:5, 6; compare Zechariah 6:2, 6). BLACK See COLORS. Greek 3189. melas -- black ... 3188, 3189. melas. 3190 . black. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: melas Phonetic Spelling: (mel'-as) Short Definition: black Definition: black. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3189.htm - 6k 4807. sukaminos -- the mulberry tree, the sycamine 2217. zophos -- deep gloom 4809. sukomorea -- the fig-mulberry tree, sycamore fig 3468. molops -- a bruise 931. basanos -- a touchstone (a dark stone used in testing metals) ... 3526. Niger -- Niger, a Christian 5299. hupopiazo -- to strike under the eye 4195. Pontos -- "a sea," Pontus, a region of Asia Minor 978. Bithunia -- Bithynia, a province in Asia Minor Strong's Hebrew 7835. shachar -- to be black... to be black. Transliteration: shachar Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-khar') Short Definition: black. ... root Definition to be black NASB Word Usage turns black (1). ... /hebrew/7835.htm - 6k 7838. shachor -- black 2345. chum -- darkened, dark brown or black 806. Ashchuwr -- "black," an Israelite 806a. Ashchur -- "black," an Israelite 7100. qetsach -- black cumin 5508. sochereth -- a stone (used in paving) 2821. chashak -- to be or grow dark 3648. kamar -- to grow warm and tender, to be or grow hot 7840. shecharchoreth -- blackish Library William Black The Life of Mr. David Black. For if this Deity Requires a Black, that a White Skin... I am Black, but Comely, O Ye Daughters of Jerusalem, as the Tents ... A Black Catalogue. Knox in England: the Black Rubric: Exile: 1549-1554 Black and Wesley. Black-Balled by Man, Saved by Christ. Emancipation --Black and White. William Black Thesaurus Black (52 Occurrences)... of the eye." It is translated "apple" of the eye in Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 17:8; Proverbs 7:2. It is a different word which is rendered "black" in Leviticus ... /b/black.htm - 24k Black-mulberry-tree (1 Occurrence) Chemarim (1 Occurrence) Blackness (13 Occurrences) Cormorant (4 Occurrences) Marble (5 Occurrences) Raven (7 Occurrences) Ebony (2 Occurrences) Mulberry (6 Occurrences) Coal (7 Occurrences) Resources Who are the Black Hebrews / Black Israelites? | GotQuestions.orgAre there any black people mentioned in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org How should Christians view the Black Lives Matter movement? | GotQuestions.org Black: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Black (52 Occurrences)Matthew 5:36 Hebrews 12:18 2 Peter 2:17 Jude 1:13 Revelation 6:5 Revelation 6:12 Genesis 30:32 Genesis 30:33 Genesis 30:35 Genesis 30:40 Exodus 10:15 Leviticus 11:13 Leviticus 11:14 Leviticus 13:31 Leviticus 13:37 Deuteronomy 4:11 Deuteronomy 14:12 Deuteronomy 14:13 1 Kings 18:45 Esther 1:6 Job 3:5 Job 6:16 Job 10:21 Job 23:17 Job 30:30 Psalms 105:28 Psalms 107:10 Psalms 107:14 Psalms 119:83 Proverbs 7:9 Song of Songs 1:5 Song of Songs 1:6 Song of Songs 5:11 Isaiah 8:22 Isaiah 28:25 Isaiah 50:3 Jeremiah 4:28 Jeremiah 8:21 Jeremiah 13:16 Jeremiah 14:2 Lamentations 5:10 Ezekiel 31:15 Ezekiel 32:7 Ezekiel 32:8 Joel 2:2 Joel 2:10 Joel 3:15 Micah 3:6 Zechariah 1:8 Zechariah 6:2 Zechariah 6:6 Malachi 3:14 Subtopics Related Terms |
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