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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJames Hastings Dictionary of the NT: Sackcloth
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SACKCLOTH.—A coarse, dark-coloured cloth, made of goat’s or camel’s hair (Gr. óÜêêïò , Heb. ùַׂ÷ ), used in ordinary life for sacking, sieves, strainers, and the like, but in the Gospels twice named in connexion with prevalent mourning customs (Mat_11:21, Luk_10:13), coupled with ‘ashes’ (wh. see) as an expression of penitential grief. The mourner wore the sackcloth garment, sometimes next the skin; and because of the garment’s coarseness it became a constant reminder of his grief, its irritation being a sort of penance; sometimes it was worn as an outer garment as a visible expression of mourning. Closely related to this use of sackcloth was the use of it by ascetics and prophets (cf. later use by pilgrims). So John the Baptist wore a garment of camel’s hair (Mat_3:4, Mar_1:6) as the expression of a certain austerity of life, and as a rebuke to the love of ease and luxury which characterized the age.
E. B. Pollard.