RUDDY, RED, MAHOGANY & OLIVE SKIN
The Great Word Deception 

                1Sa 17:42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, 
                he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

    Gen 25:24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
   Gen 25:25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

Shalom Brother and Sisters, the above verses have been used as tools of controversy for a while.  This controversy has taken place among Israelites and Gentiles.  Both have used the preceding scriptures to fit there understanding and doctrines.  Both groups use the words red and ruddy to describe two nations of people.  Let's briefly look  how the two sides justify what they teach concerning the words, Ruddy, and Red.

GENTILES AND RUDDY

Over the years I've come across gentiles who try to challenge our  belief that ancient Israel was a black skinned people by referring to scriptures that mention the word ruddy.  The one scripture in particular that is used quite often is the above one in 1st Samuel 17:42 which says:

 "And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance."  

This verse is giving us the description of our great king David.  It says he was Young, ruddy and of a fair countenance or handsome.  Gentiles single in on the word ruddy which they say means red, and take this to mean King David was White.  Despite all the scriptural, historical and other evidence that proves the ancient biblical Hebrew- Israelites were a black skinned people.  They say no this can't be so, David is called Ruddy.  The argument doesn't make much sense at all.  Because they view scriptures with a western European mindset, which by the way is the mindset of white supremacy.  In their eyes if one Israelite is called ruddy, this means he was white, and this means all Hebrews are white.  Now lets look at SOME Hebrews usage of the word red, then we will bring forth the truth concerning these matter.

HEBREWS AND RED

There are Hebrews who misapply the usage of the word red.  This confusion is brought about through the misunderstanding about the birth of Isaac son Esau. 

Gen 25:24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
   Gen 25:25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

Many Hebrews say the red mention in this verse is associated with white.  They go as far to say Esau was a white man, some take it farther and say he is the father of the white European nations.  Both are untrue.

The Hebrew word used to describe David as Ruddy is the same Hebrew word used to describe Esau as Red.  This is the Hebrew word Admony Pronounce Ad-Mo_nee, it's  number 132 in the Strong's concordance.  The word means red or reddish.  Both King David and Esau were Hebrews, scripture tells us the Hebrews are and were a black skinned nation.  So how do these two Hebrews get associated with being white skinned Europeans?  What does it mean by describing them as red?

Admonee / ruddy has nothing at all to do with white skin, the word for white skin in Hebrew is laban, it means white or becoming white.  Laban is used in Exodus 4: where Yah tells Moses to put his hand into his bosom, and it turns white as Snow.  Laban is also used to describe Moses sister Miriam when Yah struck her with Leprosy and turned her entire body white (Numbers 12).  It's used once again to describe Gheazi being stricken with Leprosy and having his skin turn white in 2nd kings 5:27.

Never once when it mentions Israelites being turned white with Leprosy, does it describe their skin as turning red or ruddy.  That's because red and ruddy is not associated with white skin.  If the redness of David and Esau were associated with white skin, the word laban would have been used.

One of our ancient mothers Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, and the Mother of Jacob and Esau had a brother name Laban. Laban was an albino, a black person born with white skin. Hint the reason for the name Laban or White.

Gen 24:29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

One point of great interest is this. Laban was the Uncle of Esau / Edom, Laban Name means white, Edom means Red (Admonee). The Red associated with Esau appearance at birth is not white or Laban.

The ancient Egyptians who were a black people portrayed themselves, some Ethiopians and Canaanites as reddish brown, this red is a mahogany color. 

this is a reddish brown bust of king Tut To the right are two Egyptian Tomb Drawing showing Egyptians with reddish brown complexions.

Among ancient Black people, and among many black people today throughout the world. Red or ruddy was a complexion that would be Mahogany in appearance.  Lets prove this.

In a Narrative written by a Slave name Oladuah Equino which can be found in a very good book called the Classic Slave Narratives.

He gives us these details about some men who lived near his village in Nigeria West Africa.

"THESE ARE SOMETIMES VISITED BY STOUT MAHOGANY-COLOURED MEN FROM THE SOUTH-WEST OF US.  WE CALL THEM OYE-EBOE, WHICH TERM SIGNIFIES RED MEN LIVING AT A DISTANCE."   
classic slave narrative the life of Gustavus Vassa page 16.

 

NOT ONLY ARE THESE NIGERIAN MEN CALLED RED BUT THAT RED IS COMPARED TO MAHOGANY. 

 

Mahogany is the same color as this piece of wood.  Notice it's reddish brown, the same color many Egyptians are portrayed. to the right Reddish Brown Egyptians

 

 

Malcolm X was Mahogany colored, in fact his nickname was Red.

Also the actors Gary Dourdan  and   Terrance Howard are  red.   Esau and David were more than likely the same complexion as these brothers

 

Hebrew Israelite Child, at 2 days old.  He was born reddish and hairy.

David and Esau were Mahogany colored Hebrews.  Esau was given the nickname of Edom.  Edom in Hebrew means Red.  He was not called red because of his skin tone.  He was given the nickname red, because he sold his birthright for Red Soup.

Gen 25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

Gen 25:30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

Edom descendants who were called the Edomites, were a black people.  Edom married black skinned Canaanite women, and had children by them.  For more information about Edom and his heritage go to http://www.hebrewisraelites.org/edomandkhazars.htm

Lets look at the term Olive Skin.  We are told olive skin  refer to people who have a cream colored skin.  A skin tone like the picture of this woman .
                                                               
The truth is, Olive complexion have always been in reference to black skinned people, with the deepest darkest hue.  There are two types of olives in the world, a black olive and a Green Olive.  No man is the color of a green olive, but there are men with jet black olive colored skin.   Olive Skin means Jet black skin

These two Hebrews from the Sudan have olive skin.  Their skin tone is the same color as black olives, which are pictured in the middle.

RUDDY, RED, MAHOGANY & OLIVE

All refer to black skinned people.  Not one of those terms refer to white skin.

Don't be deceived by others when they mention Ruddy, Red or Olive skinned Israelites.
Our people, Hebrews and black skinned people as a whole, have always come in various shades of Black and Brown.  We are red, Brown, Olive, & Yellow complexions among other tones.  Hebrews, Egyptians, Edomites, Babylonians, Ethiopians etc. are black skinned nations.

Hope this helped your understanding my people.  Always remember, to take heed that no man deceive you.