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

Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days.

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

I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.

Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes.”

Sackcloth and ashes worn as a sign of repentance for sin

By Ahab

1 Kings 21:27

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.

By David and the elders

See also 1 Chronicles 21:16

By the Israelites

Nehemiah 9:1

On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads.

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 parallel Luke 10:13

Sackcloth and ashes worn at times of prayer for deliverance

By Hezekiah and his companions

2 Kings 19:1–2

On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD. And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz

By Daniel

Daniel 9:3

So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

Sackcloth was worn in many different ways

Sackcloth used figuratively

Isaiah 50:3