The term "scarlet-colored" in the Bible often symbolizes wealth, power, sin, and sometimes, redemption. Scarlet, a bright red color, is mentioned numerous times throughout the Scriptures, each time carrying significant symbolic weight.

Symbol of Wealth and Power

Scarlet is frequently associated with wealth and luxury. In the ancient world, scarlet dye was costly and labor-intensive to produce, making scarlet garments a sign of affluence and high status. In the Book of Revelation, the "great prostitute" is described as being "dressed in purple and scarlet" (Revelation 17:4), symbolizing her opulence and the seductive allure of worldly power and corruption.

Symbol of Sin

Scarlet is also used to represent sin and moral impurity. In Isaiah 1:18, the prophet uses the color to illustrate the depth of Israel's sinfulness: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool" . Here, scarlet signifies the glaring and undeniable nature of sin, yet the verse also offers hope for redemption and cleansing through divine forgiveness.

Symbol of Redemption

Despite its association with sin, scarlet also appears in contexts of redemption and purification. The transformation from scarlet to white in Isaiah 1:18 underscores the power of God's grace to cleanse and renew. This theme is echoed in the New Testament, where the blood of Christ, often symbolized by the color red, is the means by which believers are redeemed and made pure.

Scarlet in the Tabernacle and Temple

Scarlet was one of the colors used in the construction of the Tabernacle and the garments of the high priest. Exodus 26:1 describes the use of "blue, purple, and scarlet yarn" in the Tabernacle's curtains . The inclusion of scarlet in these sacred items signifies the richness and holiness of the worship space, as well as the majesty of God.

Scarlet in the Story of Rahab

In the narrative of Rahab, the scarlet cord plays a crucial role in her salvation. Joshua 2:18 recounts the spies' instruction to Rahab: "When we enter the land, you must tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down" . The scarlet cord becomes a sign of protection and deliverance for Rahab and her family, prefiguring the redemptive work of Christ.

Conclusion

The use of scarlet in the Bible is multifaceted, representing both the gravity of sin and the possibility of redemption. Its presence in Scripture serves as a powerful reminder of the cost of sin and the richness of God's grace.

A Woman on a Scarlet-Colored Beast.
... EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE. A Woman on a Scarlet-Colored Beast. "And he
carried me away in spirit into a desert: and I saw a woman ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/a woman on a scarlet-colored.htm

In the Last Chapter we Confined Ourself to the Old Testament, in ...
... The central figures in Rev.17 are "the great whore," the "scarlet-colored Beast,"
and the "ten horns." The Beast is evidently the first Beast of Rev.13. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in the last chapter we.htm

In Our Last Chapter we Sought to Show that in Rev. . .
... First, she is supported by him. This is brought before us in 17:3, where we are
shown the corrupt Woman seated upon the scarlet-colored Beast. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in our last chapter we.htm

A Brief Commentary on the Apocalypse
... The Success of the Spirits. The Seventh Vial. The Judgment of the Harlot. A Woman
on a Scarlet-Colored Beast. The Fall of Babylon. The Voice From Heaven. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/

The Woman and Dragon.
... As the harlot on a scarlet-colored beast (17:3), is a symbol of a corrupt and apostate
church, so a virtuous woman is a chosen symbol of the true church. ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the woman and dragon.htm

The Sixth vial.
... He is then shown a woman on a scarlet-colored beast (v.3), who is spoken of as sitting
"on many waters" (v.1), and on seven mountains (v.10), and who is ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the sixth vial.htm

Mysterious Prophecies Revealed.
... have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad." Jer.51:7. The woman (mystery
Babylon and her daughters) sitting upon the scarlet-colored beast had a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /mysterious prophecies revealed.htm

The Redeemed on Mount Zion.
... They had not submitted to the wiles of the woman seated on the scarlet-colored beast,
(17:3); had not worshipped the beast or its image (14:9), and had been ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the redeemed on mount zion.htm

The Mouth of the Beast.
... This is also the end of Daniel's fourth beast, whose body is to be given to the
burning flame (Dan.7:11), and of the scarlet-colored beast on which the woman ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the mouth of the beast.htm

Interpretation of Prophecy.
... the two beasts that succeeded to his seat and power (chap.13), and (what is identical
with these two beasts) the woman riding upon a scarlet-colored beast (chap ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxviii interpretation of prophecy.htm

Scarlet-colored (1 Occurrence)
Scarlet-colored. Scarlet-color, Scarlet-colored. Scarlet-colour .
Multi-Version Concordance Scarlet-colored (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/scarlet-colored.htm - 6k

Blasphemous (4 Occurrences)
... I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names,
having seven heads and ten horns. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/b/blasphemous.htm - 7k

Animal (163 Occurrences)
... wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of
blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. (WEB). ...
/a/animal.htm - 38k

Scarlet (54 Occurrences)
... I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having
seven heads and ten horns. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/scarlet.htm - 26k

Scarlet-color (1 Occurrence)
Scarlet-color. Scarlet, Scarlet-color. Scarlet-colored . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Scarlet, Scarlet-color. Scarlet-colored . Reference Bible.
/s/scarlet-color.htm - 6k

Scarlet-colour (1 Occurrence)
Scarlet-colour. Scarlet-colored, Scarlet-colour. Scarletworm . Multi-Version
Concordance ... Scarlet-colored, Scarlet-colour. Scarletworm . Reference Bible
/s/scarlet-colour.htm - 6k

Horns (104 Occurrences)
... I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having
seven heads and ten horns. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/h/horns.htm - 42k

Covered (325 Occurrences)
... Revelation 17:3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into a desert, and there I saw
a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored Wild Beast which was covered with names ...
/c/covered.htm - 37k

Heads (439 Occurrences)
... I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having
seven heads and ten horns. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/h/heads.htm - 38k

Wilderness (304 Occurrences)
... I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names,
having seven heads and ten horns. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/w/wilderness.htm - 43k

What is the significance of a scarlet thread? | GotQuestions.org

What is a scarlet letter? | GotQuestions.org

Why does God call Jacob a worm in Isaiah 41:14? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus