ASHES. The tr. of the Heb. and one Gr. word designating the products of combustion.

a. אֵ֫פֶר, H709, the most frequent word. It is used most frequently as a sign of mourning and penitence (2 Sam 13:19; Esth 4:1; Job 2:8; 42:6; Dan 9:3). This usage is akin in meaning to its use designating humiliation or abasement (Gen 18:27; Job 30:19; Lam 3:16; Ezek 28:18). Destruction may be implied in Malachi 4:3. In other instances ashes are grouped with dust to emphasize symbolically one’s humiliation (Gen 18:27; Job 30:19). Dust alone or with ashes also symbolizes worthlessness (Gen 18:27; Isa 44:20). “Proverbs of ashes” (Job 13:12) designates worthless sayings.

b. דֶּ֫שֶׁן, H2016, designates the ash residue left from burning of the fatty sacrifices (Lev 1:16; 4:12; 6:10, 11). This included both remains of fuel and fat. The same word designates the remains of a burnt corpse (Jer 31:40), thus achieving something of a technical significance. Its use with respect to Jeroboam’s altar (1 Kings 13:1-5) indicates the nature of the sacrifices made there: that they were sacrifices like those made in Jerusalem, used at Bethel with the purpose of rendering it unnecessary for Israelites to travel to Jerusalem, thus tying the people to himself (cf. 1 Kings 12:26-30). These altars were contrary to Jahweh’s words to him in 1 Kings 11:36-38.

c. עֲפַ֖ר, used of the ashes of the red heifer (Num 19:17). The fact that the blood was burnt with the body of this animal gave the ashes a sanctity providing for their use in cleansing. They were used to effect the purification of one who had touched a dead body.

d. פִּ֖יחַ designates the condensation of the fatty smoke from the deshen (Exod 9:8, 10).

e. Σποδός is the Gr. equivalent of ’āphār, used in mourning (Matt 11:21; Luke 10:13) and in cleansing (Heb 9:13).

In 1 Kings 20:38, 41 KJV, “ashes” is incorrect and should be tr. “bandage,” אֲפֵר, H710, as in RSV “with a bandage over his eyes.”