WHEN GOD USES THE COLORS of the visible spectrum seen by the human eye, he adds a whole new palette (pun intended) to his choices of metaphors. Whether it’s black, blue, green, gold, purple, red, or white, each one has a symbolism for us, and thus, a means of communicating for God.
Some colors are simple, apparent equivalencies, such as blood-red or pure gold. Others are more complex and abstract, such as green, the color of life and growth, or purple—possibly having become symbolic of royalty in biblical times in the manufacture of the Phoenician dye, “Tyrian purple,” being painstakingly derived from a rare species of sea snail.
Let’s Start with No Color
When we look at the color black—okay, yes, actually a lack of color—we see that it is used metaphorically throughout scripture in some fascinating ways:
Other than the rare times it refers to black sheep, hair, or ravens, blackness—or darkness—is something to hide in or be hidden by (Job 12:22, Psalm 139:12). In other instances it represents the primordial chaos (Genesis 1:2). Other times it is something “sent” (Exodus 10:21), usually as punishment (Jeremiah 13:16, Matthew 8:12, 2 Peter 2:17, Jude 1:13).
Generally, darkness symbolizes a sense of mystery (Job 12:22), due to humanity’s inability to process sensory information without it. It can also represent sinfulness, evoke sorrow (Jeremiah 4:28), or denote confusion (1 John 2:11).
In both the Old and New Testaments, there are compounded versions of the word. That is, it is translated “blackest darkness” in the New Testament (2 Peter 2:17, Jude 1:13). It is translated “thick darkness” 36 times throughout the Old Testament, as in “thick darkness is over the people” (Isaiah 60:2, etc.).
Blackness/darkness appears to be the only color that is palpable and has a paralyzing—if not mortifying—effect on those surrounded by it (Exodus 10:21). It is a rare color that is symbolic of a condition or location. It is a color that can remove the ability to see (“the darkness has blinded them”). It is not simply that those individuals cannot see because it is dark. The darkness actually renders them blind—and apparently by choice (1 John 2:11).
Conquer It or Be Conquered By It
In both the Old and New Testaments, darkness has a power, in a way, and is represented as something to be dealt with, to be conquered (Genesis 1:2, Psalm 139:12, John 1:5). The Spirit of God either puts it in order, surmounts it, or banishes it—either in the act of creation or redemption (re-creation). On the other hand, God uses it as an agent of control or judgment. That is, disobedient, rebellious creatures—whether human or angelic—are banished into its realm and control (Matthew 8:12, 22:13).
For a word that implies no light, no color, it is certainly a formidable word throughout the Bible.