### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term σάκκος (sákkos), Strong's number `{{G4526}}`, derives directly from the Hebrew word שַׂק (saq), Strong's number `{{H8242}}`. Its core meaning refers to a coarse fabric, typically woven from goat hair, which was uncomfortable and scratchy against the skin. From this literal meaning, σάκκος primarily denotes a garment made from this material, known as "sackcloth." This garment was not worn for comfort or daily attire but served as a potent visual symbol. Its semantic range encompasses deep distress, mourning, humility, and most significantly, repentance. The rough texture and simple, unadorned nature of sackcloth were intended to reflect an inner state of brokenness, sorrow, and contrition before God or in response to calamity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
While its roots are deeply embedded in Old Testament practices, σάκκος appears in the New Testament with specific and powerful connotations.
In [[Matthew 11:21]] and [[Luke 10:13]], Jesus laments over the unrepentant cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, declaring that even pagan cities like Tyre and Sidon would have repented long ago "in sackcloth and ashes" if they had witnessed His mighty works. Here, sackcloth is explicitly linked with a profound, public act of repentance, signifying a complete turning from sin and a humble acknowledgment of divine truth. The implication is that the spiritual blindness of the Jewish cities was more severe than that of gentile cities, as they failed to respond even to overwhelming evidence.
The book of Revelation employs σάκκος in two distinct, yet related, apocalyptic contexts. In [[Revelation 6:12]], during the opening of the sixth seal, the sun becomes "black as sackcloth." This imagery is a powerful cosmic sign of impending divine judgment and universal lamentation. The darkening of the sun to the color and texture of sackcloth signifies a profound disruption of the natural order, mirroring the deep sorrow and spiritual gloom that accompanies God's righteous wrath upon the earth.
Furthermore, in [[Revelation 11:3]], the two prophetic witnesses are described as prophesying for 1,260 days, "clothed in sackcloth." In this context, sackcloth symbolizes their solemn, earnest, and often sorrowful prophetic ministry amidst tribulation. It signifies their lament over the spiritual state of the world, their call for repentance, and their identification with the suffering and humility of those who bear God's message in a hostile environment. It conveys a sense of urgency, mourning, and a readiness to endure hardship for the sake of truth.
### Related Words & Concepts
The Greek σάκκος is a direct transliteration and semantic equivalent of the Hebrew שַׂק (saq), Strong's number `{{H8242}}`. This strong etymological link means that the rich Old Testament tradition of wearing sackcloth for mourning, repentance, and supplication directly informs its New Testament usage.
Concepts frequently associated with sackcloth include:
* **Ashes:** Often worn *with* sackcloth (e.g., "sackcloth and ashes"), symbolizing extreme humiliation and defilement.
* **Fasting:** Frequently accompanied the wearing of sackcloth as a further act of self-denial and spiritual earnestness.
* **Weeping and Lamentation:** Sackcloth was a visible sign of deep sorrow, often accompanied by tears and wailing.
* **Humiliation and Affliction:** The discomfort of the garment was a physical manifestation of a humbled spirit and self-affliction before God.
* **Supplication and Prayer:** Worn during times of intense prayer, especially when pleading for divine intervention or mercy.
* **Prophetic Warning:** As seen in Revelation, it can signify the sober and often dire nature of a prophetic message.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of σάκκος is multifaceted, primarily serving as a profound visual idiom for spiritual states.
Firstly, it is a powerful **symbol of repentance**. The act of donning sackcloth was not merely an outward show but was meant to signify a genuine, heartfelt turning from sin. It demonstrated a willingness to humble oneself, acknowledge wrongdoing, and seek divine forgiveness. Jesus' reference to Tyre and Sidon underscores that true repentance, even if outwardly expressed through sackcloth, is what God desires.
Secondly, sackcloth embodies **humiliation and distress**. It is an acknowledgment of human frailty, sorrow, and dependence on God, particularly in times of national calamity, personal grief, or impending judgment. It signifies a breaking down of pride and a submission to the gravity of a situation.
Thirdly, in the apocalyptic vision of Revelation, sackcloth takes on a **prophetic and eschatological dimension**. When the sun turns "black as sackcloth," it signifies the cosmic scale of divine judgment and the universal sorrow that accompanies the unveiling of God's wrath. When the two witnesses wear sackcloth, it highlights the somber, urgent, and often suffering nature of bearing God's truth in the last days, acting as a visible call to repentance for a world steeped in rebellion.
Ultimately, σάκκος bridges the Old and New Covenants, maintaining its consistent theological weight as a sign of earnestness before God, whether in sorrow, supplication, or prophetic witness. It speaks to the human condition's need for humility and the divine call for a contrite heart.
### Summary
The Greek term σάκκος (sákkos), derived from the Hebrew שַׂק, refers to a coarse garment made of goat hair. Biblically, it functions as a potent symbolic expression rather than merely an article of clothing. Its primary uses in the New Testament, consistent with Old Testament tradition, are to signify deep **repentance**, as seen in Jesus' lament over unrepentant cities, and profound **mourning or distress**, exemplified by the cosmic imagery of a sun "black as sackcloth" and the prophetic witness of those "clothed in sackcloth" in Revelation. Associated with humility, fasting, and lamentation, σάκκος communicates a state of brokenness, earnestness, and a solemn appeal to divine mercy or judgment. It underscores the biblical emphasis on a contrite spirit and the visible expression of profound spiritual and emotional realities before God.
TRV