In the Old Testament, people, when repenting or mourning, would throw ashes or dust on their heads. Job 42:5-6: “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” We also have the hope of a new resurrection of the body that we will experience one day a well ( 1 Corinthians 15:35-58). Even though our bodies will turn to ash, our spirits can live eternally with our Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is the Lord and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. Nevertheless, this next Acts passage gives us hope that we will not necessarily have to experience spiritual death.Īcts 2:21: “ And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” And when we pass away on earth, our bodies shall return to dust. These two verses remind us that God breathed life into the dust of the earth. Psalm 103:14: “ for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” It reminds us that through the power of the cross, Jesus makes us pure as snow. “The ashes of a red heifer burned entire ( Numbers 19:5) when sprinkled on the unclean made them ceremonially clean ( Hebrews 9:13).” When we sprinkle ashes on our heads or draw an ash cross, this is an act of ceremonial cleanliness. This is perhaps a precursor to Auriga practice in Rome who would remind his master, “Remember you are mortal” whenever his master had just succeeded in a conquest.Īshes also represent cleanliness. Since humans come from dust, placing dust on our heads reminds us of our humanity, morality, and the finite state of our nature. When someone hears terrible news, such as Job when he discovers his family and possession have been destroyed, they tend to anoint their heads with dust or ashes. What Does Ash Represent in the Bible?Īshes tend to represent repentance, self-abhorrence, and mourning in the Bible.
In this article, we’ll explore the meaning of ashes in Scripture and include a list of some important Bible verses to read during this holiday and the start of Lent.
Ash Wednesday scriptures show us that we need a Savior who can give us the hope of eternal life. Often a pastor, or elder, who draws the cross recites Genesis 3:19, reminding us that we are but dust. Churches, during Ash Wednesday services, will place ash crosses on the foreheads of the people. Whether you’re a pastor or a family wanting to read passages of Scripture for Ash Wednesday, we can find many Bible verses that point to the origins of this practice.
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