Definition and Usage:
The term "fasten" generally means to attach, secure, or fix something firmly in place. In the context of the Bible, "fasten" is often used to describe the act of securing or fixing one's attention, gaze, or physical objects. It can also imply a spiritual or mental focus, as seen in various scriptural narratives.

Biblical References:

1. Physical Fastening:
· In Acts 3:4, Peter and John, upon encountering a lame man at the temple gate, "fastened their eyes on him" . This indicates a deliberate and focused attention, suggesting the importance of intentionality in spiritual encounters.
· In Acts 27:40, during the shipwreck narrative involving Paul, the sailors "fastened the rudders" to steer the ship. This illustrates the necessity of securing physical objects to maintain control and direction, symbolizing the need for spiritual anchoring in times of crisis.

2. Spiritual and Mental Focus:
· Hebrews 12:2 encourages believers to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" . This exhortation to fasten one's spiritual gaze on Christ underscores the importance of maintaining a steadfast focus on Him amidst life's challenges.
· In Colossians 3:2, Paul instructs the church to "set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" . This directive to fasten one's thoughts on heavenly matters highlights the call to prioritize spiritual over temporal concerns.

Theological Implications:

· Intentionality in Faith: The act of fastening, whether it be one's eyes, mind, or actions, reflects a deliberate choice to focus on God and His purposes. This intentionality is crucial for spiritual growth and maturity.

· Security and Stability: Just as physical fastening provides stability, spiritual fastening offers believers security in their faith journey. By anchoring themselves in Christ and His teachings, Christians can withstand the trials and tribulations of life.

· Discipleship and Obedience: Fastening one's attention on Jesus and His Word is a fundamental aspect of discipleship. It involves obedience and a commitment to follow His example, leading to a transformed life that reflects His character.

Practical Application:

· Prayer and Meditation: Believers are encouraged to fasten their hearts and minds on God through regular prayer and meditation on Scripture. This practice helps cultivate a deeper relationship with Him and aligns one's life with His will.

· Community and Fellowship: Engaging in Christian community provides opportunities to fasten one's faith through mutual encouragement and accountability. Fellowship with other believers strengthens one's resolve to remain focused on Christ.

· Service and Witness: By fastening their lives to the mission of the Gospel, Christians are called to serve others and bear witness to the transformative power of Christ. This outward expression of faith is a testament to the inward focus on Him.

In summary, the concept of fastening in the Bible encompasses both physical and spiritual dimensions, urging believers to secure their lives in Christ and His eternal promises.1. (v.) To fix firmly; to make fast; to secure, as by a knot, lock, bolt, etc.; as, to fasten a chain to the feet; to fasten a door or window.

2. (v.) To cause to hold together or to something else; to attach or unite firmly; to cause to cleave to something , or to cleave together, by any means; as, to fasten boards together with nails or cords; to fasten anything in our thoughts.

3. (v.) To cause to take close effect; to make to tell; to lay on; as, to fasten a blow.

4. (v. i.) To fix one's self; to take firm hold; to clinch; to cling.

4362. prospegnumi -- to fasten to (spec. to a cross)
... prospegnumi. 4363 . to fasten to (spec. ... Word Origin from pros and pegnumi Definition
to fasten to (spec. to a cross) NASB Word Usage nailed to a cross (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4362.htm - 6k

681. hapto -- to fasten to, lay hold of
... to fasten to, lay hold of. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hapto Phonetic
Spelling: (hap'-to) Short Definition: I kindle, light Definition: I kindle, light ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/681.htm - 6k

2510. kathapto -- to lay hold of
... to lay hold of. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kathapto Phonetic Spelling:
(kath-ap'-to) Short Definition: I lay hold of, fasten on to Definition: I lay ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2510.htm - 6k

816. atenizo -- to look fixedly, gaze
... intently (2), looking intently (2). stare, fasten eyes, look stedfastly.
From a compound of a (as a particle of union) and teino ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/816.htm - 7k

736. artemon -- something hung up or fastened, ie a foresail
... Word Origin from artao (to fasten to) Definition something hung up or fastened,
ie a foresail NASB Word Usage foresail (1). mainsail. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/736.htm - 6k

4577. seira -- chain.
... chain. Probably from suro through its congener eiro (to fasten; akin to haireomai);
a chain (as binding or drawing) -- chain. see GREEK suro. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4577.htm - 6k

1976. epirapto -- to sew upon
... sew onto. From epi and the base of rhaphis; to stitch upon, ie Fasten with the needle --
sew on. see GREEK epi. see GREEK rhaphis. (epiraptei) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1976.htm - 6k

1210. deo -- to tie, bind
... to tie, bind. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: deo Phonetic Spelling:
(deh'-o) Short Definition: I bind Definition: I bind, tie, fasten; I impel, compel; ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1210.htm - 8k

4338. proseloo -- to nail to
... to nail to. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proseloo Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-ay-lo'-o) Short Definition: I nail to Definition: I fasten with nails, nail ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4338.htm - 6k

4078. pegnumi -- to make fast
... to make fast. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: pegnumi Phonetic Spelling:
(payg'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I pitch a tent Definition: I fasten, pitch a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4078.htm - 6k

2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... 1), encourage (4), encourage* (1), encouraged (2), encouraged* (3), encouragement
(1), encourages (1), established himself securely (1), fasten (1), fastens (1 ...
/hebrew/2388.htm - 8k

8628. taqa -- to thrust, clap, give a blow, blast
... blast NASB Word Usage blew (19), blow (20), blowing (1), blown (7), blows (1), camped
(1), clap (2), drive (1), driven (1), drove (2), fasten (1), fastened (3 ...
/hebrew/8628.htm - 6k

6795. tsanach -- to descend
... fasten, light from off. A primitive root; to alight; (transitive) to cause to descend,
ie Drive down -- fasten, light (from off). 6794b, 6795. tsanach. 6796 ...
/hebrew/6795.htm - 6k

2883. taba -- to sink, sink down
... drown, fasten, settle, sink. A primitive root; to sink -- drown, fasten, settle,
sink. 2882, 2883. taba. 2884 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2883.htm - 6k

3559. kun -- to be firm
... certainty, confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted,.
A primitive root; properly, to be erect (ie Stand perpendicular ...
/hebrew/3559.htm - 7k

5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... 1), enabled (1), entrust* (1), entrusted (2), entrusted* (1), establish (1),
established (1), exchange (1), execute (1), executes (2), fasten (2), fastened ( ...
/hebrew/5414.htm - 9k

270. achaz -- to grasp, take hold, take possession
... be affrighted, bar, catch, lay, take hold back, come upon, fasten, handle,.
A primitive root; to seize (often with the accessory ...
/hebrew/270.htm - 6k

6775. tsamad -- to bind, join
... fasten, frame, join self. A primitive root; to link, ie Gird; figuratively, to serve,
(mentally) contrive -- fasten, frame, join (self). 6774, 6775. ...
/hebrew/6775.htm - 6k

6095. atsah -- to shut
... root Definition to shut NASB Word Usage winks (1). shut. A primitive root; properly,
to fasten (or make firm), ie To close (the eyes) -- shut. 6094, 6095. ...
/hebrew/6095.htm - 5k

1692. dabaq -- to cling, cleave, keep close
... cleave, keep close NASB Word Usage cleaves (4), cling (14), clings (3), closely
pursued (1), closer (1), clung (4), deeply attracted (1), fasten its grip (1 ...
/hebrew/1692.htm - 6k

That the Jews Would Fasten Christ to the Cross.
... Second Book. 20. That the Jews would fasten Christ to the cross. In Isaiah:
"I have spread out my hands all day to a people disobedient ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/20 that the jews would.htm

First Part of the Book.
... fastening like a root or a stake, he may hinder the water from carrying him away;
but by anything that fleets as he does himself, he cannot fasten himself: and ...
/.../the form of perfect living and other prose treatises/first part of the book.htm

A Preliminary Discourse to Catechising
... Every blow of the hammer is to fasten the nails of the building; so the preacher's
words are to fasten you the more to Christ; they weaken themselves to ...
/.../watson/a body of divinity/1 a preliminary discourse to.htm

Of the Conformity of Our Will to the Will which God Has to Save Us ...
... Ah! why do not we then fasten our wills to thine, as children fasten themselves
on to their mother's breast, to draw the milk of thy eternal benedictions! ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iv of the conformity.htm

"When Solomon was Old. "
... A MAN'S FEMALE FRIENDS FRAME HIS FORTUNES. Solomon began wrong; he allowed
his affection to fasten itself on a stranger"an Egyptian. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xxiv when solomon was old.htm

Christ's 'little Whiles'
... However that may be, and I only offer it as a possible suggestion, the thing that
we want to fasten upon for ourselves is this"we all, if we will, may have a ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/christs little whiles.htm

After Eutropius Having Been Found Outside the Church had Been ...
... Nevertheless many reproach me saying continually thou fasteneth upon the
rich: while they on the other hand fasten upon the poor. ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily ii after eutropius having.htm

Christian Morals. Part I.
... Think not that you are failing from Lima to Manilla, [27] when you may fasten up
the rudder, and sleep before the wind; but expect rough seas, flaws, [28] and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/christian morals/christian morals part i.htm

The Secret of Tranquillity
... there is but one answer"'Delight thyself in the Lord.' These eager desires, transfer
to Him; on Him let the affections fix and fasten; make Him the end of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the secret of tranquillity.htm

Believe and be Saved
... CHAPTER VIII BELIEVE AND BE SAVED. It is the Holy Spirit alone that can
draw us to the cross and fasten us to the Saviour. He who ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bonar/gods way of peace/chapter viii believe and be.htm

Fasten (28 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) To fix firmly; to make fast; to secure, as by a knot, lock, bolt, etc.;
as, to fasten a chain to the feet; to fasten a door or window. ...
/f/fasten.htm - 14k

Tie (18 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) Low shoes fastened with lacings. 8. (vt) To fasten with a band or cord and
knot; to bind. ... 10. (vt) To unite firmly; to fasten; to hold. 11. ...
/t/tie.htm - 13k

Bolt (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A strong pin, of iron or other material, used to fasten or hold something
in place, often having a head at one end and screw thread cut upon the other ...
/b/bolt.htm - 11k

Attach (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To bind, fasten, tie, or connect; to make fast
or join; as, to attach one thing to another by a string, by glue, or the like. ...
/a/attach.htm - 11k

Nail (9 Occurrences)
... a yard. 6. (n.) To fasten with a nail or nails; to close up or secure by
means of nails; as, to nail boards to the beams. 7. (n.) To ...
/n/nail.htm - 14k

Fastened (43 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Fasten. ... (KJV DBY WBS). Exodus 39:31 And they fastened to it a lace
of blue, to fasten it on the turban above; as Jehovah had commanded Moses. ...
/f/fastened.htm - 19k

Key (8 Occurrences)
... 15. (n.) Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance. 16. (vt) To
fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges. Int. ...
/k/key.htm - 14k

Ouches (8 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:14 And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathed work shalt thou
make them, and fasten the wreathed chains to the ouches. (KJV WBS). ...
/o/ouches.htm - 10k

Lace (7 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To fasten with a lace; to draw together with a lace passed through eyelet
holes; to unite with a lace or laces, or, figuratively. ...
/l/lace.htm - 10k

Loop
... 7. (vt) To make a loop of or in; to fasten with a loop or loops; -- often with up;
as, to loop a string; to loop up a curtain. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/l/loop.htm - 7k

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