We already had an article to this effect by Rabbi R.C. Klein (based on the work by Rabbi Yisroel Rosenberg), both contributors to Hyehudi.org, by the way.
Now, courtesy of AI-something, here’s a summary in table form:
| Topic | Details |
| No Classical Hebrew Word for “Purple” | The term “purple” does not exist in Classical Hebrew. |
| Occurrences in Scripture | “Argaman” appears 38 times; variants include “argavan” and “argavana”. |
| Etymology | Possibly from Akkadian “argamannu”; root may be ALEPH-REISH-GIMMEL-MEM-NUN. |
| Maimonides’ View | Argaman = wool dyed red; uses Arabic “laca” to describe it. |
| Midrashic Descriptions | Compares argaman to reddish gold and fire; possibly orange or yellowish-red. |
| Radak’s Interpretation | Initially crimson red, later suggests orange or yellowish-red. |
| Color vs. Fabric | Argaman refers to dyed wool, not a color per se. |
| Raavad’s View | Argaman = woven fabric of multiple colors; derived from “arigah” (weaving) + “min” (type). |
| Zohar and Midrash | Symbolic interpretations: weaving of sustenance or creation. |
| Rashi’s Etymology | Links to roots meaning “gathering” or “embroidery”; supports multi-shade interpretation. |
| Ohalei Yehuda’s View | Argaman = “oreg” (weaving) + “manah” (portion); or from roots meaning “light” and “appearance”. |
| Modern Scholarly View | Argaman includes shades from pink to violet; not strictly red. |
| Biblical Usage | Sometimes used metaphorically or to denote luxury, not a specific color. |
| Greek Translation | Translated as “porphyra” → Latin “purpura” → English “purple”, which historically meant red. |
| Royalty Association | Argaman/purpira linked to royal garments; not necessarily modern purple. |
| Modern Hebrew Term | “Segol” was introduced in 1894 as the modern word for purple. |
No, I didn’t look this over.