Lexical Summary taanith: Fast, Fasting Original Word: תַּעֲנִית Strong's Exhaustive Concordance heaviness From anah; affliction (of self), i.e. Fasting -- heaviness. see HEBREW anah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom anah Definition humiliation NASB Translation humiliation (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [תַּעֲנִית] noun feminine humiliation, by fasting (compare √ Pi`el Hithpa`el; Late Hebrew ׳ת = fasting), suffix תַּעֲנִיתִי Ezekiel 9:5. Topical Lexicon Context in Ezra 9:5 At the evening offering, Ezra writes, “I rose up from my humiliation, with my garment and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God” (Ezra 9:5). The word תַּעֲנִית frames the scene: a fast marked by grief over Israel’s intermarriage with surrounding peoples. Ezra’s fast is not a private devotional exercise but a public act of covenant consciousness, binding the community to God’s holiness. Old Testament Background of Fasting Fasting in Israel often entailed “afflicting the soul” (Leviticus 16:29; 23:27) to express contrition and dependence. Moses fasted forty days on Sinai (Deuteronomy 9:9), David implored divine mercy for his dying child through fasting (2 Samuel 12:16), and the nation fasted at Mizpah when repenting of idolatry (1 Samuel 7:6). These fasts show a pattern: fasting accompanies confession, intercession, or extraordinary seeking of God. Spiritual Purpose of Fasting Scripture links fasting with: Corporate Fasting in Times of Crisis National fasts heighten covenant solidarity. Jehoshaphat “proclaimed a fast for all Judah” when threatened by Moab and Ammon (2 Chronicles 20:3). In Nehemiah 9:1 the returned exiles gather “with fasting, sackcloth, and dust on their heads” to renew the covenant. Ezra 9:5 shares this communal burden: leadership leads repentance, the people follow. Personal Fasting and Humility While communal fasts are prominent, Scripture commends private fasting. Hannah’s “sorrow of spirit” (1 Samuel 1:7-10), David’s secret fasting (Psalm 69:10), and Elijah’s journey to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8) reveal solitary disciplines that cultivate reliance on God. Jesus’ instruction, “when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face” (Matthew 6:17-18), guards against hypocrisy, focusing on the Father who “sees in secret.” Prophetic Correction and True Fasting Isaiah 58 exposes empty ritual: “Is this the fast I have chosen…? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry…?” (Isaiah 58:5-7). True fasting breaks oppression and embodies covenant ethics. Similarly, Zechariah 7:5-10 warns that fasting divorced from obedience is futile. Ezra’s posture of torn garments and confession illustrates the authentic fast these prophets envisioned. Christological Fulfillment and New Testament Continuity Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2), identifying with Israel yet succeeding where they failed. His teaching assumes fasting will persist among disciples (Matthew 6:16-18) but reorients it around the Bridegroom’s presence (Matthew 9:15). The early church fasts when commissioning missionaries (Acts 13:2-3) and appointing elders (Acts 14:23), showing that the discipline supports worship, guidance, and leadership. Practical Ministry Application 1. Repentance: Congregations may call a fast when spiritual decline is recognized, modeling Ezra 9. Theological Reflection תַּעֲנִית underscores that fasting is physical theology: the body joins the heart in acknowledging God’s supremacy. From Sinai to Pentecost, fasting punctuates redemptive history, sharpening dependence on divine grace. Ezra’s lone usage crystallizes its essence—humiliation that opens the way for restoration. Forms and Transliterations מִתַּֽעֲנִיתִ֔י מתעניתי mit·ta·‘ă·nî·ṯî mitta‘ănîṯî mittaaniTiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 9:5 HEB: הָעֶ֗רֶב קַ֚מְתִּי מִתַּֽעֲנִיתִ֔י וּבְקָרְעִ֥י בִגְדִ֖י NAS: I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment KJV: I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent INT: the evening arose my humiliation torn my garment 1 Occurrence |
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