This colour was early known (Genesis 38:28 ). It was one of the colours of the ephod (Exodus 28:6 ), the girdle (8), and the breastplate (15) of the high priest. It is also mentioned in various other connections (Joshua 2:18; 2 Samuel 1:24; Lamentations 4:5; Nahum 2:3 ). A scarlet robe was in mockery placed on our Lord (Matthew 27:28; Luke 23:11 ). "Sins as scarlet" (Isaiah 1:18 ), i.e., as scarlet robes "glaring and habitual." Scarlet and crimson were the firmest of dyes, and thus not easily washed out.