Lexical Summary ashpoth: Ash heap, refuse heap, dung hill Original Word: אַשְׁפֹּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dung hill Or uashpowth {ash-pohth'}; or (contraction) shphoth {shef-ohth'}; plural of a noun of the same form as 'ashpah, from shaphah (in the sense of scraping); a heap of rubbish or filth -- dung (hill). see HEBREW 'ashpah see HEBREW shaphah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as shaphath Definition an ash heap, refuse heap, dunghill NASB Translation ash (2), ash pits (1), refuse (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַשְׁמֹּת noun [masculine] ash-heap(?), refuse-heap, dung-hill (probably originally fire-place stones, compare Arabic below √); — ׳א absolute as beggars' resting-place 1 Samuel 2:8 = Psalm 113:7 (both "" עָפָר; compare Job 2:8 Wetzst in De); so plural אַשׁפַתּוֺת Lamentations 4:5; שַׁעַר הָאַשְׁמֹּת Nehemiah 2:13; Nehemiah 3:14; Nehemiah 12:31 = הָֽשְׁפוֺת ׳שׁ Nehemiah 3:13 (Ges§ 35d). Topical Lexicon Imagery of Humiliation and Divine Elevation Throughout Scripture, אַשְׁפֹּת functions as a vivid picture of society’s lowest place. It is the rubbish heap outside a city, the spot where dung, ashes, and shattered pottery were discarded. When Hannah sings, “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes” (1 Samuel 2:8), the unclean mound becomes the backdrop for God’s gracious reversal. Psalm 113:7 echoes the same confession: “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump.” The contrast is stark—rags to royalty—demonstrating the Lord’s power to exalt the humble without diminishing His holiness. The imagery anticipates the Gospel pattern of Christ lifting sinners from spiritual filth and seating them “in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 2:6). The Dung Gate of Jerusalem Five of the seven references appear in Nehemiah’s record, identifying the southern access point of Jerusalem where refuse was carried to the Kidron Valley. Nehemiah 2:13 notes his nighttime survey of a city “whose walls were broken down,” including the gate by the ash heaps. In chapters 3 and 12 the Dung Gate marks a portion of the work and a station in the thanksgiving procession at the wall’s dedication. Its inclusion underscores at least three themes: 1. Comprehensive Restoration: Even the most ignoble part of the wall had to be rebuilt, illustrating that spiritual renewal is incomplete until every sphere—no matter how unpleasant—is addressed. Symbol of National Judgment Lamentations 4:5 laments the siege’s aftermath: “Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those reared in purple embrace trash heaps.” The ash heap, formerly a metaphor for poverty, becomes Judah’s new reality. Covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28) have reached their climax; royalty now lies where refuse belongs. The reversal warns every generation that unrepentant sin drags even the noblest into degradation. Theological and Ministry Applications • Dignity of the Lowly: Because God exalts from the ash heap, the Church must honor the overlooked and materially poor, confident that they may become “princes” in His kingdom. Forms and Transliterations אַשְׁפַּתּֽוֹת׃ אשפתות׃ הָאַשְׁפֹּ֑ת הָאַשְׁפֹּֽת׃ הָאַשְׁפּ֗וֹת הָשֲׁפֽוֹת׃ האשפות האשפת האשפת׃ השפות׃ מֵֽ֝אַשְׁפֹּ֗ת מֵֽאַשְׁפֹּת֙ מאשפת ’aš·pat·tō·wṯ ’ašpattōwṯ ashpatTot hā’ašpōṯ hā’ašpōwṯ hā·’aš·pō·wṯ hā·’aš·pōṯ hā·šă·p̄ō·wṯ haashPot hāšăp̄ōwṯ hashaFot mê’ašpōṯ mê·’aš·pōṯ meashPotLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 2:8 HEB: מֵעָפָ֜ר דָּ֗ל מֵֽאַשְׁפֹּת֙ יָרִ֣ים אֶבְי֔וֹן NAS: the needy from the ash heap KJV: the beggar from the dunghill, to set INT: the dust the poor the ash lifts the needy Nehemiah 2:13 Nehemiah 3:13 Nehemiah 3:14 Nehemiah 12:31 Psalm 113:7 Lamentations 4:5 7 Occurrences |
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