Bible Dictionaries
Crimson

Holman Bible Dictionary

A red color taken from the bodies of dead kermes (Coccus ilicis , which attached itself to the kermes oak—Quercus coccifera ) or cochineal insects (Coccus cacti ). The same Hebrew words translated as crimson are also translated “scarlet” (“red” comes from a root word from which the Hebrew word “blood” comes and designates a different color.) Crimson or scarlet thread (Genesis 38:28 ,Genesis 38:28,38:30 ), cord (Joshua 2:18 ,Joshua 2:18,2:21 ), and cloth (Leviticus 14:4; Numbers 4:8; 2 Samuel 1:24; 2Chronicles 2:7,2 Chronicles 2:14; 2 Chronicles 3:14; Proverbs 31:21; Jeremiah 4:30; Nahum 2:3 ) are mentioned in the Bible. Crimson or scarlet along with purple were considered royal colors (Matthew 27:28; Revelation 17:3-4; Revelation 18:11-12 ,Revelation 18:11-12,18:16 ). Isaiah used scarlet as the imagery to describe sins (Isaiah 1:18 ). See Colors .