Blue: God's Favorite Color
- James Collazo
- Aug 10, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 16
Introduction
Did you know that God has a favorite color? Yes, he does! Which color is it? Blue! This color is the primary embroidery on Jewish prayer shawls (Hebrew: tallit), the interwoven threads of their fringes (Hebrew: tzitzit, H6734), and the modern Israeli flag. There is even more symbolism associated with blue in the Bible, particularly in relation to God. Blue is the color of the sky, and the pavement of sapphire around God's feet (Exod. 24:10). The prophet Ezekiel tells us that God's throne itself is blue, made from the finest of Lapis lazuli (Ezek. 1:26, 10:1). Blue was the color of the Law of Moses and the Levitical priesthood, similar in manufacture to the purple dye of royalty. Blue furnished the temple curtains and covered the furniture and utensils in transit. Blue dye (Hebrew: techelet, H8504) came from Hexaplex trunculus, a non-kosher sea snail.
A Kingdom of Priests
For God to meet the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt, he told them to make the Tent of Meeting. They decorated it with blue, crimson (some translations read "scarlet"), and purple threads, along with furniture and golden utensils. God wanted his priests, descendants from Aaron's son, Levi, to wear blue ephods to undergird the breastplate with a stone for Israel's twelve tribes. The outer cover and retaining cables were always blue. Because the yarn came from wool and the ephod and curtains were from twisted linen (Exod. 25:4, 39:1–31), God banned the Israelites from the other eleven tribes from wearing wool and linen together (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:11). Such a mixture was only for the temple and its holy things.
However, God instructed all the Israelites to attach fringes to the four corners of their garments, using blue thread interwoven with white thread. Symbolically, the tiny threads of blue reminded them of God and of the need to obey his commandments (Num. 15:38). Israel served as God's kingdom of priests, a royal priesthood to the nations. They were a light to the nations (i.e., Gentiles; from Latin gentilis, "people"). However, the Levites were the priests of Israel, meaning they alone could stand before God and minister to him. The "royal priesthood" concept did not imply that all Israelites could serve as both civil and religious leaders. Perhaps this was the reasoning of Korah when he said, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?" (Num. 16:3). God decimated Korah and his co-conspirators in their rebellion against Moses and Aaron (Num. 16:23–50).
Scarlet Harlot, but No Blue
Much of Revelation revisits Old Testament themes, suggesting that the past informs the present and the future. One of the things Christians often overlook is the significance of the colors depicted in the great harlot of Babylon. In contrast to the pattern and the golden utensils for the tent of meeting and the Jerusalem temple, which featured blue, crimson, and purple, the great harlot only possesses scarlet and purple with a single golden cup (Rev. 17:4). Why does she lack blue? Blue is the color associated with God and his moral law (Luke 9:35; Rom. 1:4). This symbolism evokes the sky, symbolizing the sacred covenant between God and all creation. Moreover, red is the color of earth and humankind (Hebrew: adam, "man," H120; adom, "red," H122; adamah, "earth," H127; cf. Gen. 2:7); purple is royalty and kingdom (see "Lydia of Thyatira;" cf. Esth. 8:15; Dan. 5:7), and gold represents wealth (Gen. 2:11–12).
All of the laws of morality and nature make up the sky, pointing to the ultimate reason, logic, and definition: Jesus as the divine Word of God (Greek: Logos, G3056; cf. John 1:1). Therefore, the great harlot is a church-like community of people that appear to be Christian, but they disobey God like every other unrepentant sinner. The devil's anti-church follows his anti-messiah (i.e., antichrist), a corrupt antithesis of the church as the bride of Christ (Luke 5:34–35; Eph. 5:31–32). For this reason, the apostle Paul called the antichrist the "man of lawlessness" (2 Thess. 2:3). Scripture presents the pseudo-church as a harlot because she pretends to be faithful to God's law while committing adultery, idolatry, and fornication.
Royal Priesthood, Revisited
The apostle Peter wrote, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Pet. 2:9). In this context, Peter included the Christian Gentiles in Israel's royal priesthood. This idea does not mean the church exists without leadership, as God condemned Korah and his followers for rebelling against Moses and Aaron. Priesthood means that Jesus calls all believers to represent him and minister to the world. As Gentiles, we are wild and lawless branches the Holy Spirit grafts into the olive tree of Israel (Rom. 11:17–24). We enter into the body of Christ, made real through the incarnation of the only-begotten Son in human flesh and blood. Traditionally, many Christian artists have depicted Jesus in blue and red to emphasize his dual nature—both divine and human. The church likewise encompasses the blue of heaven and the red of the earth, combined with God's wealth of gold and royalty of purple. We represent the kingdom of heaven in the world, citizens who transcend the temporal boundaries of politics and culture.
Conclusion
In Scripture and Jewish tradition, blue carries deep spiritual meaning. It represents God's presence, holiness, and eternal nature. In the Torah, God commands his people to weave blue threads into their garments as a daily reminder to obey his commandments and live set apart for him. The Bible describes God's throne shining with sapphire blue, showing his majesty, mystery, and everlasting rule.
Throughout history, Christians have used blue in church art, vestments, and architecture to express reverence, purity, and heavenly focus. The vast blue sky lifts our hearts toward God and reminds us of his greatness and unending presence. Across generations, believers have looked to blue as a color of faithfulness, peace, and divine transcendence—a living symbol that draws us closer to the eternal God whose glory fills heaven and earth.
Prayer
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of heaven and earth. Your glory fills the blue heavens, reminding us of your constant love, and the waters reflect your enduring faithfulness. May our lives mirror your grace as the priesthood of believers. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bibliography
Ngo, Robin. "Bible History Daily: What Color Was Tekhelet?" Biblical Archaeology Society. September 11, 2025. [link].
Sagiv, Gadi. Jewish Blues: A History of a Color in Judaism—Jewish Culture and Contexts. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2023.
"Tekhelet: The Mystery of the Long-Lost Biblical Blue Thread." Chabad. [link].
Tumino, Melissa. "The Ultimate Guide to the Biblical Meaning of Colors." Think About Such Things (blog). June 29, 2020. [link].
Tverberg, Lois. "What's So Wrong with Mixing Wool and Linen?" Our Rabbi Jesus (blog). July 2, 2013. [link].