H0665 H0665
Ashes; the powdery residue of combustion, used ritually for purification and as a sign of mourning or humility.
Denotes the fine, powdery residue left after burning, carrying both literal and symbolic weight throughout the Hebrew Bible. Literally, it refers to the ashes of the red heifer used in purification rites (Num 19:9–10) and altar residue. Symbolically, ashes placed on the head or sat upon express deep mourning (Esth 4:1, 3), contrition (Dan 9:3; Jonah 3:6), and utter insignificance—Abraham calls himself 'dust and ashes' before God (Gen 18:27). Job's proverbs of ashes (Job 13:12) and Isaiah's idol-maker feeding on ashes (Isa 44:20) extend this into metaphors of worthlessness.
Senses
1. ashes, combustion residue — The powdery residue remaining after combustion, used across cultic, penitential, and metaphorical contexts. In ritual law the ashes of the red heifer serve purification (Num 19:9–10). In lamentation and penitence, ashes on the head or body signal mourning (Esth 4:1; Jer 6:26; Ezek 27:30) and contrition before God (Dan 9:3; Jonah 3:6). Figuratively, ashes convey worthlessness and insignificance, as when Abraham confesses he is 'dust and ashes' (Gen 18:27) or Job dismisses hollow counsel as 'proverbs of ashes' (Job 13:12). Spanish ceniza and German Asche both capture the basic material sense. 22×
AR["الرَّمادِ", "الرَّمَادِ", "بِٱلرَّمَادِ", "رَماداً", "رَمادًا", "رَمَادًا", "رَمَادٍ", "رَمَادَ", "فِي-الرَّمَادِ", "فِي-الـ-رَّمَادِ", "وَ-الرَّمادِ", "وَ-الرَّمَادَ", "وَ-رَمَادًا", "وَ-رَمَادٌ", "وَ-رَمَادٍ", "وَرَمَادٍ."]·ben["-এবং-ছাই", "আর-ছাই", "আর-ছাইয়ের", "এবং-ছাই", "এবং-ছাইয়ে", "ও-ছাই", "ছাই", "ছাইকে", "ছাইতে", "ছাইয়ে", "ছাইয়ের"]·DE["Asche", "Asche-von", "[אפר]", "[באפר]", "[האפר]", "[ואפר]", "ashes", "und-Asche"]·EN["and-ashes", "ashes", "ashes-of", "in-ashes", "in-the-ashes", "the-ashes"]·FR["[אפר]", "[באפר]", "[ואפר]", "ashes", "cendre", "cendres-de", "et-cendre", "et-cendres", "le-cendre"]·heb["אפר", "ב-אפר", "ה-אפר", "ו-אפר"]·HI["-राख-में", "और-रअख", "और-राख", "और-राख-की-तरह", "और-राख-में", "में-राख", "राख", "राख-की", "राख-में", "सुन्दर-पगड़ी"]·ID["abu", "abu.", "dalam-debu", "dan-abu", "di-abu", "ke-dalam-abu"]·IT["[אפר]", "[באפר]", "[האפר]", "[ואפר]", "ashes", "cenere", "ceneri-di", "e-ashes", "e-cenere", "e-e-ashes", "il-il-ashes"]·jav["awu", "awu-punika", "ing-awu", "lan-awu", "lan-awu.", "wonten-ing-awu"]·KO["그-재", "그-쟿더미", "그리고-재", "그리고-재가", "그리고-재를", "그리고-재이다", "재", "재-를", "재-속에서", "재-에", "재를", "재에서-"]·PT["a-cinza", "cinza", "cinza-de", "cinzas", "e-cinza", "e-cinza.", "e-cinzas", "em-cinza", "na-cinza"]·RU["-пепел", "в-пепел", "в-пепле", "и-пепел", "и-пепле", "и-пеплу", "пепел", "пепла", "пеплом"]·ES["ceniza", "ceniza-de", "de-ceniza", "en-ceniza", "la-ceniza", "y-ceniza"]·SW["katika-majivu", "kwa-majivu", "majivu", "majivu-ya", "mavumbini", "na-majivu"]·TR["kul", "kulun", "kül", "kül-içinde", "kül-o", "küllerin", "külün", "külünü", "ve-kul", "ve-kül", "ve-küle", "ve-külüm"]·urd["اور-راکھ", "بَ-راکھ", "جیسے", "راکھ", "راکھ-میں", "راکھ-کے"]
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
† אֵ֫פֶר n.[m.] ashes (as light, flying?)—א׳ abs. Gn 18:27 +; cstr. Nu 19:9, 10—ashes of red heifer, used in purifications Nu 19:9, 10; on head, as sign of humiliation 2 S 13:19; contrition Dn 9:3 (‖ צוֹם, שַׂק), Jon 3:6 (‖ שַׂק) cf. Jb 42:6 (עָפָר וא׳), Is 58:5 (‖ שַׂק); mourning Est 4:1, 3 (‖ שַׂק) cf. Jb 2:8 (ישׁב בתוך הא׳), Je 6:26 (‖ שַׂק), Ez 27:30 (‖ עפר); in sim. scattereth hoarfrost…