The Bible speaks of people of various nations, tribes, and colors, emphasizing that all are made in the image of God. Throughout scripture, black skin is mentioned in different contexts—sometimes symbolically, sometimes descriptively. God’s love extends beyond race, and His message of salvation is for all people. The following verses highlight references to black skin in the Bible, showing the diversity and beauty of God’s creation.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Color of Skin
Black Skin in the Song of Solomon
The Song of Solomon contains one of the most well-known references to black skin in the Bible. The passage speaks of a woman who describes herself as dark and beautiful. This poetic book celebrates love, beauty, and the uniqueness of individuals. It reminds us that skin color is not a measure of worth but a reflection of God’s creativity.
Song of Solomon 1:5
“I am dark but beautiful, O women of Jerusalem—dark as the tents of Kedar, dark as the curtains of Solomon’s tents.”
Song of Solomon 1:6
“Don’t stare at me because I am dark—the sun has darkened my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they forced me to care for their vineyards, so I couldn’t care for myself—my own vineyard.”
Psalm 139:14
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”
Genesis 1:27
“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Acts 17:26
“From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.”
The Cushites in the Bible
The Bible frequently mentions the Cushites, a people group from the region of Cush (modern-day Sudan and Ethiopia). Cushites were known for their dark skin, and they played important roles in biblical history. These references affirm that black-skinned people were an integral part of God’s plan and history.
Jeremiah 13:23
“Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil.”
Numbers 12:1
“While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman.”
Psalm 68:31
“Princes will come from Egypt; Ethiopia will soon stretch out her hands to God.”
Isaiah 18:7
“At that time the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will receive gifts from this people who are tall and smooth-skinned, from those who are feared far and wide for their conquests and destruction.”
Zephaniah 3:10
“My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopia will come to present their offerings.”
God’s View of All Races
The Bible teaches that God does not show favoritism based on race or appearance. His love is for all, regardless of skin color. These verses highlight God’s impartiality and His desire for unity among all people.
Galatians 3:28
“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
1 Samuel 16:7
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'”
Romans 2:11
“For God does not show favoritism.”
Acts 10:34-35
“Then Peter replied, ‘I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.'”
Revelation 7:9
“After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.”
Darkness as a Symbol
In some parts of the Bible, darkness symbolizes sin, suffering, or mystery. However, this does not mean that dark skin is bad—it simply reflects how biblical writers used imagery. God’s truth and light shine in all circumstances.
Isaiah 9:2
“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.”
John 8:12
“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.'”
Psalm 23:4
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”
Colossians 1:13
“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.”
Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Discrimination
Biblical Figures with Dark Skin
Throughout the Bible, there are individuals of African descent who played significant roles in God’s plan. These figures remind us that God’s people come from all backgrounds and that His salvation extends to everyone. Cushites, Egyptians, and Ethiopians are all part of biblical history, demonstrating God’s love for all races.
Jeremiah 38:7
“But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a court official in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah was in the cistern. At that time, the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate.”
1 Kings 10:1
“When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, which brought honor to the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.”
Acts 8:27
“So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship.”
2 Chronicles 14:9
“Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of a million men and 300 chariots. They advanced to the town of Mareshah.”
Isaiah 11:11
“In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people—those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt; in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam; in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands.”
God’s Creation and the Beauty of Diversity
God created all people in His image, and He delights in diversity. The Bible affirms that beauty is not limited to one skin color or race. Rather, every person is uniquely crafted by the Creator, and He calls all people beautiful in His sight.
Genesis 9:19
“From these three sons of Noah came all the people who now populate the earth.”
Genesis 2:7
“Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.”
Isaiah 45:12
“I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the stars are at my command.”
Job 10:8
“You formed me with your hands; you made me, yet now you completely destroy me.”
Psalm 100:3
“Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
Unity in Christ
In Christ, racial and ethnic differences do not divide us. The gospel message is for all nations, and the Bible emphasizes the unity of believers regardless of background. Heaven will be filled with people of every race, tribe, and language, worshiping the Lord together.
Colossians 3:11
“In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.”
1 Corinthians 12:12
“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.”
John 13:34-35
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Revelation 5:9
“And they sang a new song with these words: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.'”
Ephesians 2:14
“For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.”