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Was Jesus’ Robe Scarlet or Purple?

Some argue that the Bible is contradictory concerning whether Jesus’ robe was scarlet or purple. The argument is that Matthew 27:28 says that Jesus’ robe was scarlet, but Mark 15:17, 20 and John 19:2, 5 say that Jesus’ robe was purple. However, the solution to this alleged contradiction in the Bible is simple.

Scriptures – Was Jesus’ Robe Scarlet or Purple?

Jesus’ Robe Was Scarlet

And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
Matthew 27:28

Jesus’ Robe Was Purple

17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him… 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
Mark 15:17, 20

2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe… 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”
John 19:2, 5

The Answer – Was Jesus’ Robe Scarlet or Purple?

Scarlet and Purple Can Look Similar

The answer to this alleged contradiction is that scarlet and purple can look like similar colors, depending on the shade of the color and the lighting. Matthew determined that Jesus’ robe looked scarlet, and Mark and John determined that Jesus’ robe looked purple. There is simply no contradiction between the passages because the authors were simply describing the color of the robe according to their own perspective.