Black Color and Emotions in Sirach

Abstract This short article examines the use of the color black as a conceptual metaphor for moral and emotional states in two key verses of Ben Sira’s book. In Sir 19:26 blackness refers to a deceptive facade: The wicked person adopts a darkened appearance to feign humility and conceal underlying deceit. In Sir 25:17 blackness signifies the consequences of wickedness: Depending on the textual tradition, a wife’s wickedness either darkens her husband’s face with shame or blackens her own, revealing her inner corruption. These instances illustrate how Ben Sira employs color to link outward appearance with inner character.