Esther 1:6
…Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. (KJV Bible)
…There were curtains (draperies) of fine white and violet linen fastened with cords of fine purple linen to silver rings and marble columns. The couches of gold and silver rested on a mosaic floor of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious colored stones. (Amplified Bible)
Black is significant as a color background, highlighting all other colored stones and gems laid on it or in it. On this particular black marble were inlaid porphyry (red), mother-of-pearl (white) and turquoise (blue-green) stones, fit for a king’s palace. '
Also in the Amplified Bible it states that there were ‘precious stones’ inlaid in the black marble flooring. These would have been to show off the kings’ wealth, his ability to trade well and his pride in his culture. Looking these precious stones up, we see that in addition to the porphyry, the turquoise and the pearls, we see that King Ahaseurus could have used emeralds, jasper, ruby, topaz, diamonds, beryl, lapis lazuli, sapphire, amethyst, carnelian and onyx.
Can you imagine how gorgeous that floor must have been? Most of these gemstones will be used to describe other colors of worship, but Black has its own use: to highlight the shining beauty of the more colorful stones.
In other verses of the Bible Black denotes sadness (Song of Solomon 1:51), punishment and judgment (Micah 3:6; Jude 1:13; Zephaniah 1:15) and the presence of The Lord God (Deuteronomy 4:11; 5:22; Exodus 20:21;).
Since we know that the whole Word of God is to be applied to us, then we know that Black is significant in our worship.
