Nature of fasting
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· 6 viewsScripture frequently refers to individuals fasting and describes the different kinds of fast which may be undertaken.
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Kinds of fasting
Kinds of fasting
Abstaining from food and drink
Abstaining from food and drink
Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.
See also Da 9:3; Ac 23:12
Abstaining from food only
Abstaining from food only
And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
See also Da 6:18
The duration of fasting
The duration of fasting
One day: the normal fast period
One day: the normal fast period
Le 23:32; Jdg 20:26; 2 Sa 1:12
Three days
Three days
Es 4:16; Ac 9:9
Seven days
Seven days
1 Sa 31:13; 2 Sa 12:16–20
Forty days
Forty days
These 40-day fasts are all in unique circumstances and are not prescribed:
These 40-day fasts are all in unique circumstances and are not prescribed:
Ex 34:28; 1 Ki 19:8; Mt 4:2
Regular observances of fasting
Regular observances of fasting
Those prescribed by the Law
Those prescribed by the Law
Le 16:29–31 NIV footnote at verse 29.
See also Le 23:26–32; Nu 29:7; Ac 27:9
Those observed in Jewish tradition
Those observed in Jewish tradition
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.
See also Es 9:30–31; Zec 7:2–5
Those observed by the Pharisees
Those observed by the Pharisees
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Involuntary fasts
Involuntary fasts
Those imposed by decree
Those imposed by decree
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
See also 1 Sa 14:24
A special instance of an individual instructed by God to fast:
A special instance of an individual instructed by God to fast:
1 Ki 13:8–9; 1 Ki 13:16
1 Ki 21:9; Je 36:9
Those imposed by circumstances
Those imposed by circumstances
Ac 27:33; 2 Co 6:5; 2 Co 11:27
Voluntary fasts
Voluntary fasts
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
See also Lk 2:37