In the Bible, the term "rags" is often used metaphorically to convey themes of humility, repentance, and the human condition in contrast to divine righteousness. The imagery of rags appears in several passages, illustrating the transient and often degraded state of human efforts and righteousness when compared to God's holiness.

Isaiah 64:6
One of the most notable references to rags is found in Isaiah 64:6, where the prophet Isaiah declares, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away" . In this passage, "filthy rags" is used to describe the inadequacy of human righteousness. The Hebrew term translated as "filthy rags" is often understood to refer to garments that are ceremonially unclean, emphasizing the impurity and insufficiency of human deeds apart from God's grace.

Jeremiah 38:11-12
In a more literal sense, rags are mentioned in the account of Jeremiah's rescue from the cistern. Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian official, uses old rags and worn-out clothes to lift Jeremiah out of the muddy pit: "So Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went to the king’s palace, to a place below the treasury. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. Ebed-Melech the Cushite said to Jeremiah, 'Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.' Jeremiah did so" (Jeremiah 38:11-12). Here, rags serve a practical purpose, highlighting themes of deliverance and the providence of God through humble means.

Zechariah 3:3-4
The imagery of filthy garments is also present in Zechariah 3:3-4, where Joshua the high priest stands before the angel of the Lord in filthy clothes, representing sin and impurity. The angel commands, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have removed your iniquity, and I will clothe you with splendid robes" . This exchange symbolizes the removal of sin and the imputation of divine righteousness, a theme central to the Christian understanding of salvation.

Symbolism and Themes
Throughout Scripture, rags symbolize the frailty and imperfection of human nature. They serve as a stark contrast to the purity and righteousness of God, underscoring the need for divine intervention and grace. The use of rags in biblical narratives often points to the transformative power of God, who can take what is humble and lowly and use it for His purposes, as seen in the rescue of Jeremiah and the cleansing of Joshua.

In the broader biblical context, the imagery of rags invites believers to recognize their own limitations and to rely on God's righteousness rather than their own. It serves as a reminder of the transformative power of God's grace, which can take the "filthy rags" of human effort and replace them with the "splendid robes" of divine righteousness.1094. belo -- worn-out things, rags
... 1093, 1094. belo. 1095 . worn-out things, rags. Transliteration: belo
Phonetic Spelling: (bel-o') Short Definition: worn-out. Word ...
/hebrew/1094.htm - 6k

4418. malach -- a rag
... a rag. Transliteration: malach Phonetic Spelling: (maw-lawkh') Short Definition:
rags. Word Origin from malach Definition a rag NASB Word Usage rags (2). ...
/hebrew/4418.htm - 6k

7168. qera -- torn piece (of garment), a rag
... Word Origin from qara Definition torn piece (of garment), a rag NASB Word Usage
pieces (3), rags (1). piece, rag. From qara'; a rag -- piece, rag. ...
/hebrew/7168.htm - 6k

"But we are all as an Unclean Thing, and all Our Righteousnesses ...
... Sermon XV. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses
are as filthy rags,". Isaiah lxiv 6, 7.""But we are ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xv but we are.htm

"All Our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags, and we all do Fade as ...
... Sermon XVI. "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as
a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.". ...
/.../the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xvi all our righteousnesses.htm

Its Basis
... The "Father" could not have the (prodigal) son at His table clad in the rags of
the far country, but He could go out and meet him in those rags: He could fall ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the doctrine of justification/4 its basis.htm

Different Passages from the Writings of Solomon against Accidie.
... 986] But concerning this poverty of the idler elsewhere he also writes thus: "Every
sluggard shall be clothed in torn garments and rags." [987] For certainly ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xxi different passages from.htm

Love Thy Neighbour
... They may be men in rags, but men in rags are men; and if thou be a man
arrayed in scarlet, thou art no more than a man. Take heed ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/love thy neighbour.htm

Useless Sacrifice
... a half-open door, and see another sight"a room, dark and foul, mildewed and ruinous;
and, swept carelessly into a corner, a heap of dirt, rags, bones, waifs ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxxvi useless sacrifice.htm

Being About to Prove that the Will, the Calling...
... for you would despise also the Holy Spirit, you would despise Isaiah, you would
despise Jeremiah, whom he who was chosen of the Lord raised with rags and cords ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter x being about to.htm

Chapter twenty-two
... a slim-figured lad who was as refined in dress and appearance as the little girl
clinging to her mother, who was mournfully hideous in her rags and repulsive ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty-two.htm

The Ten virgins.
... A small cup, filled with rags and resin, is affixed to a rod, that it may
be held aloft. At the proper time the rags are lighted ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/xiii the ten virgins.htm

Meditations on the Hindrances which Keep Back a Sinner from the ...
... 6. Isaiah 64:6, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Hence the carnal
Christian gathers, that, seeing the best works of the best saints are no better ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations on the hindrances which.htm

Rags (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Rags (6 Occurrences). ... Proverbs 23:21 for the drunkard and
the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags. ...
/r/rags.htm - 8k

Worn-out (4 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 38:11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the
king under the treasury, and took there rags and worn-out garments, and let ...
/w/worn-out.htm - 7k

Rotten (9 Occurrences)
... 38:11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under
the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let ...
/r/rotten.htm - 9k

Rag
... Plural in Proverbs 23:21, "Drowsiness will clothe a man with rags" (qera'im "torn
garment"; compare 1 Kings 11:30), and figuratively in Isaiah 64:6 the King ...
/r/rag.htm - 7k

E'bed-Mel'ech (6 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 38:11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the
king under the treasury, and took there rags and worn-out garments, and let ...
/e/e'bed-mel'ech.htm - 8k

Ebed-melech (6 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 38:11 So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of
the king under the treasury, and took thence rags and worn-out garments, and ...
/e/ebed-melech.htm - 9k

Ebedmelech (6 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 38:11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the
king under the treasury, and took there rags and worn-out garments, and let ...
/e/ebedmelech.htm - 9k

Decayed (7 Occurrences)
... 11 So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under
the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old decayed rags, and let ...
/d/decayed.htm - 8k

Clouts (2 Occurrences)
... 38:11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under
the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let ...
/c/clouts.htm - 7k

Worn (29 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 38:11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the
king under the treasury, and took there rags and worn-out garments, and let ...
/w/worn.htm - 14k

Why are all of our righteous acts considered filthy rags? | GotQuestions.org

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Rags: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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