Introduction:
In modern assemblies, fasting is often reduced to a self-centered practice such as dieting, “detox,” or seeking personal
breakthroughs. Yet YHVH never established fasting as a means of exalting ourselves. Yeshua Himself declared: “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29).
From the beginning, fasting was intended as an act of humility, repentance, and intercession. The prophets consistently revealed their presence: mourning for sin, humbling ourselves before YHVH, and pleading for mercy, not only for ourselves, but also for others.
HebrewFoundations:
Understanding fasting in its Hebrew context is key to recovering its true purpose.
- Fasting – צוֹם (tsom, Strong’s H6685): to abstain from food as an outward act of inner affliction, repentance, and humility.
- Prayer– תְּפִלָּה (tefillah, Strong’s H8605): Intercession, supplication, and communication with YHVH in submission.
- Humility– עָנָוָה (anavah, Strong’s H6038): meekness, lowliness of spirit, bowing the heart in surrender.
From the Hebrew root perspective, fasting is not about indulgence or personal joy, but the affliction of the soul (anah naephesh) (Leviticus 23:27). It is an embodied way of bowing low before YHVH.
Torah and the Prophets:
- (Leviticus 16:29–31; 23:27) On Yom Kippur, YHVH commanded His people to “afflict your souls” (anah nephesh), which is the tradition of the Hebrew context confirmed as fasting. This fast was tied to embracing teshuvah and cleansing us from sin.
- (Isaiah 58:3-7) YHVH rebukes false fasting: “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen?” He explains that true fasting is not a ritual alone, but breaking oppression, losing bonds of wickedness, sharing bread with the hungry, and clothing the naked.
- (Joel 2:12-15) “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart, and not your garments.” Here, fasting is tied directly to repentance and returning to YHVH in sincerity.
Writings and Apocrypha
(Ezra 8:21, 23) Ezra proclaimed a fast “that we might humble ourselves before YHVH, to seek from Him the right way.” This was fasting as humility and dependence on divine guidance.
(Nehemiah 9:1–2) The people fasted, wore sackcloth, confessed their sins, and separated themselves from foreign practices. Fasting here was communal repentance.
(Judith 8:6) Judith fasted continually in humility before YHVH, except on Sabbaths and feast days.
(Tobit 12:8) “Prayer is good with fasting, alms, and righteousness.” Fasting is bound together with prayer and works of mercy.
Yeshua and the Brit Chadashah (New Testament):
- (Matthew 6:16-18) Yeshua taught: “When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites… but anoint your head and
wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place.” - (Matthew 9:14-15) While Yeshua was with His disciples, they did not fast. But he said, “The days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away, and then they will fast.”
- (Acts 13:2–3) The early believers fasted and prayed before sending Sha’ul and Barnabas, showing fasting as a means of seeking the Ruach’s leading.
- (Acts 14:23) Elders were appointed with prayer and fasting, once again showing dependence on YHVH.
The Heart of True Fasting:
From beginning to end, fasting is not about self but about surrender:
- Mourning for your Sin“Turn to Me with fasting, weeping, and mourning” (Joel 2:12). We fast because sin grieves YHVH, and we acknowledge our guilt before Him.
- Teshuvah (Repentance) and Intercession– Daniel fasted and prayed, confessing not only his own sins but also the sins of Israel (Daniel 9:3–5).
- Humility Before YHVH– Ezra fasted “to humble ourselves before YHVH” (Ezra 8:21). Fasting is laying down pride, confessing our wrongs: “We cannot save ourselves.”
- Seeking Deliverance– Yeshua declared that certain demonic strongholds are broken only through prayer and fasting
(Mark 9:29).
Warning Against False Fasting:
Yeshuarebuked the Pharisees for fasting hypocritically (Luke 18:12). Isaiah condemned fasting used for strife or self-exaltation (Isaiah 58:4).
Today, many treat fasting as self-help, dieting, or a spiritual achievement. Yet Scripture consistently shows that true fasting is not for pride or indulgence, but for brokenness, repentance, and humility before YHVH.
Humility and YHVH’s Response:
The main Hebrew verb for “humble” is עָנָה(anah, Strong’s H6031), meaning to afflict, humble, weaken, or bring low. This is the word used in (Leviticus 23:27) when Israel was commanded to “afflict your souls” on Yom Kippur. Here is a chain of Scriptures where humbling oneself is directly connected to YHVH hearing, forgiving, or lifting:
CorePassages:
- (2 Chronicles 7:14) “If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves (וְיִכָּנְעוּ, kanah closely tied to anah), and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from the heavens, and will Forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
- (Leviticus 23:27) “On the tenth day… you shall afflict (עִנִּיתֶם, anitem) your souls.” Here anah= humbling through fasting, directly tied to forgiveness.
- (Ezra 8:21, 23) “We proclaimed a fast… that we might humble ourselves before YHVH… So we fasted, and He was entreated by us.”
- (Nehemiah 9:1–2) The people fasted, confessed, and humbled themselves and YHVH responded with mercy.
Nevi'em (Prophets)
- (Isaiah 57:15) YHVH dwells “with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of
the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” - (Isaiah 58:5–9) “Is it such a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict (anah) His soul? … Then you shall call, and YHVH will answer.”
- (Joel 2:12–13, 18–19) “Turn to Me with fasting… Rend your hearts, not your garments… Then YHVH will be zealous for His land and pity His people. YHVH will answer…”
Ketuvim (Writings)
(Psalm 35:13) “I humbled (עִנֵּיתִי, aniti) my soul with fasting.” ( Psalm 69:10) “When I wept and chastened (anah) my soul with fasting.” (Psalm 34:17–18) “The righteous cry, and YHVH hears… YHVH is near to those with a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”
HistoricalExamples:
- (1 Kings 21:27-29) (Ahab) When Ahab fasted and humbled himself, YHVH delayed judgment.
- (2 Chronicles 12:6-7) (Rehoboam) When the leaders humbled themselves, YHVH said: “They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them.”
- (2 Chronicles 33:12-13) (Manasseh) In affliction, Manasseh humbled himself and prayed. YHVH received his supplication and restored him.
Pattern:
Humility(anah)+ fasting + prayer + Teshuva (repentance) → YHVH hears, forgives,
and delivers.
Conclusion: True fasting is not self-centered but YHVH-centered. It is defined by:
- Humility (עָנָוָה, anavah), bowing our souls before YHVH.
- Repentance (תְּשׁוּבָה, teshuvah) turning from sin with mourning.
- Prayer (תְּפִלָּה, tefillah) interceding for ourselves and others.
- Mercy (חֶסֶד, chesed) breaking oppression and helping the needy.
YHVH never desired empty rituals. He calls us to fast with broken hearts, clothed in humility, praying through the Ruach, and seeking deliverance through Yeshua. In this posture, the Shekinah moves in power to heal, cleanse, and restore His people. “Sacrifices of YHVH are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O YHVH, You will not despise.”(Psalm 51:17)
References:
(Mark 9:29) · (Strong’sConcordance H6685 tsom) · (Strong’s Concordance H8605tefillah) ·
(Strong’s Concordance H6038 anavah)·
(Leviticus 23:27) · (Leviticus 16:29–31) · (Isaiah 58:3–7) ·
(Joel 2:12–15) · (Ezra 8:21, 23) · (Nehemiah 9:1–2) · (Judith
8:6) · (Tobit 12:8) · (Matthew 6:16–18) · (Matthew 9:14–15) ·
(Acts 13:2–3) · (Acts 14:23) · (Joel 2:12) · (Daniel 9:3–5) ·
(Ezra 8:21) · (Mark 9:29) · (Luke 18:12) · (Isaiah 58:4) ·
(Strong’s Concordance H6031 anah) · (2 Chronicles 7:14) ·(Ezra 8:21, 23) · (Nehemiah 9:1–2) · (Isaiah 57:15) · (Isaiah
58:5–9) · (Joel 2:12–19) · (Psalm 35:13) · (Psalm 69:10) ·
(Psalm 34:17–18) · (1 Kings 21:27–29) · (2 Chronicles 12:6–7)
· (2 Chronicles 33:12–13)
