אַרְגָּמָן (ar.ga.man)
ar.ga.man
purple
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 34 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word argaman refers to purple, specifically the rich reddish-purple dye and the cloth made from it. In the ancient world this material was extremely valuable because the dye came from the murex shellfish found along the Mediterranean coast. The sources note that argaman describes both the color itself and the finished fabric, distinguishing it from tekhelet, which is a bluish purple dye also used in sacred contexts.
Its most frequent appearance is in Exodus, where God commands the Israelites to use argaman for the tabernacle curtains, priestly garments, and sacred vessels. This usage highlights its status as a luxury item reserved for holy purposes. Later texts like Esther 1:6 describe King Ahasuerus’s palace adorned with blue, white, and purple hangings, while Proverbs 31:22 mentions the virtuous woman making herself coverings of argaman.
The term appears in about thirty-four verses across the Old Testament. It carries connotations of royalty, wealth, and sacred beauty. Translators consistently render it as "purple," preserving its sense of preciousness without adding emotional or spiritual meanings beyond what the text explicitly states.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word argaman points to a fabric dyed in rich purple, a color so expensive in the ancient world that it marked royalty and sacred space. When God instructed Moses to weave this material into the tabernacle curtains and priestly garments, He was not merely describing a color choice. He was establishing a standard of beauty fit for His presence.
This detail invites us to consider how we treat the things set apart for God. The Israelites did not use cheap substitutes for the holy work; they brought the finest materials available. Similarly, our worship and service are called to reflect that same care and excellence, honoring God with our best efforts rather than settling for the ordinary.
Seeing purple in these texts reminds us that God values beauty and order. It is a visual promise that He dwells among His people in a way that is both holy and magnificent. We can trust that the Creator of such intricate detail cares about the quality of our lives and our devotion to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 34 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ purple25×
- the/ purple3×
- and/ in the/ purple2×
- purple wool1×
- purple cloth1×
- and/ the/ purple1×
- <the>/ purple1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אַרְגָּמָ֛ן13×
- וְ/אַרְגָּמָן֙4×
- וְ/אַרְגָּמָ֜ן3×
- וְ/אַרְגָּמָ֖ן2×
- הָֽ/אַרְגָּמָ֔ן2×
- וּ/בָֽ/אַרְגָּמָ֗ן1×
- וּ/בָֽ/אַרְגָּמָ֔ן1×
- וְ/הָֽ/אַרְגָּמָן֙1×
- וְ/אַרְגָּמָ֣ן1×
- וְ/אַרְגָּמָ֔ן1×
- וְ/אַרְגָּמָ֑ן1×
- הָֽ/אַרְגָּמָ֑ן1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 26:1
“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall make them with the work of a skillful workman.
This verse establishes purple as a primary component of the tabernacle's structure, showing it was essential for creating the sacred space where God would meet Israel.
-
Exodus 28:5
They shall use the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen.
Here the instruction to use purple specifically ties the color to the priestly garments, linking the dye directly to the mediation between God and the people.
-
Exodus 39:1
Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
This record of completion highlights that the priests' holy garments were made exclusively from these precious materials, fulfilling the divine command with exactness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does argaman mean in the Bible?
Why was purple so important in the tabernacle?
How is argaman different from other colors mentioned?
Every Occurrence (34 verses across 8 books)
Exodus 26 verses
blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
Exodus 26:1“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with…
Exodus 26:31“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of…
Exodus 26:36“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of…
Exodus 27:16For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen,…
Exodus 28:5They shall use the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen.
Exodus 28:6“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
Exodus 28:8The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, blue, purple,…
Exodus 28:15“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make…
Exodus 28:33On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, all around its hem; with bells of gold…
Exodus 35:6blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
Exodus 35:23Everyone with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides,…
Exodus 35:25All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun: the blue, the purple,…
Exodus 35:35He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and…
Exodus 36:8All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue,…
Exodus 36:35He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful…
Exodus 36:37He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;
Exodus 38:18The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.…
Exodus 38:23With him was Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skillful workman, and an…
Exodus 39:1Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy…
Exodus 39:2He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exodus 39:3They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in with the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and…
Exodus 39:5The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work: of gold, of…
Exodus 39:8He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet,…
Exodus 39:24They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen.
Exodus 39:29the sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as Yahweh commanded Moses.