"ashes," is found three times, twice in association with sackcloth, Mat 11:21, Luk 10:13, as tokens of grief (cp. Est 4:1, Est 4:3, Isa 58:5, Isa 61:3, Jer 6:26, Jon 3:6); of the ashes resulting from animal sacrifices, Heb 9:13; in the OT, metaphorically, of one who describes himself as dust and "ashes," Gen 18:27, etc.
"to turn to ashes," is found in 2Pe 2:6, with reference to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Notes: (1) Tephra, frequently used of the "ashes" of a funeral pile, is not found in the NT. (2) The Hebrew verb, rendered "accept" in Psa 20:3, "accept thy burnt sacrifice," signifies "to turn to ashes" (i.e., by sending fire from heaven). See also Exo 27:3, Num 4:13, "shall take away the ashes."
