Dust

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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Small particles of matter found on the ground, out of which man was formed, to whom it was said, “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen. 2:77And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7); Gen. 3:1919In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Genesis 3:19)). “The first man is of the earth, earthy” (1 Cor. 15:4747The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:47)). It is used as a symbol of weakness: “he remembereth that we are dust” (Psa. 103:1414For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. (Psalm 103:14)). To “lick the dust” is figurative of defeat (Psa. 72:99They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. (Psalm 72:9)). To “cast dust upon the head” was a sign of grief (Ezek. 27:3030And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes: (Ezekiel 27:30); Rev. 18:1919And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. (Revelation 18:19)). To “shake the dust off the feet” on leaving a city where the servants of Christ had been rejected, was leaving them to judgment: not even the dust of their city should be presented before the messengers’ Master (Matt. 10:1414And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. (Matthew 10:14); Acts 13:5151But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. (Acts 13:51)). Similarly dust was cast or shaken into the air by men in great indignation (Acts 22:2323And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, (Acts 22:23)).