Lexical Summary
argevan: purple
Original Word: אַרְגְּוָן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: argvan
Pronunciation: ar-gay-VAHN
Phonetic Spelling: (arg-ev-awn')
NASB: purple
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H710 (אַרגְּוָן - purple)]
1. purple
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
purple
(Aramaic) corresponding to 'argvan -- purple.
see HEBREW 'argvan
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) of uncertain derivation
Definitionpurple, red-purple
NASB Translationpurple (3).
Topical Lexicon
Canonical Placement and Frequency אַרְגְּוָן appears three times, all within Daniel 5 (verses 7, 16, 29). On each occasion Belshazzar promises or bestows a robe of purple upon the one who can interpret the mysterious writing on the wall. The term therefore never functions in a merely descriptive way; it is always tied to an offer of honor, authority, and elevation in the royal court.
Historical and Cultural Context
In the Neo-Babylonian and early Persian worlds the deep, reddish-purple hue signified supreme status. The costly dyes required for producing such fabric—often extracted from shellfish and imported over long distances—meant that only monarchs and those whom they specially favored could afford it. Belshazzar’s pledge to clothe the interpreter “in purple” (Daniel 5:7) amounted to granting visible access to kingly dignity. The mention of a “gold chain” and the title “third highest ruler in the kingdom” reinforces that clothed status and political authority stood together as inseparable symbols.
Theological Significance of Royal Purple
1. Kingship and Majesty: Purple’s association with throne and crown underscores Yahweh’s sovereign right to rule the nations, even in exile. Though an earthly king offers the color, it is the Most High who writes on the wall and determines kingdoms (Daniel 5:21).
2. Transient Glory: The same chapter shows purple’s limits. Belshazzar’s promised honor proves short-lived; that very night the empire falls (Daniel 5:30-31). The narrative subtly contrasts fleeting human splendor with God’s enduring dominion.
3. Foreshadowing of Christ’s Passion: The Gospels record Roman soldiers clothing Jesus in purple (Mark 15:17; John 19:2, 5), mocking yet unwittingly declaring His true royalty. Daniel 5 prepares the reader for a pattern in which earthly powers misuse the symbols of majesty, while God exalts the humble and overturns proud kingdoms.
Intertextual Connections within Scripture
• Exodus through Chronicles repeatedly mention blue-purple-scarlet yarn in tabernacle and temple furnishings (e.g., Exodus 25:4; 2 Chronicles 2:7), tying royal color to sacred worship. Daniel 5 links that established symbolism to the Gentile court, reminding Israel that God’s authority reaches beyond covenant borders.
• Revelation 17:4 portrays the prostitute Babylon “dressed in purple and scarlet,” echoing Daniel’s historical Babylon and predicting a final judgment on worldly arrogance.
Ministry and Discipleship Applications
• Discern True Honor: Believers are cautioned not to measure success by external trappings—whether robes, titles, or modern equivalents. Authentic honor comes from God, not from transient cultures (1 Peter 5:6).
• Maintain Courageous Witness: Daniel’s example shows that faithful proclamation of divine truth may bring earthly recognition, yet such recognition must never overshadow allegiance to the Lord.
• Proclaim the Reign of Christ: The misuse of purple in Daniel and the Gospels highlights that Christ’s kingship is paradoxically revealed through suffering. Ministry that presents Jesus as victorious King must also proclaim His cross (Philippians 2:8-11).
Summary
אַרְגְּוָן, though a single-chapter term, threads together themes of royal authority, human hubris, and divine sovereignty. In Daniel 5 it serves as a visual pledge of power soon reversed by God’s judgment. Read in the whole-Bible context, it anticipates the day when every symbol of majesty finds its fulfillment in the everlasting kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose robe of purple—whether mocked or adored—signals genuine, unshakeable rule.
Forms and Transliterations
אַרְגְּוָנָ֔א אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א ארגונא ’ar·gə·wā·nā ’argəwānā argevaNa
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