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  • What Does the Bible Say About Fasting?
    Bible Questions Answered
      • When observing the Day of Atonement. The Law that God gave to the nation of Israel included a command to fast on the annual Day of Atonement.a (Leviticus 16:29-​31) Fasting was appropriate on this occasion because it reminded the Israelites that they were imperfect and needed God’s forgiveness.

  • What Does the Bible Say About Fasting?
    Bible Questions Answered
    • a God told the Israelites: “You should afflict yourselves,” or “afflict your souls,” on Atonement Day. (Leviticus 16:29, 31; King James Version) This expression is understood to refer to fasting. (Isaiah 58:3) Thus, the Contemporary English Version uses this rendering: “You must go without eating to show sorrow for your sins.”

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