Topical Bible: Haircloth

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Topical Encyclopedia

Haircloth, often referred to as sackcloth in biblical texts, is a coarse, rough fabric traditionally made from the hair of goats or camels. It holds significant symbolic meaning throughout the Bible, primarily associated with mourning, repentance, and humility.

Biblical References and Symbolism

Haircloth is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as a garment worn during times of distress or penitence. The wearing of sackcloth was a public demonstration of one's sorrow or repentance before God. In Genesis 37:34, Jacob mourns the loss of his son Joseph by tearing his clothes and putting on sackcloth: "Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned for his son many days" . This act of donning sackcloth signifies deep personal grief and lamentation.

In the prophetic literature, sackcloth is often associated with repentance and a call to return to God. The prophet Joel calls for a national repentance in Joel 1:13: "Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn; wail, O ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, for the grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God" . Here, the wearing of sackcloth by the priests symbolizes a collective turning back to God in humility and contrition.

The use of sackcloth is also evident in the account of Jonah, where the people of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth as a sign of their repentance after hearing Jonah's message. Jonah 3:5-6 states, "And the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. When word reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes" . This collective act of wearing sackcloth underscores the seriousness of their repentance and their desire to avert divine judgment.

Cultural and Religious Context

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, haircloth was not only a symbol of mourning and repentance but also a material used for practical purposes. Its coarse texture made it suitable for making sacks and other utilitarian items. However, its primary significance in the biblical context is its role as a garment of humility and penitence.

The New Testament also alludes to the use of sackcloth in the context of eschatological events. In Revelation 11:3, the two witnesses prophesy while clothed in sackcloth: "And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth" . This imagery conveys a message of repentance and the urgency of the prophetic message during the end times.

Theological Implications

The use of haircloth in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the human need for repentance and humility before God. It reflects an outward expression of an inward reality—a heart contrite and broken over sin. The biblical narrative consistently portrays sackcloth as a means of expressing genuine sorrow and a desire for reconciliation with God.

In summary, haircloth, or sackcloth, is a significant biblical symbol representing mourning, repentance, and humility. Its presence in both the Old and New Testaments underscores the timeless call for individuals and communities to humble themselves before God, seeking His mercy and forgiveness.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Stuff or cloth made wholly or in part of hair.

Library

These Things, My Brother Aurelius, Most Dear unto Me...
... thing of a holy meaning [2614] in time of Prophecy, be by these people courted as
matter of humility, then let them be shorn, and veil their head with haircloth ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 38 these things my.htm

Writings of Rufinus. Preface to the Commentary on the Benedictions ...
... to me also the knowledge of them; especially of that passage which says: "Binding
his colt to the vine and his ass's [2774] colt to the haircloth." [2775] Tell ...
/.../writings of rufinus preface to.htm

How it is that Cain's Line Terminates in the Eighth Generation ...
... And in that haircloth there was a reminder of sins, because the goats were to be
set on the left hand of the Judge; and therefore, when we confess our sins, we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 20 how it is that.htm

Of the Reason Why Forty Generations (Not Including Christ Himself) ...
... suitably in the eleven; whence also we find instructions to have been given to the
effect that there should be eleven curtains of haircloth constructed in the ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter iv of the reason why.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xvii. 21, "How Oft Shall My ...
... [2785] Among the rest, curtains of haircloth were ordered to be made not ten, but
eleven; [2786] because by haircloth is signified the confession of sins. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxxiii on the words.htm

Of St. Paul, and the Person whom He Urges the Corinthians to ...
... church, for the purpose of melting the brotherhood by his prayers, the repentant
adulterer, lead into the midst and prostrate him, all in haircloth and ashes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on modesty/chapter xiii of st paul and.htm

Declaring when Spiritual and Corporal Penances Ought to be Used ...
... with rigour, that it may be subject to the Spirit and follow the Law of God with
ease; then it concerns you to manage the Weapons of Haircloth, Fasting and ...
/.../chap xv declaring when spiritual.htm

Mortifications Divided Into: 1...
... much in the way of perfection: such are the voluntary corporal fasts beyond what
the Church or regular observance do require, wearing of haircloth, chains, &c ...
/.../chapter v mortifications divided into .htm

The Routing of Giant Doubt
... It was made of stiff, iron stays, woven in with rough haircloth, both of which were
made, so Mr. Legality said, by one Mr. Over-Conscientious Scruple who lives ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter eleven the routing of.htm

St. Ambrose Teaches Out of the Prophet Isaiah what they must do ...
... body: "The elders of the daughters of Sion sat," he says, "upon the ground, they
put dust upon their heads, they girded themselves with haircloth, the princes ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vi st ambrose teaches.htm

Thesaurus

Haircloth (38 Occurrences)
...Haircloth (38 Occurrences). ... (BBE). Genesis 37:34 Then Jacob, giving signs of grief,
put on haircloth, and went on weeping for his son day after day. (BBE). ...
/h/haircloth.htm - 18k

Quietly (30 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 21:27 Hearing these words, Ahab, in great grief, put haircloth on his flesh
and went without food, sleeping in haircloth, and going about quietly. ...
/q/quietly.htm - 16k

Wailing (44 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 15:3 In their streets they are covering themselves with haircloth: on the
tops of their houses, and in their public places, there is crying and bitter ...
/w/wailing.htm - 19k

Cords (80 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 20:31 Then his servants said to him, It is said that the kings of Israel
are full of mercy: let us then put on haircloth, and cords on our heads, and ...
/c/cords.htm - 30k

Grief (252 Occurrences)
... BBE). Genesis 37:34 Then Jacob, giving signs of grief, put on haircloth, and
went on weeping for his son day after day. (BBE). Genesis ...
/g/grief.htm - 45k

Sleeping (69 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 21:27 Hearing these words, Ahab, in great grief, put haircloth on his flesh
and went without food, sleeping in haircloth, and going about quietly. ...
/s/sleeping.htm - 27k

Robe (142 Occurrences)
... his robes in his hands, violently parting them; and, while he was walking on the
wall, the people, looking, saw that under his robe he had haircloth on his ...
/r/robe.htm - 37k

Sounds (64 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 49:3 Make sounds of grief, O Heshbon, for Ai is wasted; give loud cries,
O daughters of Rabbah, and put haircloth round you: give yourselves to weeping ...
/s/sounds.htm - 26k

Dust (182 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 9:1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel came
together, taking no food and putting haircloth and dust on their bodies. ...
/d/dust.htm - 43k

Dressed (77 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe,
and the chief priests, dressed in haircloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of ...
/d/dressed.htm - 29k

Resources

Haircloth: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Haircloth (38 Occurrences)

Revelation 6:12
And I saw when the sixth stamp was undone, and there was a great earth-shock; and the sun became black as haircloth, and all the moon became as blood;
(BBE)

Revelation 11:3
And I will give orders to my two witnesses, and they will be prophets for a thousand, two hundred and sixty days, clothed with haircloth.
(BBE)

Genesis 37:34
Then Jacob, giving signs of grief, put on haircloth, and went on weeping for his son day after day.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 3:31
And David said to Joab and all the people who were with him, Go in grief and put haircloth about you, in sorrow for Abner. And King David went after the dead body.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 21:10
And Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took haircloth, placing it on the rock as a bed for herself, from the start of the grain-cutting till rain came down on them from heaven; and she did not let the birds of the air come near them by day, or the beasts of the field by night.
(BBE)

1 Kings 20:31
Then his servants said to him, It is said that the kings of Israel are full of mercy: let us then put on haircloth, and cords on our heads, and go to the king of Israel; it may be that he will give you your life.
(BBE)

1 Kings 20:32
So they put on haircloth, and cords on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, Your servant Ben-hadad says, Let me now keep my life. And he said, Is he still living? he is my brother.
(BBE)

1 Kings 21:27
Hearing these words, Ahab, in great grief, put haircloth on his flesh and went without food, sleeping in haircloth, and going about quietly.
(BBE)

2 Kings 1:8
And they answered him: 'He was a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.' And he said: 'It is Elijah the Tishbite.'
(See RSV)

2 Kings 6:30
Then the king, hearing what the woman said, took his robes in his hands, violently parting them; and, while he was walking on the wall, the people, looking, saw that under his robe he had haircloth on his flesh.
(BBE)

2 Kings 19:1
And on hearing it, King Hezekiah took off his robe, and put on haircloth, and went into the house of the Lord.
(BBE)

2 Kings 19:2
And he sent Eliakim, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and the chief priests, dressed in haircloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 21:16
And David, lifting up his eyes, saw the angel of the Lord there between earth and heaven, with an uncovered sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the responsible men, clothed in haircloth, went down on their faces.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 9:1
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel came together, taking no food and putting haircloth and dust on their bodies.
(BBE)

Esther 4:1
Now when Mordecai saw what was done, pulling off his robe, he put on haircloth, with dust on his head, and went out into the middle of the town, crying out with a loud and bitter cry.
(BBE)

Esther 4:2
And he came even before the king's doorway; for no one might come inside the king's door clothed in haircloth.
(BBE)

Esther 4:3
And in every part of the kingdom, wherever the king's word and his order came, there was great sorrow among the Jews, and weeping and crying and going without food; and numbers of them were stretched on the earth covered with dust and haircloth.
(BBE)

Esther 4:4
And Esther's women and her servants came and gave her word of it. Then great was the grief of the queen: and she sent robes for Mordecai, so that his clothing of haircloth might be taken off; but he would not have them.
(BBE)

Job 16:15
I have made haircloth the clothing of my skin, and my horn is rolled in the dust.
(BBE)

Isaiah 15:3
In their streets they are covering themselves with haircloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their public places, there is crying and bitter weeping.
(BBE)

Isaiah 37:1
And on hearing it Hezekiah took off his robe and put on haircloth and went into the house of the Lord.
(BBE)

Isaiah 37:2
And he sent Eliakim, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and the chief priests, dressed in haircloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.
(BBE)

Isaiah 50:3
By me the heavens are clothed with black, and I make haircloth their robe.
(BBE)

Isaiah 58:5
Have I given orders for such a day as this? a day for keeping yourselves from pleasure? is it only a question of the bent head, of putting on haircloth, and being seated in the dust? is this what seems to you a holy day, well-pleasing to the Lord?
(BBE)

Jeremiah 4:8
For this put on haircloth, with weeping and loud crying: for the burning wrath of the Lord is not turned back from us.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 6:26
O daughter of my people, put on haircloth, rolling yourself in the dust: give yourself to sorrow, as for an only son, with most bitter cries of grief; for he who makes waste will come on us suddenly.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 48:37
For everywhere the hair of the head and the hair of the face is cut off: on every hand there are wounds, and haircloth on every body.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 49:3
Make sounds of grief, O Heshbon, for Ai is wasted; give loud cries, O daughters of Rabbah, and put haircloth round you: give yourselves to weeping, running here and there and wounding yourselves; for Milcom will be taken prisoner together with his rulers and his priests.
(BBE)

Lamentations 2:10
The responsible men of the daughter of Zion are seated on the earth without a word; they have put dust on their heads, they are clothed in haircloth: the heads of the virgins of Jerusalem are bent down to the earth.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 7:18
And they will put haircloth round them, and deep fear will be covering them; and shame will be on all faces, and the hair gone from all their heads.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 27:31
And they will have the hair of their heads cut off because of you, and will put haircloth on their bodies, weeping for you with bitter grief in their souls, even with bitter sorrow.
(BBE)

Daniel 9:3
And turning my face to the Lord God, I gave myself up to prayer, requesting his grace, going without food, in haircloth and dust.
(BBE)

Joel 1:8
Make sounds of grief like a virgin dressed in haircloth for the husband of her early years.
(BBE)

Joel 1:13
Put haircloth round you and give yourselves to sorrow, you priests; give cries of grief, you servants of the altar: come in, and, clothed in haircloth, let the night go past, you servants of my God: for the meal offering and the drink offering have been kept back from the house of your God.
(BBE)

Amos 8:10
Your feasts will be turned into sorrow and all your melody into songs of grief; everyone will be clothed with haircloth, and the hair of every head will be cut; I will make the weeping like that for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day.
(BBE)

Jonah 3:5
And the people of Nineveh had belief in God; and a time was fixed for going without food, and they put on haircloth, from the greatest to the least.
(BBE)

Jonah 3:6
And the word came to the king of Nineveh, and he got up from his seat of authority, and took off his robe, and covering himself with haircloth, took his seat in the dust.
(BBE)

Jonah 3:8
And let man and beast be covered with haircloth, and let them make strong prayers to God: and let everyone be turned from his evil way and the violent acts of their hands.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Haircloth

Related Terms

Quietly (30 Occurrences)

Wailing (44 Occurrences)

Cords (80 Occurrences)

Grief (252 Occurrences)

Sleeping (69 Occurrences)

Robe (142 Occurrences)

Sounds (64 Occurrences)

Dust (182 Occurrences)

Dressed (77 Occurrences)