Understanding ἄσιτος (asitos) Strong’s G777: Fasting’s Deeper Meaning – From Physical Abstinence to Spiritual Dependence

Pronunciation Guide: ah-SEE-tos

Basic Definition

Strong’s G777: ἄσιτος (asitos) describes someone who is without food, fasting, or having not eaten. It combines the alpha privative (ἀ-) meaning “without” and σῖτος (sitos) meaning “grain, food,” literally meaning “without food” or “not having eaten.”

Etymology and Morphology

• Adjective used attributively and predicatively
• Compound word: ἀ- (alpha privative, “not”) + σῖτος (sitos, “food/grain”)
• Used primarily in narrative contexts
• Found in medical and historical literature
• Common in sea voyage narratives

ἄσιτος Morphology:

• ἄσιτος (nominative singular masculine/feminine) – without food
• ἄσιτον (accusative singular masculine/feminine) – without food
• ἄσιτοι (nominative plural masculine/feminine) – without food

Origin & History

The term ἄσιτος appears in classical Greek medical texts, particularly in the Hippocratic corpus, where it describes patients unable or unwilling to eat. Xenophon uses it in his “Anabasis” to describe soldiers who hadn’t eaten during difficult campaigns. In the Septuagint period, while the exact word ἄσιτος doesn’t appear, related concepts of fasting use different terminology like νηστεία (nēsteia).

The concept carries significant weight in both Hellenistic and Jewish contexts, where voluntary abstention from food often carried religious or medical significance. Medical writers like Galen used it to describe both voluntary and involuntary abstention from food.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Complete abstention from food
• Being in a fasting state
• Unable to eat (due to circumstances)
• Choosing not to eat (for religious purposes)

ἄσιτος Translation Options:

• “Without eating” – Emphasizes the ongoing state
• “Fasting” – Captures both voluntary and involuntary aspects
• “Having eaten nothing” – Reflects the perfect aspect often associated with its usage
• “Food-less” – Literal but rarely the best translation choice

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἄσιτος appears uniquely in Acts 27:33, during Paul’s tumultuous sea voyage to Rome. The context describes sailors and passengers who had gone fourteen days without proper food during a severe storm. This usage combines both circumstantial necessity (the storm’s severity preventing normal meals) and possibly the psychological impact of fear and anxiety on appetite.

The word’s singular appearance in Scripture occurs at a pivotal moment, highlighting both physical deprivation and the human tendency to neglect basic needs during crisis situations. This connects thematically to other Biblical passages about fasting, though those typically use different Greek terminology.

• “Until the day was about to dawn, Paul was encouraging them all to take some food, saying, ‘Today is the fourteenth day that you have been without food [ἄσιτος]'” Acts 27:33

Cultural Insights

In ancient Mediterranean maritime culture, seasickness and the challenges of food preservation made eating difficulties common during extended voyages. The specific mention of fourteen days without food in Acts 27 would have resonated with ancient readers familiar with sea travel’s hazards. Jewish readers would have noted the parallel to Daniel’s three-week fast (Daniel 10:2-3) and other significant biblical periods of food abstention.

The term’s use in Acts occurs during a journey to Rome, symbolically connecting physical sustenance with spiritual endurance. This parallels the Jewish understanding of fasting as both physical discipline and spiritual practice.

Theological Significance

The use of ἄσιτος in Acts 27 presents a powerful picture of human frailty and divine provision. Paul’s encouragement to eat demonstrates practical wisdom within spiritual leadership – recognizing that physical sustenance is part of God’s care for His people. This episode echoes the broader biblical theme of God’s provision in crisis, from manna in the wilderness to Elijah’s supernatural feeding.

The context also illuminates how God uses ordinary means (food, rest) alongside extraordinary intervention (saving from shipwreck) to accomplish His purposes. This balance of practical and miraculous elements characterizes much of Acts’ theology.

Personal Application

When we face life’s storms, we often neglect basic needs like food and rest. Paul’s practical leadership reminds us that spiritual maturity includes caring for our physical bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. This word study challenges us to maintain balance in crisis – neither neglecting physical needs nor forgetting our ultimate dependence on God.

Related Words

• νηστεία (nēsteia) – “fasting” – More commonly used for religious fasting, emphasizing voluntary abstention for spiritual purposes See G3521
• λιμός (limos) – “famine” – Refers to hunger from scarcity rather than choice See G3042
• πεινάω (peinaō) – “to hunger” – Describes the physical sensation of hunger See G3983
• νῆστις (nēstis) – “fasting” – Alternative term for being without food See G3523

Did you Know?

• The word ἄσιτος was commonly used in ancient medical texts to describe patients who had lost their appetite due to illness, showing how medical and biblical Greek often overlapped.
• Ancient Mediterranean ships typically carried enough provisions for 21 days, making the 14-day period mentioned in Acts 27 particularly significant as their supplies would have been running critically low.
• The root word σῖτος (sitos) originally referred specifically to wheat or grain, reflecting its importance as the staple food of the ancient Mediterranean world.

Remember This

ἄσιτος reminds us that even in life’s storms, God provides both spiritual strength and practical sustenance for His purposes.