σποδός G4700
ashes; the powdery residue left after burning, often used in rituals of mourning or purification
The Greek term for ashes—what remains after fire has consumed wood or other combustibles. In the NT it appears in Jesus' reproach against Galilean cities (Matt 11:21, Luke 10:13), saying Tyre and Sidon would have repented 'in sackcloth and ashes,' and in Hebrews 9:13 regarding the ritual use of heifer ashes for purification. Ashes symbolize mourning, repentance, and human frailty ('dust to dust'). Sprinkling ashes on one's head or sitting in ashes expressed grief and contrition, making visible an inner posture of humility before God.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Uniform across languages: English 'ashes', Spanish 'ceniza', French 'cendre', German 'Asche'. The dual NT usage shows both metaphorical (repentance in sackcloth and ashes) and ceremonial (heifer ashes for purification) functions. Jesus' counterfactual statement assumes His hearers know this penitential practice—ashes as the physical expression of brokenness and the recognition of mortality. 3×
AR["رَمادٍ", "رَمَادُ"]·ben["ছাই", "ছাইয়ে"]·DE["Asche", "σποδῷ"]·EN["ashes"]·FR["cendre"]·heb["אֵפֶר"]·HI["रअख-मेइन", "राख"]·ID["abu"]·IT["spodos", "spugna"]·jav["awu", "awu,"]·KO["재", "재가", "재에"]·PT["cinza"]·RU["пепел", "пепле"]·ES["ceniza"]·SW["majivu", "majivu,"]·TR["kül", "külde", "külü"]·urd["راکھ"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σποδός, ἡ, wood-ashes, embers, Refs 8th c.BC+: generally, ashes, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐπ᾽ Ἰσμηνοῦ τε μαντεία σ., of the ashes of an altar, Refs 5th c.BC+; of the dead, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀμφὶ σποδὸν κάρᾳ κεχύμεθα, in sign of mourning, Refs 5th c.BC+:—death by plunging into a room filled with ashes, αὐτήν μιν ῥῖψαι ἐς οἴκημα σποδοῦ πλέον Refs 5th c.BC+; as a Persian punishment (cf. Val. LXX+5th c.BC+ __II…