צוֹם
a fast
Definition
The Hebrew noun צוֹם (tsôwm) refers to a formal, intentional period of abstaining from food and drink for religious or communal purposes. In the Old Testament, it primarily denotes a religious fast, a spiritual discipline of self-denial used to express mourning (2 Samuel 12:16), repentance (Nehemiah 9:1), or to seek God's guidance and deliverance in a time of crisis (2 Chronicles 20:3, Ezra 8:21). It can also refer to the specific day or period appointed for such fasting, as seen in the royal decrees in Esther (Esther 4:3, 9:31).
Biblical Usage
The word is used 22 times, primarily in the historical and post-exilic books. It appears in contexts of personal grief (King David in 2 Samuel 12:16), national emergency (King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:3), and communal repentance (the returned exiles in Ezra 8:21 and Nehemiah 9:1). It is also used for politically mandated fasts, as in the story of Naboth (1 Kings 21:9, 12) and the Persian decrees in Esther. The usage consistently portrays fasting as a solemn, public, and purposeful act, not a private spiritual exercise.
Etymology
The noun צוֹם (tsôwm) is derived from the root verb צוּם (tsûm, H6684), which means 'to abstain from food,' 'to fast.' The noun form concretizes the action into the period or observance itself. The related Aramaic word shares the same meaning, indicating a common Semitic concept for this religious practice.
Semantic Range
Fasting (צוֹם) in the Hebrew Bible is a tangible expression of humility, dependence, and urgent seeking before God. It externalizes an internal posture of repentance, grief, or desperate prayer. Theologically, it underscores that true fasting, as later prophets emphasized (Isaiah 58), must be coupled with justice and mercy, not mere ritual. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting fasting as a covenantal act—a communal or personal turning to God in times of brokenness or need, seeking His intervention and favor.
In ancient Israelite culture, a fast was a serious communal event, often proclaimed by leaders (king, priest, or prophet). It involved all people, sometimes including animals (Jonah 3:7-8). It was a public sign of mourning or national crisis, differing from some modern individualistic views of fasting. Clothing oneself in sackcloth and ashes was a standard accompaniment (Esther 4:3, Nehemiah 9:1). Fasts could be regular (like the Day of Atonement) or specially called for immediate circumstances.
תַּעֲנִית (taʿănîyth, H8585) — A later Biblical Hebrew synonym also meaning 'fast' or 'affliction,' often emphasizing the humbling or afflictive aspect of the practice.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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