Greek word · G4700

σποδός

spodos

ashes

Ash, the fine residue of burning. In the Greek Old Testament it usually translates Hebrew ʾēper (ashes, dust).

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

σποδός, -oῦ, ὁ

[in LXX chiefly for אֵפֶר ;]

ashes: Hebrews 9:13; ἐν σάκκῳ καὶ σ. (Isaiah 58:5, John 3:6, Dan LXX 9:3, al.), Matthew 11:21, Luke 10:13.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Judith 4:15

Range of meaning

Ash, the fine residue of burning. In the Greek Old Testament it usually translates Hebrew ʾēper (ashes, dust). Used literally (ashes of the red heifer, Numbers 19:9-10) and above all as a mourning and self-humbling sign: putting ash or dust on the head, sitting in ashes, or lying on sackcloth and ashes.

Against the English

'Ashes' is accurate. What modern readers may miss is that ash on the head was a public, readable sign, like wearing black. It announced grief, humiliation before God and urgent pleading. It was not mainly a private feeling of sorrow for one's sins.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ash or dust on the head in times of disaster: 2 Samuel 13:19 (Tamar); Esther 4:1, 3 (the Jews facing Haman's decree, a close parallel to Judith's threatened nation); Nehemiah 9:1; Daniel 9:3; Jonah 3:6 (the king of Nineveh); Job 2:12; 42:6. In Judith itself: the people put ashes on their heads (4:11), and Judith puts ashes on her head before her great prayer (9:1). 1 Maccabees 3:47 has the Maccabean fighters put ashes on their heads before battle, a scene very close in date and mood to Judith.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 11:21 σποδῷ ashes

    “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

    Here: Ashes put on the head or sat in, as the king of Nineveh did (Jonah 3:6). It signalled self-humbling, grief and being brought to dust.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 10:13 σποδῷ ashes

    Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 9:13 σποδὸς [the] ashes

    For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,

    Here: The ash left after the red heifer was burned whole (Num 19:5, 9). The Greek Old Testament uses this exact word for it. The ash was stored and mixed with fresh water when someone needed it.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.