The Spiritual Significance of the Color Yellow

[Study Aired December 7, 2025]

“The holy spirit teaches comparing spiritual with spiritual” (1Co 2:13).

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

We are going through colors in scripture, and we are seeing that colors, when mentioned in the scriptures, all have behind them a spiritual message and meaning. Our color we will examine today is the color yellow. There are two words which are translated as yellow in scripture. The first word is found three times in Leviticus 13:

Lev 13:30  Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow [H6669, ‘tsahob’, yellow] thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.

Lev 13:32  And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow [H6669, ‘tsahob’, yellow] hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;

Lev 13:36  Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow [H6669, ‘tsahob’, yellow] hair; he is unclean.

Here is Strong’s definition of this Hebrew word:

H6669
צָהֹב
tsâhôb
tsaw-obe’
From H6668; golden in color: – yellow.

Total KJV occurrences: 3

Here is the verse in Psalms where the other Hebrew word which is translated as ‘yellow’ appears:

Psa 68:13  Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow [H34:22 ‘yaraqraq’- yellowish green] gold.

It is instructive to note that in the three primary colors of a glass prism, the colors which signify the Lord’s work in the spirit realm, the combination of green and red produces yellow.

As with every word in scripture, this word ‘yellow’ has both a positive and a negative application. Today we will concern ourselves mainly with its negative application in the Word of God. The reason for this is that the positive application for this word translated as ‘yellow’ has as its root the Hebrew word for gold. We all know that ‘gold’ is generally given a positive connotation in God’s Word.

Exo 25:17  And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold [H2091, ‘gold or yellow’]: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Yellow is one of the three primary colors which signify the Lord’s work in the material realm. Those three primary colors are blue, red and yellow.

Here is Strong’s number and definition of the Hebrew word, H6669, ‘tsahob ‘yellow.’

H6669
tsa ho b
tsaw- obe’
From H6668; golden in color: – yellow.

How ‘Yellow’ Is Used In Scripture

Yellow is found in only four verses in scripture. The first three are in Leviticus where yellow is first found in reference to our spiritually dead and dying condition:

Lev 13:29 If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard;
Lev 13:30 Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow [H6669 – tsa hob tsaw- obe’] thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a dry scall, [even] a leprosy upon the head or beard.

Lev 13:32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow [H6669 – tsa hob tsaw- obe’] hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;
Lev 13:33 He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up [him that hath] the scall seven days more:
Lev 13:34 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, [if] the scall be not spread in the skin, nor [be] in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
Lev 13:35 But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;
Lev 13:36 Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he [is] unclean.
Lev 13:37 But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Who does ‘the priest’ signify, and what does this scall signify? Here is Webster’s definition of the old English word ‘scall’ which my google spell-check does not even recognize as a word:

Scall
SCALL, n. [See Scald and Scaldhead.]
Scab; scabbiness; leprosy.
It is a dry scall, even a leprosy on the head. Lev 13:30

The priest obviously signifies Christ and His Christ, and the ‘scall’ being a disease obviously signifies sin in the midst of the Lord’s body which must be taken out of His body.

The Spiritual Application of the Color Yellow

Here is the spiritual application of these verses in Leviticus 13 concerning the spread of leprosy in the camp of Israel:

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?  [Just as leprosy spreads through out the entire camp]
1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.
1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

What Is “The Spirit of Truth?”

“The spirit of Truth” is the serum that protects us from the poison of this spiritual leprosy. This phrase ‘spirit of truth’ appears four times in the New Testament. Those four times are very revealing in their connection with our subject, the color yellow and its spiritual meaning:

Joh 14:17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

How Can We Know Whether We Have This “Spirit of Truth?”

1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

“Us” is not just anyone who says that this “us” is their group. The only way you can know who this “us” is, is to realize that this “us” is speaking of those who are faithful to and abide in “the doctrine of Christ”:

1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

Now if “the words of our Lord Jesus Christ” to you means words which are “above what is written” then you are a ship adrift on a raging sea full of dangerous and destructive rocks and mountains just below the surface. You are there without the benefit of the rudder of “that which is written”:

1Co 4:6  Now these things, brothers, I applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us ye might learn not to think above that which is written, so that ye may not be puffed up, one over the one against the other. (ACV)

It is those who do “that which is written” who can say:

1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

We must never play mind games with God. Either we lay down our lives in obedience to Him or we ignore the things He says:

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

 If you are not scripturally oriented then you are at the mercy of anyone who points to the heavens and proclaims “Thus saith the Lord” because you have no way to “try that spirit to see whether it is of the Lord.”

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the [“same as the children – Heb 2:14] flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the [“same as the children”] flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. [That Christ “was made sin” was denied from the days of the apostle John.]
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6  We [Who do the things Christ says] are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

If we ‘do the things Christ says to do’ and if we are grounded only in “that which is written”, then we, too, can say with the apostle John that “he that knows God hears us.”

So the yellow and deadly doctrine of “the immaculate conception” in its many and varied forms continues and is accepted by the church world to this day. What we are admonished to do to avoid deception is about as popular with the church world as any of the other “doctrines of Christ.”

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house [spiritual “holy place”- priests are not to eat with Levites who are not chosen of God as priests], neither bid him God speed:

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

How little understood and much despised is this doctrine in the churches of Babylon which teach that today is the only day of salvation through a ten-second sinner’s prayer. All doctrines which conflict both with each other, and with the Word of God, are ‘yellow… leprous… leavened’ deadly false doctrine of “false prophets gone out into the world” and have spread like leaven and leprosy throughout all the camp of Israel. (1Jn 4:1).

The word ‘yellow’ appears one other time in the Bible outside of the book of Leviticus in the book of Psalms:

Psa 68:9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain [His Words and doctrines], whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it [we] was weary.
Psa 68:10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein [“that which is written”, (1Co 6:4)]: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Psa 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great [was] the company of those that published [it].
Psa 68:12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
Psa 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
Psa 68:14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was [white] as snow in Salmon.

This is, of course, a positive application of the color yellow, but this is an entirely different Hebrew word. The word translated ‘yellow’ here is:

H3422
yeraqraq
yer- ak- rak’
From the same as H3418; yellowishness: – greenish, yellow.

Here is how this word is translated in the King James Version:

Lev 13:49 And if the plague be greenish [yeraqraq -3422] or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it [is] a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest:

Lev 14:37 And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, [if] the plague [be] in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish [yeraqraq] or reddish, which in sight [are] lower than the wall;

The third and last time this word appears in the Old Testament is the verse in Psalms we have referenced above:

Psa 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow [yeraqraq – 3422] gold.

H3422, yeraqraq, which is translated “greenish” two out of three times, comes from the same as H3418. Here is Strong’s definition of H3418:

H3418
yereq
yeh’- rek
From H3417 (in the sense of vacuity of color); properly pallor, that is, hence the yellowish green of young and sickly vegetation; concretely verdure, that is, grass or vegetation: – grass, green (thing).

Here is how this word is translated in scripture:

Gen 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein [there is] life, [I have given] every green [Hebrew: 3418 – yereq] herb for meat: and it was so.

Gen 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

We covered this color ‘green’ in detail in our last three studies, but suffice this verse to indicate the significance of the color green at this time:

1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as [green] grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

Seeing this connection between the Hebrew root of the words for yellow, greenish yellow and gold has given me a new appreciation for the old saying that “all that glitters is not gold.”

The Purpose for “Greenish Yellow” in our Lives”

Before the flood mankind was not baptized and therefore could eat only green herbs and survive. Now, after baptism, “every moving thing that lives…” the meat of God’s word, even our enemies, can now be eaten and dealt with as nourishment which just yesterday would have choked us to death.

Num 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, [which were] of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
Num 14:7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, [is] an exceeding good land.
Num 14:8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
Num 14:9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD [is] with us: fear them not.
Num 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones.

Greenish Yellow is our Trials and Tests in This Life

Our greatest trials ought to be our most nourishing moments.

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh [being “under the law], but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: [not by the works of the law].

1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God [“That which is written” (1Co 4:6)] ; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1Pe 4:17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Yereq, Strong’s number 3418, comes from 3417 – yarak – which is:

Num 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam [became] leprous, [white] as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
Num 12:11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
Num 12:12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.
Num 12:13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
Num 12:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit [yarak-3417] in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
Num 12:15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

Deu 25:9 Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face [yarak-3417], and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.

This is what happens to all who rebel against God’s Word and who seek to bring their brothers linage to an end. It has the same end as eating with the Levites; both end up dying. That, again is the negative significance of the color yellow.

Lev 7:6 Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it [is] most holy.

Num 4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear [it]: but they shall not touch [any] holy thing, lest they die. These [things are] the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

How is this applied in our world today?

Col 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The ‘destruction of the flesh’ is a spiritual statement having to do with the destruction of the “mind of the flesh.”

1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner;  with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

“With such an one no not to eat” is the same as “let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again:”

2Co 2:6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
2Co 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
2Co 2:8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

“Punishment… sorrow… love toward him.” That is God’s formula for keeping “the leaven of the Pharisees” out of His church. It is right here in this same chapter of 1 Corinthians:

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

This is not even talking about what we today call ‘the Lord’s supper.” Neither is it talking about keeping the ‘Passover and the days of unleavened bread.’ ‘This is, rather, speaking of keeping fornication (primarily spiritual fornication) out of the midst of the people in whom God dwells.

Conclusion

Yellow signifies the dying condition of our flesh.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make [it].

This is the negative application of this word describing this primary color.

By following this word back to it very root, we arrive right back at a leprous condition where there is no spiritual growth, and the camp cannot move while ‘Miriam’ is in this incurable, deadly, diseased condition.

What is this deadly, “yellow”, incurable condition?

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

We are totally unaware that Adam was created into a “body of this death,” and we all come into this world in “the body of this death,” in a dying condition. We are all, at first, the living dead:

Mat 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Mat 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Luk 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Luk 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Remember that there is another word translated as yellow which has a positive application. I repeat: The word ‘yellow’ appears one other time in the Bible outside of the book of Leviticus in the book of Psalms:

Psa 68:9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
Psa 68:10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Psa 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great [was] the company of those that published [it].
Psa 68:12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
Psa 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
Psa 68:14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was [white] as snow in Salmon.

What is Christ’s inheritance?

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his [Christ’s] calling, and what the riches of the glory of his [Christ’s] inheritance in the saints,

That is what the scriptures teach. “Christ’s inheritance [is] in the saints.”

Who are these “poor” of Psalm 68:10?

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This is, of course, a positive application of the color yellow, but this is an entirely different Hebrew word. The word translated ‘yellow’ here is:

H3422
yeraqraq
yer- ak- rak’
From the same as H3418; yellowishness: – greenish, yellow.

H3422, yeraqraq, comes from the same as 3418. Here is Strong’s definition of 3418:

H3418
yereq
yeh’- rek
From H3417 (in the sense of vacuity of color); properly pallor, that is, hence the yellowish green of young and sickly vegetation; concretely verdure, that is, grass or vegetation: – grass, green (thing).

So we conclude this study noticing that yellow is closely associated with the color green. As any professional painter can tell you, green is the result of the mixing of blue (the things of heaven and of life) and yellow (our dying vessel of clay).

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen; [yellow – dying) vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God (heavenly – blue), and not of us.

Next study we will see the importance of the color black.

[by Tony Cullen – Aired November 26, 2015]

Psa 68:12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
Psa 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
Psa 68:14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
Psa 68:15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
Psa 68:16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

In tonight’s study, we will be looking at what God is doing with his gold (Hag 2:8, Psa 50:10) and how the purification of the saints is connected to this precious metal where God’s strength is perfected over time in weak earthen vessels that possess the treasure of His holy spirit within, making us sons and daughters (Rom 8:9) that He is bringing unto perfection through a process (2Co 4:7, 2Co 12:9, Heb 6:1).

The first 2 verses:

Psa 68:12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
Psa 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots(H82400), yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow(H3422) gold(H2742).

These first two verses describe the place we are “among the pots(H8240)” and then the place we end up because of the mercy of God.

We will divide the spiritual “spoil”, but must first lie among beasts who are there to remind us of what we are and how it is only by the grace and faith of Christ that we can grow to have “the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.”

Gold is symbolic of godly character in the positive use, and the gold that we see mentioned in verse 13 of our study (H2742) suggests that this is used and connected to actions like ‘threshing’ and other functions where there will be need for sharp, pointed ‘things’ to accomplish the actions for which the gold was fashioned. In this same verse we see the word “pots” which is defined as a double stall for cattle, and a two-pronged hook for flaying animals on. The Strong’s number used for “gold” connected to the gold of Ophir is (H3800) as opposed to (H2742).

H2742
חרץ חרוּץ
chârûts chârûts
khaw-roots’, khaw-roots’

Passive participle of H2782; properly incised or (active) incisive; hence (as noun masculine or feminine) a trench (as dug), gold (as mined), a threshing sledge (having sharp teeth); (figuratively) determination; also eager: – decision, diligent, (fine) gold, pointed things, sharp, threshing instrument, wall.

H3800
כּתם
kethem
keh’-them

From H3799; properly something carved out, that is, ore; hence gold (pure as originally mined): – ([most] fine, pure) gold (-en wedge).

H8240
שׁפת
Pots – shâphâth
shaw-fawth’

From H8239; a (double) stall (for cattle); also a (two pronged) hook (for flaying animals on): – hook, pot.

I want to mention the two places in scripture where the gold of Ophir is mentioned, to demonstrate how it is connected to the power of God upon the right hand, and connected to the elect who are the power of God’s right hand that will rule during the millennium, but only because God has mercifully put us through a refining process that has made us “more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir”.

Psa 45:9 Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

Isa 13:12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

H211
אופר אפיר אופיר
‘ôphı̂yr ‘ôphı̂yr ‘ôphir
o-feer’, o-feer’, o-feer’
Of uncertain derivation; Ophir, the name of a son of Joktan, and of a gold region in the East: – Ophir.(Mat 24:27, 2Th 2:8)

In order to become more precious than this gold, we must go through an evil experience “to humble them [us] by it” (Ecc 1:13 CLV). This experience will purify us and bring us to ascribe strength unto God as we thankfully worship him for calling us unto this process of being sanctified in this age. His spiritual strength is truly in the elect at this time, where he makes His strength perfect through our weakness (2Co 12:9), and we are learning to trust in God through these experiences and ascribe strength unto Him who works through the many joints that supply to the whole body of Christ (2Co 1:9).

The word “pots” (shâphâth) in our study is connected to the thought that God is working with beasts and that he is bringing us through a process to show us, and the world in due time, that he is the one making us anew as Christ works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:13). The word “pots” here is connected to ‘hooks’ and reminds us that our bodies are a living sacrifice (Rom_12:1), lambs for the slaughter or instruments of gold that have been fashioned in this life by God to witness of His power and might (Rom 12:1, Isa 53:7, Rom 8:36, 1Jn 4:17).

Pots H8240 (The root of this word is H8239 and means to be brought low)
שׁפת
shâphâth
Total KJV Occurrences: 2

hooks, 1
Eze 40:43
pots, 1
Psa 68:13

The root of this word “pot” is H8239, and is connected to the thought of being ‘reduced’ or ‘brought low’ as in this verse in Psalm 22 that could be translated with the word ‘reduced’ (which is the word used in its definition in Strong’s) or ‘bring me low’ as CLV translates, rather than the words “and thou have brought me into”:

Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd(H2789); and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought(H8239) me into the dust of death. (KJV)
Psa 22:15 My vigor is dried up like earthenware, And my tongue clings to my jaws; You bring me low (reduce)(H8239) to the soil of death.” (CLV)

H8239 – Strong’s: A primitive root; to locate that is (generally) hang on or (figuratively) establish reduce: – bring ordain set on.

Total KJV Occurrences: 5

brought, 1
Psa 22:15on, 3
2Ki 4:38; Eze 24:3(2)

ordain, 1
Isa 26:12

And to add to the sound pattern given to us in this word study, we are reminded by this word potsherd(H2789), defined in KJV as a broken piece of earthenware, also used in Pro 26:23:

Pro 26:23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd(H2789) covered with silver dross.

We are reminded of these verses in Jeremiah:

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

So we see again in these verses that is is only after we are broken or a created marred in the hand of the Potter “piece of earthenware” that we can receive the message of God’s sovereignty and that we have no free moral agency. God must prepare our hearts to receive this very strong meat that takes a lifetime to digest. It is through the holy, holy, holy process (“O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord” of Jer 22:29) that the flesh is destroyed and we become of the generation blessed to have no confidence in that flesh, this flesh which is simply the means to the end, but through that means, becoming more precious than the gold of Ophir (Php 3:3, Heb 3:14, 2Th 2:8).

Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand,.

The silver wings in our study tonight remind us that our growth and ability to be raised in heavenly places with those wings is a result of the goodness of God (his good pleasure; his strong desire) that leads us unto repentance.

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Repentance is connected to riches in this verse of Romans 2, and silver and gold are connected to the peace that we receive that passes all understanding as a result of God’s forbearance and longsuffering that lead us to desire the same things that He does (Php 4:7).

All the silver [H3701 kephesh = strong desire] and yellow (greenish(H3422)) gold belong to God, and are a free gift from our Father that He gives to the cherubim who surround the throne of God and represent the elect of God who become one in the Lord through silver wings of repentance that lead to the perfection of the gold wings that He has been perfecting in the body of Christ throughout the ages.

Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Isa 6:2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy [process], Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

These verses above demonstrate how it is only through Christ that we can be raised, just as Moses is a type of Christ who lifts up the serpent in the wilderness, which is a shadow of this time spoken of in Obadiah 1:21.

God specifically shows us the process of the Cherubims/seraphim who start in the garden of Eden and progress throughout the word of God until the book of Revelation reveals where they sing praise to God for the process that they have been blessed to be part of and that God has accomplished through them as He promised he would. It is indeed a “holy, holy, holy” process unto which we are called (Rev 4:8, 1Pe 1:16).

[See below for links to other studies connected to these concepts (yellow, silver, gold)]

Psa 68:14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
Psa 68:15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
Psa 68:16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

Our enemies are being scattered both within and without as we discussed a few weeks back, and God has purposed for all men to hate us both within and without (Mat 10:22, Rev 12:11, Mar 10:18) seeing all the sin of the world is within us and without (1Jn 2:15-16).

It is in knowing what flesh is that we can understand how we can be hated by all men for His name’s sake, and through Christ come to overtake these spirits that want to dominate our thinking and lives. It is a process of overcoming these spirits as these verses demonstrate (Joh 14:11, 1Co 4:7, Dan 3:20, Exo 23:30).

The word “Salmon” (H6756) means shadow or figure or idol and a shadow consists of some light, but some light is blocked by the physical that is yet in the way of the sun (Mal 4:2), that of course is us now, but the time will come when (Rev 21:23) there will be no need for the sun or moon, because we will see him as He is (1Co 13:12). We know that in that day that Christ spoke of when we know that we are in Christ and Christ is in the Father (Joh 14:20, 1Co 3:16) is also a shadow and an earnest relationship (Eph 1:14) that is yet to experience the fulness that will occur when we are changed in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye (1Co 15:52).

So the question is asked “why leap ye, ye high hills?”, or why do you glory, “as if thou hadst not received it?” because that is what lambs do, they leap because anon with joy they receive the word (Mat 13:20, Luk 19:39-40). However, as we mature we ascribe strength unto God more and more as we decrease and He increases. It is His strength that is being perfected in the clouds.

It is the elect who are being scattered today as a little flock that is scattered around the world (Exo 5:12, Jer 50:17, Luk 12:32, Mat 5:13, Jer 23:3)

In our study tonight we can make a very encouraging correlation with the word “scattered” (H6566) mentioned in verse 14 after having talked about gold and what the end result of gathering that scattered gold produces.

Exo 37:9 And the cherubims spread out(H6566) [H8802] their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims.

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The actions of all mankind witness how we are beasts (sheep) scattered by the Shepherd (Joh 2:15). We live this experience of being scattered, and, God willing, we are gathered in this age by a merciful God who is creating a ministry of reconciliation which will be used to shepherd in the rest of God’s creation, each man in his order (2Co 5:18-19, Rev 15:8, Rev 4:10, 1Co 15:23).

Deu 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

Isa 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

Next week, Lord willing, we will see once again the many symbols that God has given us in his word to encourage us of the certainty of the process he has called us unto as we learn to “Ascribe ye strength unto God: [because] his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds”.

For more information on the colour yellow and metals gold and silver:

The Spiritual Significance of Colors In Scripture (The Color Yellow)
Precious Metals In Scripture – Gold (Positive Application) – Part 1
Precious Metals In Scripture – Gold (Positive Application) – Part 2
Precious Metals In Scripture – Silver (Negative Application) – Part 2

Audio Links

The Spiritual Significance of Colors in Scripture – The Color Green, Part 3

We are still on the color green, but we will be dealing this week with the spiritual meaning of the color green in its positive application. We have covered how it’s the combination of yellow and blue that form what each of those stands for, so we can determine the meaning of the color green.

Someone might say “where is scripture do you find there are three primary colors?” I don’t get that in scripture but by observing ‘nature’. It’s like saying “where in scripture does it say a lion kills animals?” While we do see in scripture where lions have killed, the whole concept is one of observation, and you know what it’s talking about.

We have heard the lion called the king of beasts. You won’t find that phrase ‘king of beasts’ in the bible, yet Christ is called the lion of the tribe of Judah simply because He is a king.

God tells us clearly in Romans 1 that the invisible things of Him are seen by the things He has created.

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

That’s how we can look at the three primary colors and deduce from them what the significance of each color is. When you are told in scripture that yellow has to do with leprosy, and that blue has to do with the holy things of the temple, the holy spirit will give you the ability to see that when those two come together, it is speaking of the spirit working with the flesh.

In the book of Revelation and throughout the Word of God, there is a positive and a negative application for virtually every word in the book. The book of Revelation is where we saw this clearly as far as the color green is concerned. The positive application was don’t hurt any green tree or grass but only those men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Rev 9:4  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

In chapter 3 we are told all the green grass was destroyed, so you have a negative and a positive application right there close to each other. If you don’t understand this positive and negative principle, you will read through the bible and think there are many contradictions in it. There are no contradictions, only negative and positive applications. If you keep that in mind, you will have a key to understanding scripture that few people know.

Even as we look at the color green and its negative application, it becomes apparent it is a necessary evil.

As when talking about flesh – flesh is no good, yet that is what we all are. We are all no good, but it is necessary. The bible tells us no man yet hated his own flesh, yet as Paul says, there is no good thing in our flesh, why do we cherish it so much then?

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:…

We cherish our flesh because we must live with it. So when you see examples in scripture such as Abraham making a treaty with Abimelech, who was a Philistine king, Jacob making a treaty with Laban that they will not hurt each other, that is the spirit working with the flesh.

However, we don’t go around mutilating our bodies just because in our flesh is no good thing. We learn to live with our flesh and dominate it and not allow its dominion over us.

That’s how we can understand what the bible means when God creates a serpent, a flesh and blood man and woman, a tree of the knowledge of good and evil and proclaims them all very good.

Gen 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The Catholics need to consider that when they diminish the importance of sex. Sex has an important place in the human existence as we wouldn’t be here without it. Sex is very good in its place. Husbands and wives certainly should have sex. In most cases, barring an illness for instance, if they are not having sex, they do not have a marriage.

So everything has a positive application, but everything also has a negative application. This knowledge gives us a perspective on life that we wouldn’t otherwise have. People read scriptures that are talking down on something, then view it all as negative. I received a letter telling me I’m crazy for thinking there is a negative application to the color green. The letter said “don’t you know the tree of life is green?!” Of course, the tree of life is green.

The tree of life was right there with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They are both green – they are trees. That is a positive application of the color green. This week’s study is on the positive application.

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

All that comes after those verses is part of living in green pastures.

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Our fleshly bodies are the valley of the shadow of death.

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

There is another psalm using the word green again. This psalm has to do with Doeg, the Edomite who killed all the priests of God when he saw they had given David the shewbread to keep them from being hungry. He had told King Saul about it, and King Saul sent him back to kill all the priests.

Psa 52:8  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
Psa 52:9  I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

David goes on to contrast himself with the Edomite, Doeg, whose name will be wiped out. He says “I am like a green olive tree”, and this is a good thing, not a bad thing. Fruit trees in scripture represent those who bring forth good. There are also trees that are what brings forth bad things as they have no fruit on them at all. However, an olive tree brings forth fruit and it is used quite a bit in scripture.

Here’s a scripture representing Christ in the eyes of His elect. The Song of Solomon is sometimes not easy to read in mixed company as it is such an intimate and plainly spoken portrayal of Christ and His church.

Son 1:16  Behold, thou art fair, my beloved [speaking of Christ], yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.

Son 2:10  My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Son 2:11  For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

With Winter past, things will turn green.

Son 2:12  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle [dove] is heard in our land;
Son 2:13  The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

This is how we ought to think of Christ. This is how everything is when you are in love. When you are dating Mr. or Miss Right just being with him/her makes everything seem like Spring. Everything seems green even if it is the dead of Winter. Everything is wonderful when your love is there.

That’s how we should be viewing Christ. That’s how the bible portrays our relationship with Christ.

Paul makes it clear in Ephesians 5 that is how marriage portrays Christ and the church.

Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

In Jeremiah 11 we have the elect as they appear in the eyes of Christ. It is amazing how He brings green back into it.

Jer 11:16  The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

Jer 17:7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Jer 17:8  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Rev 9:4  And it was commanded them [the locusts out of the bottomless pit] that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

These locusts which eat up every green thing do not eat up God’s elect in this positive application. They blot out the light of the sun with their vast number (vs 16). They are two hundred million false doctrines that blot out the light of the truth of God’s word, yet they can’t touch God’s elect.

Why not? Because God’s elect know the truth. They know Jesus Christ, what He is and what He thinks. He is their Love. They want to know about Him, how He thinks, how His mind works because they want to think like Him.

A good wife [type of the church] lines her thinking up with her husband’s – provided she has a good husband, of course. She doesn’t have a way of thinking which is contrary to her good husband’s line of thinking. When we line up with Christ’s way of thinking, all the false doctrines of the world will be just like water running off a duck’s back. This is the positive application of the color green.

The exact opposite is shown in Revelation 8:7.

Rev 8:7  The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

This is people who do not have the seal of God. It is not a contradiction but a dual usage of words. Christ is the lion of the tribe of Judah, but Satan is also a lion who goes forth seeking whom he may devour.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Here is the negative application of lion…

Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

And the positive…

Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

With those verses we can see a lion in both the good and bad application. All they demonstrate is that words have both a positive and a negative application. This has nothing to do with green, but it does demonstrate how we can see green in both applications.

Trees are seen throughout the bible, and there are a lot of positive applications. We need to know how God views trees.

Gen 1:11  And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

Fruit trees bring forth fruit. What is God telling us there? God begins with green herbs first for fruit. That is one thing He is telling us there.

Gen 1:29  And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

He didn’t give them animals to eat at this point. After baptism, as after the flood of Noah, we get to eat meat. Peter tells us the flood of Noah is a type of baptism.

1Pe 3:20  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Gen 9:1  And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
Gen 9:2  And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
Gen 9:3  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Notice God didn’t say “in place of the green herb”; He said “even as the green herb…”.

Gen 2:9  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life [this is Christ] also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

It’s still true herbs and fruit are good for food. Everything came out of the ground, and when you say Jesus Christ had no connection to the flesh, you are denying this very principle here. He came right out of the ground, and the word ‘ground’ is Adam – adamah. The tree of life also came out of the ground.

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Cherubim keeping the way of life is the same thing as saying the priesthood in Leviticus must not allow the Levites to touch the holy things. Don’t allow the Levites to eat the holy food in the holy place. Levites pollute the holy things. What are the holy things? They are the mind and thoughts and doctrines of Christ. None of the churches of the world see that. They believe we should all come together with all our conflicting beliefs and be one ecumenical movement. God will have nothing to do with it.

The fact Christ comes out of the ground speaks volumes of who Christ is. He is the true tree of life. When you know the tree of life came out of the same ground out of which Adam was taken, you know who Christ is.

We are not told we stop eating herbs and replace them with meat. We are told we are adding meat along with the herbs we already eat. Now we are able to be nourished by both green herbs and “every moving thing” – strong meat.

We will see how trees and green things are used in scripture to shade us from the heat of the sun. There was no air conditioning in the Old Testament or New Testament times. Trees were used for shade for mankind. Shade from the hot sun can come from either a fruit bearing or nonbearing tree.

The Lord appeared to Abraham just before He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

Gen 18:1  And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
Gen 18:2  And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
Gen 18:3  And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
Gen 18:4  Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

Gen 18:8  And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Abraham was giving his guests the very best place he could, and that place was under a tree. Inside the tent would not have been as cool as air circulation would not have been as good.

1Ki 4:25  And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

Being under a tree is a comfortable place to be in Old Testament terms. One may say “wait, isn’t the sun a type of the truth of God?” Yes, it is. The sun is Jesus Christ.

1Ki 19:4  But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
1Ki 19:5  And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

This is Elijah after he had just slain 400 prophets of Baal, after calling fire down from heaven. He had told them to pray to their gods, and he would pray to his God and whichever god answered they would know that was the true God.

1Ki 18:24  And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

1Ki 18:37  Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
1Ki 18:38  Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

Nothing had happened for the hours the priests of Baal spent praying to their gods and even cutting themselves in an attempt for their prayers to be answered. Elijah even poured water all over his offering, but as soon as he prayed, God sent down fired to burn up Elijah’s offering. Under God’s direction, he killed all 400 of the false prophets.

Upon hearing from Ahab what Elijah had done, Jezebel sent a death threat to Elijah at which he ran for his life into the wilderness. As we just read, he sat under a juniper tree begging God to take his life.

After facing the 400 priests and seeing God’s miraculous answer to his prayer, he still feared Jezebel. We can’t think badly of Elijah though as it is speaking of you and me. We can see God’s hand running the affairs of this world, and we know just what He is capable of performing, yet when we have a trial, we panic. Our faith is just not strong enough. All that happened to Elijah is written for our admonition so we would know what these things all mean.

Exo 15:23  And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
Exo 15:24  And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

This bitter water will kill you. The false doctrines of the world will kill you. Israel is green. They are being worked with by God. They knew this water was killing them and cried out for God’s intervention.

Exo 15:25  And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

What did He prove about them? He proved they didn’t have any faith. To prove someone is to show what they are. God already knows what we are. He is proving us to ourselves.

Lev 27:30  And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.

If you are beginning to get the picture here, you can now see trees are men. We give shade to those babes in Christ. We don’t just dump all the meat of God’s word on an immature christian. Everything we are and have is the Lord’s.

Deu 21:22  And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
Deu 21:23  His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

These scriptures are telling us we are guilty of the death of Christ. It is through the curse of Christ hanging on the tree that we are purified.

It does seem contradictory that someone who has done nothing worthy of death is accursed of God. It is through dying, rotting flesh that life comes. It seems to be the exact opposite of what would be true, but that’s the way God has ordained it.

Deu 24:20  When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

The olive trees were beaten to make the olives drop for harvest, but some were to be left on the trees for the needy.

What is that verse telling us? It is saying that all we have is of God, and we give our lives in service to God, but in so doing we serve our fellow man. You serve God when you serve your brother.

Jdg 9:8  The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

This parable is being put forth by the only remaining son of Gideon, who was also called Jerubbaal and who had judged Israel and delivered them from the Midianites.
Israel had been vastly outnumbered by the Midianites, but God led 300 of Gideon’s men to conquer a huge number of Midianites when He put such fear into them at the sound of Gideon’s men blowing their horns that they thought they were under attack in the night and ended up killing each other. The spoil of gold became Gideon’s, which made him a wealthy man. As polygamy was allowed under the old covenant, Gideon ended up with 70 sons.

One of these sons was born to Gideon by a concubine, and he grew up wanting to be king of Israel and declared himself king. He talked his mother and family into ‘campaigning’ for his kingship. Afterward he killed all his brothers except for the youngest, Jotham, who hid himself and gave us this parable.

Jdg 9:8  The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
Jdg 9:9  But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

This verse tells us what God means by the olive tree. It honors God and man with its oil and with the olives themselves.

Jdg 9:10  And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
Jdg 9:11  But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Figs taste good. In the old days they were like eating candy.

Jdg 9:12  Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
Jdg 9:13  And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

How does wine cheer God? Does God need wine to be cheered up? Christ said the cup of wine represented the new testament.

Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Finally the trees come to the bramble, and it takes them up on it.

Jdg 9:14  Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
Jdg 9:15  And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

The bramble represents Abimelech who wanted to be king over Israel. He was a lowly briar which thought to rule over the cedars of Lebanon. What was the fire that destroyed the trees?

The fire was civil war in Shechem. Abimelech’s own people turned on him and killed him. That’s the definition of fire in this particular story. Fire burns everything in its way.

What you should see in all of this is that trees are men. Different trees represent different stages in our growth. Even in the new testament this is made known to us.

Mar 8:22  And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. [We all start out spiritually blind.]
Mar 8:23  And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
Mar 8:24  And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
Mar 8:25  After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. [God makes us to understand His word and His will more clearly as time goes on.]

We are told how to judge a person…by their actions, their fruits; not talking about literal trees.

Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them [false prophets] by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Trees as Types of God’s Elect

Jer 11:19  But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Time after time we are told what these trees stand for. Trees planted by the water are a type of God’s elect.

Psa 52:8  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

Psa 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

What are cedar trees? What are palm trees? They are righteous men. This doesn’t mean they are necessarily spiritually good, but they are good men. We have Job as an example.

Job 1:1  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job was a righteous man. He was a cedar of Lebanon, but he didn’t have the fruit of the spirit.

God doesn’t always use unrighteous men to deceive the world; He uses righteous men – good people, respectable, honorable men of whom the whole world speaks well. Billy Graham and the Pope are both cedars of Lebanon, but they don’t have one bit of the holy spirit. They are not fruit trees.

Jer 17:7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Jer 17:8  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

This is a tree planted by waters, a good tree yielding fruit. Let’s see what trees have to do with the temple of God. What is the temple of God? The body of Christ as a church corporately and each member individually.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

With that in mind, let’s read:

1Ki 6:23  And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.

Remember this not the tabernacle but the temple.

The side posts, the pillars of the tabernacle, are God’s elect. The only pillars were at the door of the tabernacle and the door of the holy of holies. The cherubim acted as the channel to get to God. What is that telling us? Christ said no one comes to God but by Him. As the christ of Christ, we are used as that channel by which God saves all mankind. That’s how important our function is (Rom 11:31).

Trees in The Temple of God

1Ki 6:31  And for the entering of the oracle [the door of the holy of holies] he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.

What does Revelation tell us about olive trees?

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

The two witnesses are the two olive trees. This is not just two men but God’s people down through the ages through whom all mankind must come. The two doors of the temple are olive trees. The light which poured forth out of the candlestick is God’s word poured out. We must want to share these truths with others or we are not getting it at all.

1Ki 6:32  The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.

Cherubim and palm trees are on the door that leads to God. Cherubim represent the elect. How do we know? They tell us in Revelation 5.

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Palm trees are the same thing; those who bring mankind to Christ.

1Ki 6:33  So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.

The door of the temple is not the same as the doors of the oracle. The doors of the oracle lead to the holy of holies.

1Ki 6:34  And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

Fir trees are not fruit trees, but they can still by used by God when they have been cut down and cut up.

1Ki 6:35  And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.

Cherubim and palm trees are on both doors that lead to God. That gold fitted upon the carved work is beaten so thin it only needs to be rubbed on.

1Ki 6:36  And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.

2Ch 3:5  And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.

Fine gold, palm trees and chains were on the ceiling of God’s house.

Men as Trees

Eze 20:45  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 20:46  Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
Eze 20:47  And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

Who is God talking to when he is talking to a forest? He is talking to men. This is a negative application of trees, but it shows trees are men in symbol. This tree needs to be burned up.

Eze 20:48  And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
Eze 20:49  Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

Yes, it’s a parable – trees are men.

Dan 4:9  O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
Dan 4:10  Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
Dan 4:12  The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
Dan 4:13  I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
Dan 4:14  He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
Dan 4:15  Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
Dan 4:16  Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

This particular tree of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was Nebuchadnezzar himself. Daniel is explaining to him that Nebuchadnezzar will lose his mind for seven years and be sent to the field to eat grass like an ox. Yet after that time he will return and get back his kingdom.

Hos 14:5  I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
Hos 14:6  His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

These verses in Hosea show a positive application to trees.

Mat 3:10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees [men who don’t produce good fruit]: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits [because men are trees]. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

When you hear a minister saying to go fight for your country, he is not bringing forth good fruit. He can’t because he is a corrupt tree.

Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

You don’t know them by their lofty sermons or their miracles, but rather do they adhere to the doctrines of Christ.

Rev 9:4  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

The Tree of Life

Gen 2:9  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Those cherubim represent God’s elect as we have reiterated before. These are those who love God’s mind, who are impressed with God’s mind and love it.

Listen to all these scriptures that talk about the tree of life.

Pro 3:13  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom [Christ], and the man that getteth understanding.
Pro 3:14  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Pro 3:15  She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her [wisdom – Christ].

Christ is her [wisdom] because He is God’s wife as well as His Son, and we are Christ’s wife as well as his sons.

Pro 3:16  Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Pro 3:17  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Pro 3:18  She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Pro 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Talking about men again who are olive trees and a tree of life to those who are brought to God through those men.

Pro 15:4  A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Watch what comes out of your mouth! Don’t let it be perverse.

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

If you see that through your mercy people will obtain mercy this will be understood by you. It is impossible for the natural man to understand how a tree can be in the midst and on either side and that the cherubim are in the midst of the throne and also round about it. We are in Him, He is in us and He is in His Father – that’s what is being said.

The fruit of righteousness is the tree of life, and Christ is the tree of life. It’s talking about the fruit of righteousness in our lives.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment [which we are in – 1Pe 4:17]: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Conclusion of Green – Both Negative and Positive

Green is associated with a process which involves the work of the Spirit on the flesh, a dying vessel of clay. Green is associated with death because it is the combination of yellow and blue. Yellow is leprosy which consumes human flesh. Blue is associated with things of the spirit, in the heavens.

But green is not intended to be anything but green. Like yellow it can’t inherit the kingdom of God. Green is positive inasmuch as it brings us to the blue. Green is negative as it is associated with the flesh which cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

On the positive side, green identifies with those who have the seal of God in their foreheads. Green typifies God’s elect, green typifies the tree of life, and all who are ‘in Him’ as saviors of mankind.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Green is shade from the burning sun, green is spiritual growth – God working in mankind.

Audio Links

Introduction

As we noted last week in studying gold’s negative application in scripture, there are several words that are translated into the English word gold. I had briefly looked ahead and had noted two more Hebrew words. I want to thank Stephen Morris for his assistance in this week’s study. Stephen sent me an e-mail noting that there are actually seven words translated as gold. I will quote Stephen’s letter.

“I looked at gold this morning and actually found more than two other Hebrew words used as gold. Maybe this will be of some help to you in your study.

The first and most prevalent: zahab – the one for gold you have already discussed

Second: dehab – found in Ezra and Daniel only – ex. Dan 3.1

(this one is actually Aramaic and probably related to the one above – zahab)

Third: harus – found mostly in Proverbs – ex. Prov. 16.16

Fourth: ketem – gold tried in the fire? (Ophir) – ex.   Job 28.16

Fifth: paz- probably means pure but translated as fine (pure) gold – ex. Psa 21.3

Sixth: beser – only found in Job 22.24 and 22.25 same word translated defense

Seventh: segowr – only once Job 28.15 – probably impure gold  see contrast in 28.16

Thanks for all the work you have put into looking up these words and giving me all these examples,

Stephen.”

The positive application of the color yellow, gold, and the “hidden wisdom” of God’s Word.

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

The very fact that it takes 6000 pounds of gold ore to get one ounce of pure gold should tell us just how precious God’s elect are to Him:

Deu 32:9  For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
Deu 32:10  He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

When we were covering the spiritual significance of colors in scripture, I told you that we would cover the positive application of the color yellow when we got into the metals, simply because the Hebrew word for yellow, in its positive application, is also a word translated gold. It is the Hebrew word ‘yeraqraq‘. Here is where that word is translated as the color ‘yellow’, and this is where ‘yellow’, a word which is generally used as a type of sin in the flesh, is also given a positive application in scripture.

Psa 68:13  Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

Now, for the sake of understanding the mind of God, let’s briefly review yellow’s negative application. The word yellow is in the scripture very few times. It isn’t that long a study to determine what this color generally connotes in God’s Word. For example:

Lev 13:30  Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.

The word translated ‘yellow’ in this verse is the Hebrew word, tsa ho b, Strong’s number H6669, pronounced tsaw- obe’. According to James Strong, this word comes from H6668 tsa hab pronounced tsaw- hab’; meaning golden in color: – yellow.

Leprosy was not that uncommon in the Middle East and in ancient Israel. The yellow hair was there in the leprosy for any and all to see. It was not a green hair; it was a yellow hair.

We now have another Hebrew word used by the holy spirit to describe the color of gold:

Psa 68:13  Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

The word ‘yellow’ here is H3422, yeraqraq. This word appears a total of 3 times in all of the Old Tesatament. It is translated as greenish twice – Lev 13:49, Lev 14:37 and yellow once – Psa 68:13, quoted above.

It should be obvious that both tsahob and yeraqraq mean yellow as in a “yellow thin hair” in a leprous skin and as the color of “yellow gold” respectively. While it is possible with today’s alloys to debase gold and make a green gold, that certainly is not the meaning of Psalm 68:13. Nevertheless, the translators of the King James Bible have seen fit to translate this same word, yeraqraq, as ‘greenish’ in these two verses:

Lev 13:49  And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest:

We were just told in the thirtieth verse of this same chapter that if the hair of the skin were yellow; “if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.”

Here is the only other entry for this word in scripture:

Lev 14:37  And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall;

I have made it very clear that I am not a Hebrew scholar. Neither am I unable to reason however. It is clear that the hair in the leprosy is yellow. It isn’t a green hair. You don’t have to be a scholar to see that. It is also very clear that gold is yellow. Gold is not green. So why would these Hebrew scholars choose to translate ‘yeraqraq‘ speaking of “anything of the skin” as “greenish”? If any Hebrew scholar out there can answer that very logical question, I would love to hear from you. I notice that Rotherham apparently had the same observation that I have had. Here is the REV tranlation of that verse. He simply adds the word ‘yellow’ to the King James ‘greenish:’

Lev 14:37 then shall he view the mark and lo! if the mark is in the walls of the house, with sunken places greenish yellow or reddish, – and they appear to be lower than the surface of the wall,

I mention all of this just to demonstrate that faith in God’s cryptic Word does not require that we check our brains and our logic at the door when we come to God’s word with an open and teachable mind. Faith is confidence in things that are not seen, but is not confidence in things that cannot be demonstrated by His Word.

Rom 3:3  For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God [God’s Word] be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:1  Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. (ASV)

That “assurance” is the Word of God.

Throughout our studies we have seen time and time again how every word of God’s Word has both a positive and a negative application. It is this simple Truth that has so effectively blinded and deceived the whole world.

So once again, here with the positive and negative applications of the color yellow, and with the positive and the negative applications of the metal gold, we have two more examples of how God’s cryptography is applied in scripture so that only His elect can see and accept the Truths that are before them.

The military of every major country on earth has cryptographers who can crack any code contrived by man. Yet these highly trained and highly intelligent men have never been able to decipher the parables of scripture and tell you why Christ spoke in parables or why the single pillar at the Red Sea was complete darkness on one side and a bright fire, like the sun in the middle of the day, on the other side. Here is the only way God’s cryptography can be ‘cracked’ and understood:

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

It seems impossible to the natural man, but only moments later Christ is calling this same “Blessed… Simon Barjona,” Satan. Look at the next few verses:

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 16:20  Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

This is a perfect example of what God does with His malleable, ductile gold. Peter was capable of being beaten into a seraphim, a serpent, right after being told that he was being given the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Peter is a type of all God’s elect. We are all the “seed of the serpent… of our father the devil,” before we become “disciples indeed.”

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:37  I know that ye [Jews which believe on me] are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:43  Why do ye [“Jews (Christians) which believe on me”] not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

We have seen how the positive application of the spiritual significance of the color yellow is used in scripture, and that it is expressed with a word that is also translated as gold. We have also seen that God’s word is encrypted in parables which the world’s best cryptologists will never be able to decode, and yet it has been given to the poor of this world, the uneducated in this world and the weak of this world to decode and understand the parables of God’s Word.

We have also been reminded that gold is precious to God for the same reason it is precious to us. Gold is rare, it is malleable and ductile, uncorruptible, untarnished and beautiful.

Next week we will take a  brief look at each of the seven Hebrew words for gold, and we will see what the spirit has to show us.

Animals in Scripture – Wolves

[Study Aired April 7, 2008]

Introduction

Like every word of Scripture, the creatures of God’s Word have nothing at all to do with their spiritual counterparts, except as they are used to show us the mind of God concerning the “things of the spirit.” In scripture, like so many of the creatures of scripture, wolves have a generally negative application which helps us to see the different aspects of the beast which we all are. We are not one beast versus another. Rather, the book of Revelation has given us to understand that all of the beasts of Daniel are all really just types of one single beast with the heads of all the beasts mentioned in Daniel. In other words, we are brought by the sum of God’s word to see that we “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Dan 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Dan 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Dan 7:4 The first [was] like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
Dan 7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and [it had] three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Dan 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
Dan 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

When we come to understand the principle Christ reveals of “living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” it becomes clear why the beast of Revelation just happens to have all the same qualities of the four beasts of Daniel 7. When we see that we “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”, it becomes clear that all of those consecutive kingdoms of Daniel are alive and well within each of us.

This is not just true of these four kingdoms. It is also true of all of the people of the Old Testament. When we see that we “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”, we find that we have within each of us Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Enoch and those seeking his life, Noah and those who laughed at and belittled his message, Abraham and Pharaoh, Isaac and Abimelech, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and His brothers, etc. etc.

We are brought to see that within us are Moses and Pharaoh, Moses and Korah, those who died in the wilderness, and those who entered into the land, all of the judges and their adversaries, all of the kings of both Judah and Israel, all of the prophets and all those to whom they were sent as witnesses.

In the New Testament we see that within we are both the Christ and those who seek His life and the life of His Christ. All of God’s word is about the good news of the kingdom of God, and when our eyes are opened and we are given ears that can hear, we finally come to see that “the kingdom of God is within you.”

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

What just so happens to be the subject of every one of Christ’s parables?

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

Christ’s parables hide from the multitudes “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” ‘It is not given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven… which is within you.’

The part of that mystery with which we are concerned today is the spiritual function of a wolf, which wolf we all are in our appointed time.

The positive application of a wolf in scripture

Like “the lion of the tribe of Judah”, a wolf is of great spiritual value if it is ravening over our flesh, devouring our flesh and bringing us to the destruction of that beast within. As we have seen before, Joseph gave his brother Benjamin most favored brother status when he revealed himself to his brothers:

Gen 45:22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred [pieces] of silver, and five changes of raiment.

Thus Benjamin represents God’s most favored elect, as demonstrated in Genesis 49 where Jacob, in blessing each of his sons, has this to say about Benjamin:

Gen 49:27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

God’s elect are His channel for the destruction of all flesh in the symbolic “lake of fire”. It is God’s elect who “shall ravin as a wolf” over the flesh and all that appeals to this world.

The negative application of a wolf or wolves

It is also wolves which ‘ravin’ over God’s elect. Just for the sake of clarity, here is Webster’s definition of ‘ravening.’

RAV’ENING, ppr. Preying with rapacity; voraciously devouring; as a ravening wolf.
RAV’ENING, n. Eagerness for plunder.

As the scriptures affirm:

Eze 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
Eze 22:27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves [zeeb: H2061] ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
Eze 22:28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
Eze 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Eze 22:31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Spiritual wolves “place no difference between the clean and the unclean… say thus saith the Lord God, When the Lord hath not spoken.” Spiritual wolves use oppresion, exercise robbery, vex the poor and needy, and oppress the stranger wrongfully.”

If we think that one word of these prophecies is for that Pharisee over there or that Babylonian minister out there deceiving so many people, with absolutely no personal application either now or ever, then we don’t even know to whom these prophecies are addressed.

Zep 1:4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;

All of God’s people “come out of Babylon”, and Babylon is “that great city wherein our Lord was crucified”. That is “the oppressing city”.

Zep 3:1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
Zep 3:2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
Zep 3:3 Her princes within her [are] roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
Zep 3:4 Her prophets [are] light [and] treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

I cannot tell you what a revelation it was when I came to see that the “great city wherein our Lord was crucified” was the same city as “that great city which rules over the kings of the earth… the great harlot who rules over the kings of the earth.”

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Rev 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Can any of us deny that the great city “where also our Lord was crucified” is within each of us? Did not we crucify our Lord? Did He not die for our sins?

Zep 3:1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
Zep 3:3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
Zep 3:4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

Wolves and the color yellow

The Hebrew word translated ‘wolf and wolves’ is:

H2061
ze’e b
zeh- abe’
From an unused root meaning to be yellow; a wolf: – wolf.

Jer 5:6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf [H2061: zeeb] of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

What is the Hebrew word for yellow?

H6669
tsa ho b
tsaw- obe’
From H6668; golden in color: – yellow.

Lev 13:30 Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow [H666: tsahob] thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.

The holy spirit connects “a wolf of the evenings” with the “yellow hair” associated with leprosy.

Wolves in the New Testament

G3074
λυκος
lukos
loo’- kos

The word is a Greek word, but the spiritual meaning and function are the same:

Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

The ‘wolves’ of verse 16 are the ‘men’ of verse 17, who “will deliver you up to councils (Greek: sanhedrins – church councils),” where God’s elect are “scourged in their synagogues”.

Joh 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Spiritual wolves ‘catch and devour and scatter the sheep.’

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

“Ravening wolves” are all false prophets, and all false prophets are ravening wolves. A minister does not need to strip you of your physical possessions to destroy and devour you spiritually.

Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

We have all been grievous wolves, not sparing the flock, ravening over the prey, as we lived by and taught false doctrines in our own “appointed time”.

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Conclusion

I hope none of us have heard or read this study and have come away thinking how fortunate we are never to have been a ravening wolf, a grievous wolf, or a wolf in sheep’s clothing, scattering and devouring our father’s flock. I hope that we all see that we have lived these words and are in the process of living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Rev 1:3 Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

What is the result of living by and keeping every word of the prophecies of this book? Here is what has been done in those who see what the function for the wolf and for every other word that proceeds out of the mouth of God is:

Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Dust will always be the serpent’s meat, because we are all, in our appointed time, “turned over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” But as we “keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book”, we come to know the peace that passes all understanding:

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Php 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

[The next installment of this study can be found here.]

The Spiritual Significance of the Color Yellow

“The holy spirit teaches comparing spiritual with spiritual” (1Co 2:13).

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

We are going through colors in scripture and we are seeing that colors, when mentioned in the scriptures, all have behind them a spiritual message and meaning. Our color we will examine today is the color yellow.

As with every word in scripture, this word ‘yellow’ has both a positive and a negative application. Today we will concern ourselves mainly with its negative application in the Word of God. The reason for this is that the positive application for this word has as its root the Hebrew word for gold. We all know that ‘gold’ is generally given a positive connotation in God’s Word.

Strong’s Definitions

Since we intend to also cover the spiritual meanings of the various metals mentioned in God’s word in this series of studies, we will not go very deeply into the positive application of this word yellow here today. Here is the Hebrew word for gold and Strong’s definition of that word:

H2091
za ha b
zaw- hawb’
From an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold; figuratively something gold colored (that is, yellow), as oil, a clear sky: – gold (- en), fair weather.

Here are but a few of ways this word is used in God’s Word:

Gen 2:11 The name of the first [river] is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; [zahab]

Job 37:22 Fair weather [zahab] cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

Gen 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Yellow is one of the three primary colors: Blue, red and yellow. Here is Strong’s number and definition of the word ‘yellow.’

H6669
tsa ho b
tsaw- obe’
From H6668; golden in color: – yellow.

How ‘Yellow’ Is Used In Scripture

Yellow is found in only four verses in scripture. The first three are in Leviticus where yellow is first found in reference to our spiritually dead and dying condition:

Lev 13:29 If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard;
Lev 13:30 Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow [H6669 – tsa ho b tsaw- obe’] thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a dry scall, [even] a leprosy upon the head or beard.

Lev 13:32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;
Lev 13:33 He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up [him that hath] the scall seven days more:
Lev 13:34 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, [if] the scall be not spread in the skin, nor [be] in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
Lev 13:35 But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;
Lev 13:36 Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he [is] unclean.
Lev 13:37 But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Who is ‘the priest’ and what is this scall? Here is Webster’s definition of the old English word ‘scall’ which my google spell-check does not even recognize as a word:

Scall
SCALL, n. [See Scald and Scaldhead.]
Scab; scabbiness; leprosy.
It is a dry scall, even a leprosy on the head. Lev 13:30

The Spiritual Application of the Color Yellow

Here is the spiritual application of these verses in Lev 13 concerning the spread of leprosy in the camp of Israel:

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?  [Just as leprosy spreads through out the entire camp]
1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.
1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

What Is “The Spirit of Truth?”

“The spirit of Truth” is the serum that protects us from the poison of this spiritual leprosy. This phrase ‘spirit of truth’ appears four times in the New Testament. They are very revealing in their connection with our subject, the color yellow and its meaning:

Joh 14:17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

How Can We Know Whether We Have This “Spirit of Truth?”

1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

“Us” is not just anyone who says that this “us” is their group. The only way you can know who this “us” is, is to realize that this “us” is speaking of those who are faithful to and abide in “the doctrine of Christ:

1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

Now if “the words of our Lord Jesus Christ” to you means words which are “above what is written” then you are a ship adrift on a raging sea full of dangerous and destructive rock and mountains just below the surface. You are there without the benefit of the rudder of “what is written.” You are at the mercy of anyone who points to the heavens and proclaims “Thus saith the Lord” because you have no way to “try that spirit to see whether it is of the Lord.”

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the [“same as the children – Heb 2:14] flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the [“same as the children”] flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. [That Christ “was made sin” was denied from the days of the apostle John.]
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

So the yellow and deadly doctrine of “the immaculate conception” in its many and varied forms continues and is accepted by the church world to this day. What we are admonished to do to avoid deception is about as popular with the church world as any of the other “doctrines of Christ.”

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your [spiritual “holy place”- priests are not to eat with Levites who are not chosen of God as priests] house, neither bid him God speed:

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

How little understood and much despised is this doctrine in the churches of Babylon which teach that today is the only day of salvation through a ten-second sinner’s prayer. All doctrines which conflict both with each other, and with the Word of God, are ‘yellow… leprous… leavened’ deadly false doctrine of “false prophets gone out into the world” and have spread like leaven and leprosy throughout all the camp of Israel. (1Jn 4:1).

The word ‘yellow’ appears one other time in the Bible outside of the book of Leviticus in the book of Psalms:

Psa 68:9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
Psa 68:10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Psa 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great [was] the company of those that published [it].
Psa 68:12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
Psa 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
Psa 68:14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was [white] as snow in Salmon.

This is, of course, a positive application of the color yellow but this is an entirely different Hebrew word. The word translated ‘yellow’ here is:

H3422
yeraqraq
yer- ak- rak’
From the same as H3418; yellowishness: – greenish, yellow.

Here is how this word is translated in the King James Version:

Lev 13:49 And if the plague be greenish [yeraqraq -3422] or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it [is] a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest:

Lev 14:37 And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, [if] the plague [be] in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish [yeraqraq] or reddish, which in sight [are] lower than the wall;

And the third and last time this word appears in the Old Testament is the verse in Psalms we have referenced above:

Psa 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow [yeraqraq – 3422] gold.

H3422, yeraqraq, which is translated “greenish” two out of three times, comes from the same as H3418. Here is Strong’s definition of H3418:

H3418
yereq
yeh’- rek
From H3417 (in the sense of vacuity of color); properly pallor, that is, hence the yellowish green of young and sickly vegetation; concretely verdure, that is, grass or vegetation: – grass, green (thing).

Here is how this word is translated in scripture:

Gen 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein [there is] life, [I have given] every green [Hebrew: 3418 – yereq] herb for meat: and it was so.

Gen 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

We will cover this color in much more detail next study, but suffice this verse to indicate the significance of the color green at this time:

1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as [green] grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

Seeing this connection between the Hebrew root of the words for yellow, greenish yellow and gold has given me a new appreciation for the old saying that “all that glitters is not gold.”

The Purpose for “Greenish Yellow” in our Lives”

Before the flood we were not baptized and we could eat only green herbs and survive. Now, after baptism, “every moving thing that lives..” the meat of God’s word, even our enemies, can now be eaten and dealt with as nourishment which just yesterday would have choked us to death.

Num 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, [which were] of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
Num 14:7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, [is] an exceeding good land.
Num 14:8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
Num 14:9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD [is] with us: fear them not.
Num 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones.

Greenish Yellow is our Trials and Tests in This Life

Our greatest trials ought to be our most nourishing moments.

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh [being “under the law], but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: [not by the works of the law].

1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles [“That which is written” (1Co 4:6)] of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1Pe 4:17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Yereq, Strong’s number 3418, comes from 3417 – yarak – which is:

Num 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam [became] leprous, [white] as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
Num 12:11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
Num 12:12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.
Num 12:13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
Num 12:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit [yarak-3417] in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
Num 12:15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

Deu 25:9 Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face [yarak-3417], and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.

This is what happens to all who rebel against God’s Word and who seek to bring their brothers linage to an end. It has the same end as eating with the Levites; both end up dying. That, again is the negative significance of the color yellow.

Lev 7:6 Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it [is] most holy.

Num 4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear [it]: but they shall not touch [any] holy thing, lest they die. These [things are] the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

How is this applied in our world today?

Col 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The ‘destruction of the flesh’ is a spiritual statement having to do with the destruction of the “mind of the flesh.”

1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

“With such an one no not to eat” is the same as “let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again:”

2Co 2:6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
2Co 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
2Co 2:8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

“Punishment… sorrow… love toward him.” That is God’s formula for keeping “the leaven of the Pharisees” out of His church. It is right here in this same chapter of 1 Corinthians:

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

This is not even talking about what we today call ‘the Lord’s supper.” Neither is it talking about keeping the ‘Passover and the days of unleavened bread.’ ‘This is, rather, speaking of keeping fornication (primarily spiritual fornication) out of the midst of the people in whom God dwells.

Conclusion

Yellow signifies the dying condition of our flesh.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make [it].

This is the negative application of this word describing this primary color.

By following this word back to it very root, we arrive right back to a leprous condition where there is no spiritual growth, and the camp cannot move while ‘Miriam’ is in this incurable, deadly, diseased condition.

What is this deadly, incurable condition?

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

We are totally unaware that Adam was created into a “body of this death,” and we all come into this world in “the body of this death,” in a dying condition. We are all, at first, the living dead:

Mat 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Mat 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Luk 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Luk 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Remember that there is another word translated as yellow which has a positive application. I repeat: The word ‘yellow’ appears one other time in the Bible outside of the book of Leviticus in the book of Psalms:

Psa 68:9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
Psa 68:10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Psa 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great [was] the company of those that published [it].
Psa 68:12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
Psa 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
Psa 68:14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was [white] as snow in Salmon.

What is God’s inheritance?

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his [Christ’s] calling, and what the riches of the glory of his [Christ’s] inheritance in the saints,

That is what the scriptures teach. “Christ’s inheritance [is] in the saints.”

Who are these “poor?”

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This is, of course, a positive application of the color yellow, but this is an entirely different Hebrew word. The word translated ‘yellow’ here is:

H3422
yeraqraq
yer- ak- rak’
From the same as H3418; yellowishness: – greenish, yellow.

H3422, yeraqraq, comes from the same as 3418. Here is Strong’s definition of 3418:

H3418
yereq
yeh’- rek
From H3417 (in the sense of vacuity of color); properly pallor, that is, hence the yellowish green of young and sickly vegetation; concretely verdure, that is, grass or vegetation: – grass, green (thing).

So we conclude this study noticing that yellow is closely associated with the color green. As any professional painter can tell you, green is the result of the mixing of blue (the things of heaven and of life) and yellow (our dying vessel of clay).

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen; [yellow – dying) vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God (heavenly – blue), and not of us.

Next study we will see the result of mixing yellow with blue. We will, Lord willing, learn that when our Creator does this, we get an earthly body which is having a heavenly experience, and we will see that this stage of our walk is color coded green.

[Here is the link to the next study in this series.]