### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun ἀσιτία (asitía, `{{G776}}`) is derived from the adjective ἄσιτος (asitos), meaning "without food" or "abstaining from food." Its core semantic range encompasses the state of being without nourishment, thus "fasting" or "abstinence from food." It describes a condition or duration of not eating, rather than the volitional act of undertaking a fast for spiritual or disciplinary purposes. The term emphasizes the physical reality of being unfed.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word ἀσιτία appears only once in the New Testament, in [[Acts 27:21]].
In this passage, the Apostle Paul is on a perilous sea voyage to Rome, and the ship has been caught in a violent storm (the "Euroclydon") for many days. The context reveals a situation of extreme duress and despair: "And when they had been a long time without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss."
Here, ἀσιτία describes the prolonged, involuntary abstinence from food experienced by all on board due to the overwhelming conditions of the storm. The fear, the constant struggle for survival, and the lack of opportunity would have prevented any regular eating. This ἀσιτία underscores the physical weakness, exhaustion, and despair that had gripped the passengers and crew. It is not a spiritual discipline but a consequence of their dire circumstances, highlighting the depth of their suffering before Paul's divine reassurance.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related terms illuminate the specific nuance of ἀσιτία:
* **ἄσιτος (asitos)**: The root adjective from which ἀσιτία is formed, meaning "without food" or "fasting."
* **νηστεία (nēsteia, `{{G3521}}`)**: This is the more common New Testament term for "fasting" as a religious or spiritual practice (e.g., [[Matthew 6:16]], [[Acts 14:23]]). Unlike ἀσιτία, νηστεία implies a voluntary abstention from food, often for prayer, repentance, or seeking God's will. The distinction is crucial: ἀσιτία in [[Acts 27:21]] denotes a forced, desperate state, whereas νηστεία signifies a purposeful, spiritual act.
* **νηστεύω (nēsteuō, `{{G3522}}`)**: The verb form of νηστεία, meaning "to fast."
* **Hunger/Famine**: Concepts like λιμός (limos, `{{G3042}}`, famine/hunger) or πεινάω (peinaō, `{{G3983}}`, to be hungry) describe the sensation or condition of lacking food, but ἀσιτία specifically points to the *state* of not having eaten for a period.
### Theological Significance
While ἀσιτία itself is not a theological concept in the same vein as spiritual fasting (νηστεία), its singular appearance in [[Acts 27:21]] carries significant theological weight within its narrative context. The prolonged ἀσιτία experienced by those on the ship serves to highlight the extreme human vulnerability and physical limitations in the face of overwhelming natural forces. It underscores the depth of the crisis and the despair that had gripped all on board, setting the stage for divine intervention. Paul's subsequent reassurance, based on an angelic visitation and God's promise of preservation, becomes even more profound against this backdrop of physical exhaustion and hopelessness. The ἀσιτία emphasizes that even when human strength, hope, and sustenance fail, God's providence can sustain and deliver. It serves as a powerful testament to God's miraculous care for His servants and those with them, even in the direst of circumstances.
### Summary
ἀσιτία (asitía, `{{G776}}`) denotes the state of being "without food" or "abstinence from food." Its sole occurrence in [[Acts 27:21]] describes the involuntary and prolonged lack of nourishment endured by Paul and his companions during a life-threatening sea storm. Distinct from νηστεία (`{{G3521}}`), which signifies voluntary spiritual fasting, ἀσιτία in this context underscores the dire physical consequences of extreme circumstances and the resulting human weakness and despair. Theologically, it highlights human vulnerability and dependence on divine sustenance and intervention, providing a stark backdrop against which God's miraculous preservation of life amidst overwhelming natural forces is powerfully demonstrated.
TRV