אֵ֫פֶר
e.pher
ashes
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredBased on the given data, the word "אֵ֫פֶר" (e.pher) is a Hebrew term that translates to "ashes." This word appears 22 times in the Hebrew Bible, indicating its relatively extensive usage in the text. The meaning of "ashes" implies a connection to the afterlife, purification, and remembrance. The fact that it appears in this context suggests that ashes hold symbolic significance in Hebrew culture, perhaps signifying the fleeting nature of life, the need for purification, or the importance of remembering the dead. Given its prevalence, "אֵ֫פֶר" likely holds a certain importance in Hebrew thought, but without more context, the nature of this significance is unclear.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
22 total occurrences across the text
Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and wailed loudly and bitterly.
Esther 4:3In every province, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
Job 2:8He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he sat among the ashes.
Job 13:12Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defenses are defenses of clay.
Job 30:19He has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes.
Job 42:6Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Psalms 102:9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
Psalms 147:16He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes.
Isaiah 44:20He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can’t deliver his soul, nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”
Isaiah 58:5Is this the fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to humble his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under himself? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahweh?
Isaiah 61:3to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.
Jeremiah 6:26Daughter of my people, clothe yourself with sackcloth, and wallow in ashes! Mourn, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation, for the destroyer will suddenly come on us.
Lamentations 3:16He has also broken my teeth with gravel. He has covered me with ashes.
Ezekiel 27:30and will cause their voice to be heard over you, and will cry bitterly. They will cast up dust on their heads. They will wallow in the ashes.
Ezekiel 28:18By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your commerce, you have profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought out a fire from the middle of you. It has devoured you. I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all those who see you.
Daniel 9:3I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
Jonah 3:6The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
Malachi 4:3You shall tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make,” says Yahweh of Armies.
Genesis 18:27Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.
Numbers 19:9“A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up outside of the camp in a clean place; and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for use in water for cleansing impurity. It is a sin offering.
Numbers 19:10He who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. It shall be to the children of Israel, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them, for a statute forever.
2 Samuel 13:19Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.