King James Bible Dictionary

The sole fast required by the law of Moses was that of the great Day of Atonement (q.v.), Leviticus 23:26-32. It is called "the fast" (Acts 27:9).

The only other mention of a periodical fast in the Old Testament is in Zechariah 7:1-7; 8:19, from which it appears that during their captivity the Jews observed four annual fasts.

1. The fast of the fourth month, kept on the seventeenth day of Tammuz, the anniversary of the capture of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans; to commemorate also the incident recorded Exodus 32:19. (Comp. Jeremiah 52:6, 7.)

2. The fast of the fifth month, kept on the ninth of Ab (comp. Numbers 14:27), to commemorate the burning of the city and temple (Jeremiah 52:12, 13).

3. The fast of the seventh month, kept on the third of Tisri (comp. 2 Kings 25), the anniversary of the murder of Gedaliah (Jeremiah 41:1, 2).

4. The fast of the tenth month (comp. Jeremiah 52:4; Ezekiel 33:21; 2 Kings 25:1), to commemorate the beginning of the siege of the holy city by Nebuchadnezzar.

There was in addition to these the fast appointed by Esther (4:16).

Public national fasts on account of sin or to supplicate divine favour were sometimes held.

1. 1 Samuel 7:6;

2. 2 Chronicles 20:3;

3. Jeremiah 36:6-10;

4. Nehemiah 9:1.

There were also local fasts.

1. Judges 20:26;

2. 2 Samuel 1:12;

3. 1 Samuel 31:13;

4. 1 Kings 21:9-12;

5. Ezra 8:21-23:

6. Jonah 3:5-9.

There are many instances of private occasional fasting (1 Samuel 1:7: 20:34; 2 Samuel 3:35; 12:16; 1 Kings 21:27; Ezra 10:6; Nehemiah 1:4; Daniel 10:2, 3). Moses fasted forty days (Exodus 24:18; 34:28), and so also did Elijah (1 Kings 19:8). Our Lord fasted forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2).

In the lapse of time the practice of fasting was lamentably abused (Isaiah 58:4; Jeremiah 14:12; Zechariah 7:5). Our Lord rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocritical pretences in fasting (Matthew 6:16). He himself appointed no fast. The early Christians, however, observed the ordinary fasts according to the law of their fathers (Acts 13:3; 14:23; 2 Corinthians 6:5).

F'AST, adjective

1. Literally, set, stopped, fixed, or pressed close. Hence, close; tight; as, make fast the door; take fast hold.

2. Firm; immovable.

Who by his strength, setteth fast the mountains. Psalms 115:1.

3. Close; strong.

Robbers and outlaws - lurking in woods and fast places.

4. Firmly fixed; closely adhering; as, to stick fast in more; to make fast a rope.

5. Close, as sleep; deep; sound; as a fast sleep.

6. Firm in adherence; as a fast friend.

Fast and loose, variable; inconstant; as, to play fast and loose.

F'AST, adverb Firmly; immovably.

We will bind thee fast and deliver thee into their hand. Judges 15:13.

F'AST, adjective [Latin festino. The sense is to press, drive, urge, and it may be from the same root as the preceding word, with a different application.]

Swift; moving rapidly; quick in motion; as a fast horse.

F'AST, adverb Swiftly; rapidly; with quick steps or progression; as, to run fast; to move fast through the water, as a ship; the work goes on fast

F'AST, verb intransitive

1. To abstain from food, beyond the usual time; to omit to take the usual meals, for a time; as, to fast a day or a week.

2. To abstain from food voluntarily, for the mortification of the body or appetites, or as a token of grief, sorrow and affliction.

Thou didst fast and weep for the child. 2 Samuel 12:21.

When ye fast be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. Matthew 6:16.

3. To abstain from food partially, or from particular kinds of food; as, the Catholics fast in Lent.

F'AST, noun

1. Abstinence from food; properly a total abstinence, but it is used also for an abstinence from particular kinds of food, for a certain time.

Happy were our forefathers, who broke their fasts with herbs.

2. Voluntary abstinence from food, as a religious mortification or humiliation; either total or partial abstinence from customary food, with a view to mortify the appetites, or to express grief and affliction on account of some calamity, or to deprecate an expected evil.

3. The time of fasting, whether a day, week or longer time. An annual fast is kept in New England, usually one day in the spring.

The fast was now already past. Acts 27:9.

F'AST, noun That which fastens or holds.

F'AST-DAY, noun The day on which fasting is observed.

F'ASTEN, verb transitive f'asn.

1. To fix firmly; to make fast or close; as, to fasten a chain to the feet, or to fasten the feet with fetters.

2. To lock, bolt or bar; to secure; as, to fasten a door or window.

3. To hold together; to cement or to link; to unite closely in any manner and by any means, as by cement, hooks, pins, nails, cords, etc.

4. To affix or conjoin.

The words Whig and Tory have been pressed to the service of many successions of parties, with different ideas fastened to them. [Not common.]

5. To fix; to impress.

Thinking, by this face,

To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage.

6. To lay on with strength.

Could he fasten a blow, or make a thrust, when not suffered to approach?

F'ASTEN, verb intransitive To fasten on, is to fix one's self; to seize and hold on; to clinch.

The leech will hardly fasten on a fish.

F'ASTENED, participle passive Made firm or fast; fixed firmly; impressed.

F'ASTENER, noun One that makes fast or firm.

F'ASTENING, participle present tense Making fast.

F'ASTENING, noun Any thing that binds and makes fast; or that which is intended for that purpose.

F'ASTER, noun One who abstains from food.

F'AST-HANDED, adjective Closehanded; covetous; closefisted; avaricious.

FASTIDIOS'ITY, noun Fastidiousness. [Not used.]

FASTID'IOUS, adjective [Latin fastidiousus, from fastidio, to disdain from fastus, haughtiness. See Heb.]

1. Disdainful; squeamish; delicate to a fault; over nice; difficult to please; as a fastidious mind or taste.

2. Squeamish; rejecting what is common or not very nice; suited with difficulty; as a fastidious appetite.

FASTID'IOUSLY, adverb Disdainfully; squeamishly; contemptuously. they look fastidiously and speak disdainfully.

FASTID'IOUSNESS, noun Disdainfulness; contemptuousness; squeamishness of mind, taste or appetite.

FASTIG'IATE,

FASTIG'IATED, adjective [Latin fastigiatus, pointed, from fastigio, to point, fastigium, a top or peak.]

1. In botany, a fastigiate stem is one whose branches are of an equal height. Peduncles are fastigiate when they elevate the fructifications in a bunch, so as to be equally high, or when they form an even surface at the top.

2. Roofed; narrowed to the top.

Observed on occasions of:

Public calamities
2 Samuel 1:12

Afflictions and Adversities
Psalms 35:13; Daniel 6:18

Private afflictions
2 Samuel 12:16

Approaching danger
Esther 4:16

Ordination of ministers
Acts 13:3; Acts 14:23

Accompanied by:

Prayer
Daniel 9:3

Confession of sin
1 Samuel 7:6; Nehemiah 9:1-2

Humiliation
Deuteronomy 9:18; Nehemiah 9:1

During forty days:

Moses
Deuteronomy 9:9; Deuteronomy 9:18

Jesus
Matthew 4:1-2; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-2

Habitual:

By John's disciples
Matthew 9:14

By Anna
Luke 2:37

By Pharisees
Matthew 9:14; Mark 2:18; Luke 18:12

By Cornelius
Acts 10:30

By Paul
2 Corinthians 6:5; 2 Corinthians 11:27

In times of bereavement:

Of the people of Jabesh-Gilead, for Saul and his sons
1 Samuel 31:13; 1 Chronicles 10:12

Of David, at the time of Saul's death
2 Samuel 1:12

Of Abner's death
2 Samuel 3:35

Prolonged:

For three weeks, by Daniel
Daniel 10:2-3

Forty days by Moses
Exodus 24:18; Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9; Deuteronomy 9:18

Forty days by Elijah
1 Kings 19:8

Forty days by Jesus
Matthew 4:2
Humiliation; Humility

Unclassified scriptures relating to
Ezra 8:21-23; Psalms 35:13; Psalms 69:10; Isaiah 58:3-7; Jeremiah 14:12; Daniel 10:2-3; Joel 1:14; Joel 2:12-13; Zech 7:5; Zech 8:19; Matthew 6:16-18; Matthew 9:14-15; Matthew 17:21; Acts 27:9; Acts 27:33-34; 1 Corinthians 7:5

Instances of:

Of the Israelites:

In the conflict between the other tribes with the tribe of Benjamin, on account of the wrong suffered by a Levite's concubine
Judges 20:26

When they went to Mizpeh for the ark
1 Samuel 7:6

Of David:

At the death of Saul
2 Samuel 1:12

During the sickness of the child born to him by Bath-Sheba
2 Samuel 12:16-22

While interceding in prayer for his friends
Psalms 35:13

In his zeal for Zion
Psalms 69:10

In prayer for himself and his adversaries
Psalms 109:4; Psalms 109:24

Of Ahab, when Elijah prophesied the destruction of himself and his house
1 Kings 21:20-29

Of Jehoshaphat, at the time of the invasion of the confederated armies of the Canaanites and Syrians
2 Chronicles 20:3

Of Ezra, on account of the idolatrous marriages of the Jews
Ezra 10:6

Of Nehemiah, on account of the desolation of Jerusalem and the temple
Nehemiah 1:4

Of the Jews:

When Jeremiah prophesied against Judea and Jerusalem
Jeremiah 36:9

In Babylon, with prayer for divine deliverance and guidance
Ezra 8:21; Ezra 8:23

Of Darius, when he put Daniel in the lion's den
Daniel 6:18

Of Daniel:

On account of the captivity of the people, with prayer for their deliverance
Daniel 9:3

At the time of his vision
Daniel 10:1-3

Ninevites, when Jonah preached to them
Jonah 3:5-10

By Paul, at the time of his conversion
Acts 9:9

Of the disciples, at the time of the consecration of Barnabas and Saul
Acts 13:2-3

Of the consecration of the elders
Acts 14:23

F'ASTING, participle present tense Abstaining from food.

F'ASTING, noun The act of abstaining from food.

F'ASTING-DAY, noun A day of fasting; a fast-day; a day of religious mortification and humiliation.

F'ASTNESS, noun

1. The state of being fast and firm; firm adherence.

2. Strength; security.

The places of fastness are laid open.

3. A strong hold; a fortress or fort; a place fortified; a castle. The enemy retired to their fastnesses.

4. Closeness; conciseness of style. [Not used.]

1. One fast only was appointed by the Mosaic law, that on the day of atonement. There is no mention of any other periodical fast in the Old Testament except in (Zechariah 7:1-7; 8:19) From these passages it appears that the Jews, during their captivity, observed four annual fasts,

   in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months.

2. Public fasts were occasionally proclaimed to express national humiliation and to supplicate divine favor. In the case of public danger the proclamation appears to have been accompanied with the blowing of trumpets. (Joel 2:1-15) (See (1 Samuel 7:6; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Jeremiah 36:6-10)) Three days after the feast of tabernacles, when the second temple was completed, "the children of Isr'l assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes and earth upon them," to hear the law read and to confess their sins. (Nehemiah 9:1)
3. Private occasional fasts are recognized in one passage of the law

   (Numbers 30:13) The instances given of individuals fasting under the influence of grief, vexation or anxiety are numerous.

4. In the New Testament the only reference to the Jewish fasts are the mention of "the fast" in (Acts 27:9) (generally understood to denote the day of atonement) an the allusions to the weekly fasts. (Matthew 9:14; Mark 2:18; Luke 5:33; 18:12; Acts 10:30) These fasts originated some time after the captivity.
5. The Jewish fasts were observed with various degrees of strictness. Sometimes there was entire abstinence from food. (Esther 4:16) etc. On other occasions there appears to have been only a restriction to a very plain diet. (Daniel 10:3) Those who fasted frequently dressed in sackcloth or rent their clothes, put ashes on their head and went barefoot. (1 Kings 21:27; Nehemiah 9:1; Psalms 35:13)
6. The sacrifice of the personal will, which gives to fasting all its value, is expressed in the old term used in the law, afflicting the soul .

FAS'TUOUS, adjective [Latin fastuosus, from fastus, haughtiness.]

Proud; haughty; disdainful.