νηστεία
nēsteia
fasting
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word νηστεία (nēsteia) translates to "fasting." It is a noun that appears 8 times in the Bible. As a concept, fasting involves abstaining from food or other sustenance for a period of time, often as a form of spiritual discipline or devotion. The word νηστεία is used in various contexts, including spiritual preparation (e.g., Matthew 4:2), atoning for sin (e.g., Joel 2:12), and demonstrating devotion to God (e.g., Acts 13:2-3). Its significance lies in its ability to convey a sense of separation or detachment from worldly desires, allowing individuals to focus on their spiritual well-being.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences across the text
But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Mark 9:29He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting.”
Luke 2:37and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day.
Acts 14:23When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
Acts 27:9When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them
1 Corinthians 7:5Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
2 Corinthians 6:5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;
2 Corinthians 11:27in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.