Lexical Summary sakkos: Sackcloth Original Word: σάκκος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sackcloth. Of Hebrew origin (saq); "sack"-cloth, i.e. Mohair (the material or garments made of it, worn as a sign of grief) -- sackcloth. see HEBREW saq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originperhaps of Phoenician origin Definition sackcloth NASB Translation sackcloth (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4526: σάκκοςσάκκος (Attic σάκος), σάκκου, ὁ, Hebrew שַׂק (cf. Fremdwörter, under the word), a sack (Latinsaccus) i. e. a. a receptacle made for holding or carrying various things, as money, food, etc. ( b. a coarse cloth (Latincilicium), a dark coarse stuff made especially of the hair of animals (A. V. sackcloth): Revelation 6:12; a garment of the like material, and clinging to the person like a sack, which was usually worn (or drawn on over the tunic instead of the cloak or mantle) by mourners, penitents, suppliants, Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13, and also by those who, like the Hebrew prophets, led an austere life, Revelation 11:3 (cf. what is said of the dress of John the Baptist, Matthew 3:4; of Elijah, 2 Kings 1:8). More fully in Winers RWB under the word Sack; Roskoff in Schenkel 5:134; (under the word Strong’s 4526 designates the coarse cloth traditionally woven from black goat’s hair and worn as a visible sign of grief, penitence, or prophetic urgency. Its appearance in both Testaments unites themes of sorrow over sin, humble supplication before God, and sober proclamation of divine judgment. Historical background Ancient Near-Eastern cultures used sackcloth at funerals, national calamities, and personal tragedy. The garment’s discomfort and dark color mirrored the inner condition of the wearer. Kings (2 Kings 6:30), prophets (Isaiah 20:2), and commoners alike adopted it, illustrating that guilt and affliction are universal. Material and outward form Worn as a loose tunic or wrapped around the loins, sackcloth contrasted sharply with festive garments. The rough hair and somber hue made it unsuitable for ordinary life, thereby dramatizing the break with routine that repentance requires. Old Testament background • Mourning the dead: “Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days.” (Genesis 37:34) These precedents give theological weight to the New Testament references, showing continuity in God’s call to contrition. New Testament usage Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13 record the Lord’s rebuke of Chorazin and Bethsaida: “For if the miracles performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” The phrase evokes the Ninevite revival, underscoring the greater accountability of those who witness Christ’s works yet remain unmoved. Revelation 6:12 presents the sixth seal; the sun becomes “black like sackcloth made of goat hair.” Cosmic signs borrow the cloth’s hue to communicate universal lament as divine wrath approaches. Revelation 11:3 depicts the two witnesses: “They will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” Their attire identifies their message: a sustained call to repentance during the final tribulation. Symbolism of mourning and repentance 1. Humility—The discomfort reminds believers that true contrition is not cosmetic but heartfelt. Prophetic and eschatological significance Revelation projects sackcloth imagery onto cosmic and eschatological stages. The blackened sun signals the undoing of created order because of unrepented sin, while the two witnesses’ garb embodies the final gospel appeal before consummation. Thus the motif becomes a bridge between historical judgments and ultimate judgment. Practical and pastoral applications • Call to heartfelt repentance: External symbols are empty without a contrite spirit (Joel 2:13). Sackcloth therefore stands as a textured reminder that genuine repentance is both visible and transformational, preparing the way for God’s mercy in every generation. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 11:21 N-DMSGRK: ἂν ἐν σάκκῳ καὶ σποδῷ NAS: long ago in sackcloth and ashes. KJV: long ago in sackcloth and ashes. INT: anyhow in sackcloth and ashes Luke 10:13 N-DMS Revelation 6:12 N-NMS Revelation 11:3 N-AMP Strong's Greek 4526 |
    |