In Scripture, color is never merely decorative. It teaches, reminds, and reveals. Among the most profound of all biblical colors is tekhelet—the sacred blue commanded by God for priestly garments, the tabernacle, and the tassels worn by His people.
This blog explores the biblical meaning, historical loss, scholarly rediscovery, and modern significance of tekhelet—revealing why this ancient blue still speaks powerfully today.
What Is Tekhelet in the Bible?
Tekhelet (תְּכֵלֶת) is the specific blue named in the Hebrew Scriptures and commanded for use in:
- The Tabernacle curtains and sacred textiles (Exodus 26)
- The garments of the high priest (Exodus 28)
- The tzitzit, or tassels, worn on the corners of Israelite garments (Numbers 15:38–39)
In Numbers, God explains the purpose of this blue thread:
“You shall look at it and remember all the commandments of the LORD.”
Tekhelet was not simply prescribed for aesthetic purposes. It was a daily visual reminder of covenant, obedience, and holiness.
The Source of the Ancient Blue Dye
Ancient Jewish tradition describes tekhelet as coming from a marine creature known as the ḥilazon, widely associated today with the Mediterranean sea snail Murex trunculus.
Producing the dye required:
- Rare natural resources
- Skilled extraction and processing
- Careful dyeing techniques influenced by sunlight and chemistry
Because of this, tekhelet was:
- Extremely valuable
- Difficult to reproduce
- Closely guarded in the ancient world
The Disappearance of Tekhelet
After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the knowledge required to produce tekhelet gradually disappeared. Trade routes collapsed, communities were dispersed, and sacred industries were lost.
For more than a thousand years:
- The commandment remained in Scripture
- The practice could not be fulfilled materially
This created a remarkable historical tension—a remembered obedience without the means to perform it.
Rabbi Isaac Herzog: The Scholar Who Studied Tekhelet
In the early 20th century, Rabbi Isaac (Yitzhak) Herzog—later the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel—undertook the first comprehensive modern investigation into tekhelet.
Originally written as his doctoral dissertation, Herzog’s research combined:
- Chemistry
- Zoology
- Archaeology
- Linguistics
- Rabbinic literature
Rather than treating tekhelet as symbolic, Herzog asked a concrete question:
What exactly was the biblical dye?
His work pointed strongly toward Mediterranean murex snails as the original source. Yet Herzog showed remarkable scholarly restraint. Because the dye samples available in his time appeared more purple than sky‑blue, he stopped short of declaring complete certainty and did not personally restore the practice.
Herzog’s legacy is therefore not a final answer, but something equally powerful:
He returned tekhelet to serious, faithful scholarship.
Rabbi Eliyahu Tavger: The Practitioner Who Wore Tekhelet Again
Decades later, Israeli rabbi Eliyahu Tavger built upon Herzog’s research in a practical way.
Instead of limiting the discussion to theory, Tavger:
- Produced dye from Murex trunculus
- Applied historically informed dyeing methods
- Began wearing tekhelet in tzitzit himself
This marked the first widely recognized return of tekhelet to daily Jewish life in modern times.
Importantly, tekhelet today is widely used yet still discussed within Jewish scholarship. Tavger’s contribution was not to end debate, but to demonstrate that restoration had become possible.
Tekhelet and the Language of Color Today
As a color consultant, I see tekhelet as a profound reminder that what we wear can point beyond ourselves.
While modern color analysis focuses on harmony, tone, and visual impact, Scripture expands the conversation to include:
- Remembrance
- Identity
- Spiritual intention
Tekhelet invites us to consider a deeper question:
What if color is not only about how we are seen—but about what we remember?
Ingrid Nieto-Pagulayan, AICI CIC 