Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  6000 Sin and salvation  »  6600 Aspects of salvation  »  6742 sackcloth and ashes

Sackcloth is a coarse, black cloth made from goat's hair that was worn together with the burnt ashes of wood as a sign of mourning for personal and national disaster, as a sign of repentance and at times of prayer for deliverance.

Sackcloth and ashes worn as a sign of mourning for the dead

By Jacob for Joseph

Genesis 37:34

By David, Joab and the people for Abner

See also 2 Samuel 3:31

Sackcloth and ashes worn as a sign of mourning for personal or national disaster

Job 16:15; Job 42:6 See also Esther 4:1; Lamentations 2:10; Joel 1:8

Sackcloth and ashes worn as a sign of repentance for sin

By Ahab

1 Kings 21:27

By David and the elders

See also 1 Chronicles 21:16

By the Israelites

Nehemiah 9:1

By the Ninevites and their king

See also Jonah 3:5-9 Even the animals were to wear sackcloth.

By others

Isaiah 15:3; Jeremiah 49:3; Ezekiel 27:31; Matthew 11:21 pp Luke 10:13

Sackcloth and ashes worn at times of prayer for deliverance

By Hezekiah and his companions

2 Kings 19:1-2

By Daniel

Daniel 9:3

Sackcloth was worn in many different ways

See also

1 Kings 20:31; 2 Kings 6:30; Isaiah 3:24; Isaiah 58:5; Joel 1:13

Sackcloth used figuratively

Isaiah 50:3

See also

1670  symbols
4050  dust
5145  clothing
5419  mourning
6634  deliverance
6732  repentance
8602  prayer