# fast, fasting

## Definition:

The term to “fast” means to stop eating food for a period of time, such as for a day or more. Sometimes it also includes not drinking.

* Fasting can help people to focus on God and pray without being distracted by preparing food and eating.
* Jesus condemned the Jewish religious leaders for fasting for the wrong reasons. They fasted so that others would think they were righteous.
* Sometimes people fast because they are very sad or grieved about something.
* The verb to “fast” can also be translated as to “refrain from eating” or to “not eat.”
* The noun “fast” could be translated as “time of not eating” or “time of abstaining from food.”

(See also: [Jewish leaders](../other/jewishleaders.md))

## Bible References:

* [1 Kings 21:8-10](rc://en/tn/help/1ki/21/08)
* [2 Chronicles 20:3](rc://en/tn/help/2ch/20/03)
* [Acts 13:1-3](rc://en/tn/help/act/13/01)
* [Jonah 3:4-5](rc://en/tn/help/jon/03/04)
* [Luke 5:34](rc://en/tn/help/luk/05/34)
* [Mark 2:19](rc://en/tn/help/mrk/02/19)
* [Matthew 6:18](rc://en/tn/help/mat/06/18)
* [Matthew 9:15](rc://en/tn/help/mat/09/15)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[25:1](rc://en/tn/help/obs/25/01)__ Immediately after Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led him out into the wilderness, where he __fasted__ for forty days and forty nights.
* __[34:8](rc://en/tn/help/obs/34/08)__ “‘For example, I __fast__ two times every week and I give you ten percent of all the money and goods that I receive.’”
* __[46:10](rc://en/tn/help/obs/46/10)__ One day, while the Christians at Antioch were __fasting__ and praying, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do the work I have called them to do.”

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H2908, H5144, H6684, H6685, G35210, G35220
