13 Bible Verses about Asceticism, People Practicing

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Speak unto children of Israel and say unto them, 'When either man or woman appointeth to vow a vow of abstinence, for to abstain unto the LORD, he shall abstain from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine or of strong drink, nor drink whatsoever is pressed out of grapes: and shall eat no fresh grapes neither yet dried, as long as his abstinence endureth.read more.
Moreover he shall eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, no not so much as the kernels or the husk of the grape. And as long as the vow of his abstinence endureth, there shall no razor nor shears come upon his head, until his days be out which he fasteth unto the LORD, and he shall be holy and shall let the locks of his hair grow. As long as he abstaineth unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body: he shall not make himself unclean at the death of his father, mother, brother or sister: For the abstinence of his God is upon his head. And therefore as long as his abstinence lasteth, he shall be holy unto the LORD.

And now beware, and drink no wine nor strong drink; neither eat any unclean thing. For see, thou shalt conceive and bear a son. And there may no razor or shearers come on his head: for the lad shall be an abstainer unto God, even from the time of his birth. And he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines."

And he told her all his heart, and said unto her, "There never came razor nor shears upon mine head, for I have been an abstainer to God even from my mother's womb. If mine hair were cut off, my strength would go from me, and I should wax and be like all other men."

This John had his garment of camel's hair, and a girdle of a skin about his loins; his meat was locusts and wild honey.

John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a beast's skin about his loins. And he did eat locusts and wild honey,

For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, he hath the devil.

For John Baptist came unto you neither eating bread, nor drinking wine, and ye say, 'He hath the devil.'

Then came the disciples of John to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?"

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees did fast, and they therefore came and said unto him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples fast not?"

Then they said unto him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often and pray: and the disciples of the Pharisees also: and thine eat and drink?"

I fast twice in the week. I give tithe of all that I possess.'

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Also the tenth day of the self seventh month, is a day of atonement, and shall be a holy feast unto you, and ye shall humble your souls and offer sacrifice unto the LORD. Moreover ye shall do no work the same day, for it is a day of atonement to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.read more.
For whatsoever soul it be that humbleth not himself that day, he shall be destroyed from among his people. And whatsoever soul do any manner work that day, the same I will destroy from among his people. See that ye do no manner work therefore. And it shall be a law forever unto your generations after you in all your dwellings. A Sabbath of rest it shall be unto you, and ye shall humble your souls. The ninth day of the month at evening, and so forth from evening to evening again, ye shall keep your Sabbath."

It happened also in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, which is called Chislev. What time as Sharezer and Regemmelech and the men that were with them, sent unto Bethel for to pray before the LORD: and that they should say unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of Hosts, and to the prophets, "Should I weep in the fifth month, and abstain, as I have done now certain years?"read more.
Then came the word of the LORD of Hosts unto me, saying, "Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, and say, 'When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, now this seventy years, did ye fast unto me?