ashes to ashes, dust to dust

phrase

A biblical reminder that God created humanity from dust, and will return them to it due to their sins.

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Meanings

phrase

alternative earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust

  1. A biblical reminder that God created humanity from dust, and will return them to it due to their sins.
  2. Inferring death.

Origin

From the Book of Common Prayer.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

ashes to ashes, dust to dust. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ashes%20to%20ashes%2C%20dust%20to%20dust

MLA

“ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ashes%20to%20ashes%2C%20dust%20to%20dust. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ashes%20to%20ashes%2C%20dust%20to%20dust.

Source: ashes to ashes, dust to dust on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.