Sackcloth 'n' Ashes was created on 1996-02-06.
they are very symbolic. The ashes is a symbol of mourning. The Sackcloth is a symbol of apology
In the bible sackcloth and ashes stand for real repentence.
ashes
Actually the Jews used to wear sackcloth and ashes when they repented or mourned. Like Mordechai did in Esther.
• Ashes in the Bible • "O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes." (Jeremiah 6:26) "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes." (Daniel 9:3) "When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes." (Jonah 3:6) "And all the Israelite men, women and children who lived in Jerusalem prostrated themselves in front of the temple building, with ashes strewn on their heads, displaying their sackcloth covering before the Lord." (Judith 4:11; see also 4:15 and 9:1) "That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their clothes." (1 Maccabees 3:47; see also 4:39) Jesus refers to the use of sackcloth and ashes as signs of repentance: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes." (Matthew 11:21, Luke 10:13) • Ash Wednesday • As the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday calls us to the conversion journey that marks the season. As those preparing to join the Church enter the final stage of their preparation for the Easter sacraments, we are all called to walk with them so that we will be prepared to renew our baptismal promises when Easter arrives. When we receive ashes on our foreheads, we remember: • Who we are • That we are creatures of the earth . "Remember that you are dust" • That we are mortal beings . "and to dust you will return" • That we are baptized • That we are people on a journey of conversion . "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel" • That we are members of the body of Christ • That smudge on our foreheads will proclaim that identity to others, too
In the King James versionthe word - sackcloth - appears 46 timesthe word - sackclothes - appears onceandthe word - ash - appears oncethe word - ashes - appears 43 timesandthe phrase - sackcloth and ashes - appears 5 times12766 Est 4:3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.18792 Isa 58:5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?21991 Dan 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:23480 Mat 11:21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.25376 Luk 10:13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Esther 4:1 - When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. Esther 4:3 - And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. Isaiah 58:5 - Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord? Matthew 11:21 - Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Luke 10:13 - Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
In old Jewish history, the Jews always wore ash and sackcloth when they repented and were mourning for days. Ash represents repentance.
Sack Cloth and ashes are used in the Old Testament for mourning, submission. Ninevah is an example where for 40 days-the length of Lent-all citizens & the King worn sack cloth and put on ashes. For Lent it is a sign of Humility and forgiveness from God.
Jon 3:5 The people of Nineveh believed God's message. So they decided that everyone should fast, and all the people, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth to show that they had repented. Jon 3:6 When the king of Nineveh heard about it, he got up from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth, and sat down in ashes. - GNB It means the people of Nineveh when they heard that God was going to punish them repented, they showed this by fasting, wearing clothes made of sack cloth and they put ashes on their heads.
A sackcloth is a form of coarse, hessian cloth used in the making of sacks.