What is the meaning of sackcloth and ashes?

Answer

Sackcloth and ashes were utilized in Old Testament times as symbols of debasement, mourning, and/or repentance. Individuals seeking to display their repentant hearts would commonly wear sackcloth, sit in ashes, and sprinkle ashes on their heads. Sackcloth was a rough material typically crafted from black goat’s hair, making it quite uncomfortable to wear. The ashes symbolized desolation and ruin.

Upon someone’s death, donning sackcloth demonstrated heartfelt sorrow for the loss of that individual. An example of this is seen when David lamented the passing of Abner, the commander of Saul’s army «And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. », (2 Samuel 3:31). Jacob also expressed his grief by wearing sackcloth when he believed his son Joseph had been killed «And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. », (Genesis 37:34). These instances of mourning for the deceased mention sackcloth but not ashes.

Ashes were combined with sackcloth during times of national disaster or repentance from sin. For example, Esther 4:1 describes Mordecai tearing his clothes, donning sackcloth and ashes, and walking out into the city “wailing loudly and bitterly.” This was Mordecai’s response to King Xerxes’ decree granting the wicked Haman authority to annihilate the Jews (see Esther 3:8-15). Mordecai was not alone in his grief. “In every province where the king’s order and edict reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing. Many put on sackcloth and ashes” «AndIn every province, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.” (Esther 4:3). The Jews reacted to the devastating news about their people by wearing sackcloth and ashes, displaying their profound sorrow and anguish.

Sackcloth and ashes were also utilized as a public symbol of repentance and humility before God. When Jonah proclaimed to the people of Nineveh that God intended to destroy them due to their wickedness, everyone, from the king downwards, responded with repentance, fasting, and wearing sackcloth and ashes (Jonah 3:5-7). They even dressed their animals in sackcloth (verse 8). Their rationale was, “Who knows? God may relent and show compassion, turning away from His fierce anger so that we may not perish” (verse 9). It is noteworthy because the Bible does not mention that Jonah’s message included any reference to God’s mercy; yet, mercy is what they experienced. It is evident that the Ninevites’ act of wearing sackcloth and ashes was not a superficial display. God observed a genuine transformation—a humble change of heart symbolized by the sackcloth and ashes—and this led Him to “relent” and not carry out His plan to destroy them “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented of the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” , (Jonah 3:10).

Other individuals mentioned in the Bible as wearing sackcloth include King Hezekiah “When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.” , (Isaiah 37:1), Eliakim “And he sent Eliakim, who was”Over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, went to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.” , (2 Kings 19:2), King Ahab “When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his flesh, fasted, and lay in sackcloth, moving softly.” , (1 Kings 21:27), the elders of Jerusalem “The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground in silence, casting dust upon their heads, girding themselves with sackcloth. The virgins of Jerusalem hang their heads to the ground.” , (Lamentations 2:10), Daniel “I set my face unto the Lord God, seeking by prayer, supplications, fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.” , (Daniel 9:3), and the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3.

Simply put, sackcloth and ashes were used as an outward sign of one’s inward condition. This symbol made a change of heart visible, demonstrating the sincerity of one’s grief or repentance. It was not the act of putting on sackcloth and ashes itself that moved God to intervene, but the humility that such an action demonstrated “But the LORD said unto Samuel, ‘Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.'” , (see 1 Samuel 16:7). God’s forgiveness in response to genuine repentance is celebrated by David’s words: “You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” “You have turned my mourning into dancing.”

Thou hast removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy; », (Psalm 30:11).