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◄ Sackcloth►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Sackcloth is a coarse, rough fabric traditionally made from goat's hair, and it holds significant symbolic meaning throughout the Bible. It is often associated with mourning, repentance, and humility. The use of sackcloth is a physical manifestation of inner sorrow and penitence, frequently accompanied by fasting and prayer.

Biblical References and Usage

1.Mourning and Grief: Sackcloth is commonly worn during periods of mourning. InGenesis 37:34, Jacob mourns the loss of his son Joseph by tearing his clothes and putting on sackcloth: "Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days." This act signifies deep personal loss and sorrow.

2.Repentance and Humility: Sackcloth is also used as a sign of repentance and humility before God. In the book of Jonah, the people of Nineveh, upon hearing Jonah's warning of impending judgment, demonstrate their repentance by donning sackcloth: "When word reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes" (Jonah 3:6). This act of wearing sackcloth, from the king to the common people, underscores their collective contrition and desire for divine mercy.

3.Prophetic Symbolism: Prophets often used sackcloth to convey messages from God. Isaiah, for instance, walked barefoot and in sackcloth as a sign against Egypt and Cush (Isaiah 20:2). This symbolic act served as a visual prophecy of coming judgment and captivity.

4.Expressions of Distress: Sackcloth is also worn during times of national distress or calamity. InJoel 1:13, priests are instructed to wear sackcloth as a sign of lamentation for the devastation of the land: "Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, for grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God."

5.Contrast with Joy: The Bible often contrasts sackcloth with joy and celebration, highlighting the transformation from sorrow to gladness.Psalm 30:11 states, "You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy." This verse illustrates the divine ability to change circumstances and bring about restoration and joy.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, sackcloth was a common material used for making sacks and garments. Its rough texture made it an apt choice for expressing discomfort and distress. The act of wearing sackcloth, often accompanied by sitting in ashes, was a public demonstration of one's inner state, whether it be grief, repentance, or supplication.

Theological Significance

Sackcloth serves as a powerful symbol of humility and submission to God's will. It represents a tangible acknowledgment of human frailty and the need for divine intervention. The use of sackcloth in the Bible underscores the importance of genuine repentance and the hope for redemption and restoration through God's mercy.

In summary, sackcloth is a multifaceted symbol in the biblical narrative, representing mourning, repentance, and humility. Its use across various contexts highlights the human response to sin, loss, and divine judgment, as well as the hope for transformation and renewal through God's grace.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Sackcloth

cloth used in making sacks or bags, a coarse fabric, of a dark color, made of goat's hair, (Isaiah 50:3;Revelation 6:12) end resembling theeilicium of the Romans. It, was used also for making the rough garments used by mourners, which were in extreme cases worn next the skin. (1 Kings 21:27;2 Kings 6:30;Job 16:15;Isaiah 32:11)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Cloth made of black goats' hair, coarse, rough, and thick, used for sacks, and also worn by mourners (Genesis 37:34;42:25;2 Samuel 3:31;Esther 4:1, 2;Psalm 30:11, etc.), and as a sign of repentance (Matthew 11:21). It was put upon animals by the people of Nineveh (Jonah 3:8).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Linen or cotton cloth such as sacks are made of; coarse cloth; anciently, a cloth or garment worn in mourning, distress, mortification, or penitence.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SACKCLOTH

sak'-kloth.

SeeBURIAL.

Greek

4526. sakkos --sackcloth
...sackcloth. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: sakkos Phonetic Spelling:
(sak'-kos) Short Definition: sack-cloth Definition: sack-cloth, a sign of...

Strong's Hebrew

8242. saq -- sack,sackcloth
... 8241, 8242. saq. 8243 . sack,sackcloth. Transliteration: saq Phonetic
Spelling: (sak) Short Definition:sackcloth. Word Origin...

6941. qedorannith -- as mourners
... mournfully. Adverb from qadar; blackish ones (ie Insackcloth); used adverbially,
in mourning weeds -- mournfully. see HEBREW qadar. 6940, 6941....

6937. qadar -- to be dark
... A primitive root; to be ashy, ie Dark-colored; by implication, to mourn (insackcloth
or sordid garments) -- be black(-ish), be (make) dark(-en), X heavily...

Library

Watkinson -- the TransfiguredSackcloth
... WATKINSON " THE TRANSFIGUREDSACKCLOTH. THE TRANSFIGUREDSACKCLOTH BIOGRAPHICAL
NOTE.... WATKINSON. BORN IN 1838. THE TRANSFIGUREDSACKCLOTH[1]....

"Grief, Like a Garment, Cloth'd Me Round, "AndSackcloth was My...
... 7 "Grief, like a garment, cloth'd me round, "Andsackcloth was my dress,
"While I procur'd for naked souls "A robe of righteousness....

Further Examples from the Old Testament in Favour of Fasting.
... if it is true, (as it is), that on hearing the announcement of the harshness of
the foe, he rent his garment, put onsackcloth, and bade the elders of the...

Of the Monk's Robe.
... up at the present day their customs, these we also should reject as superfluous
and useless: wherefore they utterly disapproved of a robe ofsackcloth as being...

of the Woman driven into the Wilderness.
... Of the Witnesses on Earth prophesying inSackcloth.... Fourthly, and lastly,
Of the witnesses prophesying insackcloth for 1260 days....

The Bible and the French Revolution.
... And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand
two hundred and threescore days, clothed insackcloth.......

The Bible and the French Revolution
... And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand
two hundred and threescore days, clothed insackcloth. . . ....

Then came the worde of the lorde vn to Ionas agayne
... And the people of Niniue beleued God/ and proclaymed fastynge/ and arayed them
selues insackcloth/ as well the greate as the small of them....

Threefold Repentance
... and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall he overthrown.5. So the people of Ninoveh
believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put onsackcloth, from the...

Jonah the Narrow-Minded Patriot
... And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they ordered a fast and put
onsackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. And...

Thesaurus

Sackcloth (47 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.SACKCLOTH. sak'-kloth. See BURIAL. Multi-Version
ConcordanceSackcloth (47 Occurrences). Matthew 11:21 "Woe to you, Chorazin!...

Sackcloth-garment (1 Occurrence)
Sackcloth-garment. Sackclothes,Sackcloth-garment. Sacked .
Multi-Version ConcordanceSackcloth-garment (1 Occurrence)....

Rendeth (23 Occurrences)
... Genesis 37:34 And Jacob rendeth his raiment, and puttethsackcloth on his
loins, and becometh a mourner for his son many days, (YLT)....

Baldness (11 Occurrences)
... sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well
set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a girding ofsackcloth; and branding...

Gird (44 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 3:31 David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear
your clothes, and gird yourselves withsackcloth, and mourn before Abner....

Wail (50 Occurrences)
... (YLT). 2 Samuel 3:31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with
him, Rend your clothes, and gird you withsackcloth, and mourn before Abner....

Girded (48 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 20:32 So they girdedsackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads,
and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I...

Ashes (44 Occurrences)
... the King James Version), and of national humiliation, as when the children of Israel
were assembled under Nehemiah "with fasting, and withsackcloth, and earth...

Tore (59 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS NIV). Genesis 37:34 Jacob tore his clothes, and putsackcloth on
his waist, and mourned for his son many days. (WEB NAS NIV)....

Waist (36 Occurrences)
... WEB NIV). Genesis 37:34 Jacob tore his clothes, and putsackcloth on his
waist, and mourned for his son many days. (WEB). Exodus 12...

Resources

What is the meaning of sackcloth and ashes? | GotQuestions.org

What is a garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3)? | GotQuestions.org

Is corporate confession of sin biblical? | GotQuestions.org

Sackcloth: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance •Bible Dictionary •Bible Encyclopedia •Topical Bible •Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Sackcloth (47 Occurrences)

Matthew 11:21
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago insackcloth and ashes.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 10:13
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting insackcloth and ashes.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 6:12
I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black assackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 11:3
I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed insackcloth."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 37:34
Jacob tore his clothes, and putsackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 11:32
And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherewith any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; then shall it be clean.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 3:31
David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and gird yourselves withsackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the bier.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 21:10
Rizpah the daughter of Aiah tooksackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured on them from the sky. She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 20:31
His servants said to him, "See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us putsackcloth on our bodies, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he will save your life."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 20:32
So they putsackcloth on their bodies and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, "Your servant Ben Hadad says,'Please let me live.'" He said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 21:27
It happened, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and putsackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 6:30
It happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes (now he was passing by on the wall); and the people looked, and behold, he hadsackcloth underneath on his flesh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 19:1
It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, and covered himself withsackcloth, and went into the house of Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 19:2
He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered withsackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 21:16
David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and the sky, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed insackcloth, fell on their faces.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 9:1
Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and withsackcloth, and earth on them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 4:1
Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put onsackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and wailed loudly and a bitterly.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 4:2
He came even before the king's gate, for no one is allowed inside the king's gate clothed withsackcloth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 4:3
In every province, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay insackcloth and ashes.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 4:4
Esther's maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and the queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mordecai, to replace hissackcloth; but he didn't receive it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 16:15
I have sewedsackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 30:11
You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed mysackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 35:13
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing wassackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 69:11
When I madesackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 3:24
It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a girding ofsackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 15:3
In their streets, they dress themselves insackcloth. In their streets and on their housetops, everyone wails, weeping abundantly.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 20:2
at that time Yahweh spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go, and loosen thesackcloth from off your waist, and take your shoes from off your feet." He did so, walking naked and barefoot.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 22:12
In that day, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, called to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to dressing insackcloth:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 32:11
Tremble, you women who are at ease! Be troubled, you careless ones! Strip yourselves, make yourselves naked, and putsackcloth on your waist.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 37:1
It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself withsackcloth, and went into Yahweh's house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 37:2
He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered withsackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 50:3
I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I makesackcloth their covering."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 58:5
Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spreadsackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahweh?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 4:8
For this gird yourself withsackcloth, lament and wail; for the fierce anger of Yahweh hasn't turned back from us.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 6:26
Daughter of my people, gird yourself withsackcloth, and wallow in ashes! Mourn, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the destroyer shall suddenly come on us.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 48:37
For every head is bald, and every beard clipped: on all the hands are cuttings, and on the waistsackcloth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 49:3
Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste; cry, you daughters of Rabbah, dress yourself insackcloth: lament, and run back and forth among the fences; for Malcam shall go into captivity, his priests and his princes together.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 2:10
The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, they keep silence; They have cast up dust on their heads; they have girded themselves withsackcloth: The virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 7:18
They shall also gird themselves withsackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be on all faces, and baldness on all their heads.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 27:31
and they shall make themselves bald for you, and gird them withsackcloth, and they shall weep for you in bitterness of soul with bitter mourning.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 9:3
I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting andsackcloth and ashes.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joel 1:8
Mourn like a virgin dressed insackcloth for the husband of her youth!
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joel 1:13
Put onsackcloth and mourn, you priests! Wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God, for the meal offering and the drink offering are withheld from your God's house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Amos 8:10
I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will make you wearsackcloth on all your bodies, and baldness on every head. I will make it like the mourning for an only son, and its end like a bitter day.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jonah 3:5
The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put onsackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jonah 3:6
The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself withsackcloth, and sat in ashes.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jonah 3:8
but let them be covered withsackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Sackcloth

Sackcloth of a Black Colour

Sackcloth Sack

Sackcloth was Worn by God's Prophets

Sackcloth was Worn by Persons in Affliction

Sackcloth was Worn in the Streets

Sackcloth was Worn with Ashes on the Head

Sackcloth was Worn: At Funerals

Sackcloth was Worn: Frequently Next the Skin in Deep Afflictions

Sackcloth was Worn: Girt About the Loins

Sackcloth was Worn: Often Over the Whole Person