What colour robe did Pilate's soldiers put on Jesus?

In John 19:2, we see Pilate's soldiers dressing Jesus in a purple robe. This detail isn’t purely ornamental—rather, it’s laden with symbolic importance. Purple has long been associated with royalty. In ancient times, the dye used to create purple fabric was incredibly rare and expensive, extracted from mollusks, and took immense effort to produce. Therefore, only the wealthiest or most powerful individuals typically wore this color.

When the soldiers clothed Jesus in a purple robe, they were, perhaps unknowingly, mocking His claim to kingship. They plate with the royal garb while simultaneously engaging in the dehumanizing act of beating and ridiculing Him. Can you imagine the irony, dressing the one heralded as the King of Kings in royal colors just to demean Him?

This echo of mockery highlights the tensions in the narrative—Christ being the sacrificial servant is also seen through these darkly humorous momentés. It's essential to consider that purple, beyond earthly kingship, alludes to spiritual majesty, placing Jesus in a complex theological setting that anticipates the resurrection.

Intriguingly, many Biblical scholars later compare this scene to Zechariah 9:9, where the coming king is portrayed as humble and righteous, riding on a donkey yet portrayed far differently here in His trial. Symbolism abounds, reminding us of appearances versus underlying truth throughout such intricate and powerful scripture.