The National Chocolate Day in Ghana was established approximately 19 years ago by the then Minister of Tourism with the intention of redirecting everyone's focus towards expressing love to their loved ones through the gift of chocolate. Unfortunately, it is an undeniable reality that people tend to cherish celebrating Valentine’s Day over the observance of National Chocolate Day. Valentine's Day is often associated with the colours like red, scarlet (a vivid red colour), vermilion (a bright red colour) and crimson (a deep, rich red colour) symbolising love, passion, and romance. However, a closer look at certain biblical verses, particularly Isaiah 1:18, Ezekiel 23:14-17, and Revelation 17:1-6, reveals that red generally symbolises fornication, adultery, sexual promiscuity and sin (Addokwei, 2012; Tabiri, 2023). Scarlet, vermilion and crimson are all shades of red. This article aims at exploring the deeper meaning behind the verses and shed light on the warnings against indulging in lifestyles tainted by profanity, pornography, sexual promiscuity, and fornication.
Isaiah 1:18 - The scarlet
“…though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. They are red like crimson, they shall be as wool”
The verse from Isaiah serves as a poignant reminder that, despite the festive connotations of red and scarlet, these colours can also signify something darker. "Though your sins are like scarlet, though they are red like crimson," speaks to the intrinsic link between these vibrant hues and the stain of sin. It urges believers to reflect on the choices they make and the symbolism behind the colours associated with Valentine's Day.
Ezekiel 23:14-17 - A warning against immorality:
“But she increased her harlotry; she looked at men portrayed on the wall, images of Chaldeans portrayed in vermilion…”
Ezekiel's prophetic message delves deeper into the issue, drawing parallels between scarlet and a life of immorality. The verses describe the unfaithfulness and promiscuity of two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, using vivid imagery that includes garments of various colours, including vermilion. The text suggests that these colours are intertwined with a lifestyle marked by infidelity and impurity.
Revelation 17:1-6 - The harlot and the scarlet beast:
“The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet ,…full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication” (Revelation 17:4)
Revelation 17 provides a vivid portrayal of a harlot seated on a scarlet beast, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. This symbolic image is a warning against the seductive allure of worldly pleasures and the corrupting influence of immoral practices. The scarlet colour represents the alluring facade that conceals the spiritual degradation. The passage warns against participating in a lifestyle that compromises moral values in pursuit of fleeting pleasures.
By examining these verses collectively, a common thread emerges: the caution against embracing a lifestyle tainted by sin, immorality, and impurity. Red, scarlet, vermilion and crimson though visually appealing, they are associated with profanity, pornography, sexual promiscuity, and fornication.
Semantic and pragmatic perspectives
Let us analyse the selected Bible verses - Isaiah 1:18, Ezekiel 23:14-17, and Revelation 17:1-6 - from both semantic and pragmatic perspectives:
Isaiah 1:18 employs vivid imagery using colours like scarlet and crimson to symbolize sin. The semantic meaning is clear – sins, though they may seem deeply ingrained, can be cleansed and forgiven by God.
From a pragmatic standpoint, the verse serves as a call to action, urging individuals to acknowledge their sins and seek redemption through true repentance. It is a pragmatic invitation to repentance and restoration.
The passage of Ezekiel 23:14-17 uses metaphorical language, describing the unfaithfulness of Oholah and Oholibah through the allegory of sisters adorned in colorful garments, including vermilion and scarlet. The scarlet or vermilion colour is associated with a life of moral impurity and waywardness.
Pragmatically, this passage functions as a caution, warning against the consequences of unfaithfulness and immorality. It aims to discourage readers from engaging in behaviours that lead to spiritual degradation, eternal death and destruction in hell fire.
In Revelation 17:1-6, the scarlet colour is prominently featured in this apocalyptic imagery, representing the allure of worldly pleasures. The harlot seated on the scarlet beast symbolizes the seduction and corruption associated with a lifestyle contrary to God's principles.
Pragmatically, this passage serves as a stark warning against succumbing to the temptations of a corrupt world. It prompts readers to maintain moral integrity and resist the enticements of a culture that leads away from spiritual righteousness.
The pragmatic message across these verses is a call to repentance, a warning against immoral lifestyles, and a reminder of the consequences of straying from God's principles.
Believers are therefore advised to be discerning in their choices, and stop patronizing Valentine’s Day and start preaching and promoting genuine love of God- CHRIST.
From a semantic perspective, the verses share a common thread in using colours symbolically to convey deeper spiritual truths. Pragmatically, they collectively emphasise the importance of living a life aligned with God's principles, cautioning against the allure of sin and encouraging people everywhere to repent.
What is the way forward?
As believers, it is crucial to remain vigilant and discerning, and have the deeper understanding of the spiritual implications behind the colours associated with this celebration.
People who are fond of putting on red, scarlet and vermilion on February 14 on the pretext of observing love celebration are consciously or unconsciously promoting sexual promiscuity (Tabiri, 2023) as “red” depicts sin, sexual promiscuity and abominable practices. In other words, people who patronise putting on red in the name of love are rather promoting lust and sexual promiscuity. One can put on any attire, including red clothes, on any other day but not on the so-called Vals’ Day, as it depicts and promotes lustful desires (Tabiri, 2023)
It is therefore not advisable to put on red clothes on February 14, as doing so is synonymous with promoting and patronising lustful desires and activities.
What must the government do? If the Government truly wants the National Chocolate Day to come to fruition, the tradition of wearing red on the pretext of celebrating Valentine's Day should be prohibited, as the act of consuming chocolates does not necessitate the donning of red clothing.
In conclusion, the message from Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Revelation calls believers to reflect on the symbolism behind the colours associated with Valentine's Day. Red, scarlet, crimson and vermilion are wrongly and culturally linked to love which is contrary to what is stipulated in the Holy Bible. As Christians, let us be mindful of the choices we make, ensuring that our celebrations align with biblical principles and contribute to a life marked by purity, righteousness, and genuine love.
Our churches and clergy must repent and stop putting on red on the pretext of observing love celebration.
The writer is a Lecturer/Coordinator at the Language Centre, and University Chaplain,
Ghana Communication Technology University
Email: [email protected]
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