The color pink is not directly mentioned in Scripture. However, there are a few passages that may allude to the color pink indirectly through descriptions of flowers, fabrics, and dyes.
Flowers in Scripture
In Song of Solomon 2:1, the Beloved says “I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.” Roses often come in various shades of pink, so this reference to roses may imply the color pink.
In Isaiah 35:1, the prophet says the desert will “blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.” Blossoming flowers in the desert could potentially be pink in color.
Some Bible translations describe lilies in Song of Solomon as “lilies of the field” (NIV) or “lilies of the valleys” (ESV) in chapter 2 verse 1. Many lily varieties bear pink flowers, including Asiatic hybrid lilies and Easter lilies. So mentions of lilies in Scripture may be loosely connected to the color pink.
While we can’t say conclusively that these flower references are describing pink blooms, they leave open the possibility that pink flowers are indicated in these passages. The color and variety of flowers are simply not specified in enough detail to make a definitive link to the color pink.
Dyes and Fabrics
The Bible references various dyes and fabrics whose origins may imply pinkish hues. These include:
- Worm scarlet dye – Made from crushed kermes insects, this dye produced a red or pinkish color.
- Rose madder dye – Derived from the roots of the madder plant, this dye ranged in color from pink to purple to red.
- Fine twined linen – Linen thread was often dyed red using the kermes worm, potentially making the fabric pinkish.
- Purple or blue cloth – Purple and blue dyes were often derived from shellfish and produced a pink or reddish hue.
So while the words “pink” or “rose” are not used directly, there are clues that pinkish fabrics and dyes were known during Biblical times. But we can’t say for certain if the pink color itself was referenced in Scripture.
Symbolic Color Meanings
While pink is not named specifically, Biblical writers often attached symbolic meanings to colors. Red represented blood, sacrifice, courage, and redemption.
White stood for purity, righteousness, and joy. Purple/blue symbolized wealth, royalty, and nobility. Scarlet portrayed luxury and sin.
If pink had been identified as its own distinct hue, it may have inherited meanings from the red/purple/blue color families – things like passion, sacrifice, purity, wealth, extravagance. But because pink is the result of diluting and blending other pigments, it did not carry an independent symbolic color meaning in Scripture.
The Origin of the Word Pink
The word “pink” as a color name traces back to the 17th century. It comes from the flower name pinks, derived from the fringed edges of their petals. The name pinks referred to flowering plants in the genus Dianthus, commonly known as carnations. The verb “to pink” meant to decorate with holes or slots, again referencing the jagged edges of pinks’ petals.
So while pink flowers existed in Biblical times, the distinctive name “pink” emerged much later. This explains why the word is not found in ancient Scripture. By the time “pink” became its own color term, the canonical books of the Bible had already been written and accepted as holy texts.
Closest References to Pink
Though the specific word “pink” is never used, a few Bible passages contain descriptions that may conjure up pinkish hues in the reader’s imagination:
| Reference | Description |
| Song of Sol. 2:1 | A rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys |
| Song of Sol. 5:10 | My beloved is radiant and ruddy |
| Isaiah 1:18 | Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow |
| Jeremiah 4:30 | Though you dress in scarlet and put on jewelry of gold |
These suggestive details provide tantalizing hints about pink-hued objects. But pink is never directly addressed as its own distinct color in the Bible.
Why No Direct Mention of Pink?
Here are some possible reasons why the word “pink” does not appear in Scripture:
- Limited color vocabulary – Ancient Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic had fewer distinct color terms than modern languages.
- Focus on symbolic meaning – Biblical writers were often more concerned with symbolic color meanings than nuanced color shades.
- Pink’s late naming – “Pink” did not emerge as its own color name until the 17th century AD, long after the Bible was completed.
- Pink’s tertiary status – As a blend of red and white, pink lacked the primacy of primary/secondary colors.
- Women’s association – Pink’s delicate feminine connotations may have made it seem trivial, unworthy of Scripture.
- Few pink pigments – Organic pink dyes were rarer and more expensive than common colors like blues, blacks, and earth tones.
So while pink existed in the ancient world, linguistic, cultural, and practical factors likely prevented it from earning a distinct name and place in the canonical Scriptures.
Conclusion
In summary, the direct term “pink” does not appear in the Bible. But glimpses of pink may emerge through references to flowers, fabrics, dyes, and symbolic colors that imply similar hues. The authors of Scripture had limited cause to specifically describe pink objects or name pink outright as a distinct color.
Yet pink’s beauty and symbolism – purity, joy, femininity – have endeared it to generations. And Scripture’s masterful use of color and imagery lays a foundation that allows readers to envision pink where it remains unspoken.
