What Does the Bible Say About Starving Yourself?

Ephesians 5:29 ESV / 32 helpful votes

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 4:3-5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

John 14:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Isaiah 3:1-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. ...

James 1:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 3 helpful votes

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

1 John 4:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

We love because he first loved us.

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Galatians 5:26 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Romans 12:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 5:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Luke 4:18 ESV / 1 helpful vote

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

Matthew 22:39 ESV / 1 helpful vote

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 1 helpful vote

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Amos 2:6-7 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals— those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned;

Amos 1:1-15 ESV / 1 helpful vote

The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. And he said: “The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers.” Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron. So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad. I will break the gate-bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven, and him who holds the scepter from Beth-eden; and the people of Syria shall go into exile to Kir,” says the Lord. ...

Isaiah 58:6-7 ESV / 1 helpful vote

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Proverbs 21:13 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.

Proverbs 14:21 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

Psalm 1:2 ESV / 1 helpful vote

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Deuteronomy 24:19-21 ESV / 1 helpful vote

“When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.

Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV / 1 helpful vote

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

34 Bible Verses about Starving Yourself

Ephesians 5:29 ESV / 32 helpful votes

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Timothy 4:3-5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

John 14:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Isaiah 3:1-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

James 1:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Romans 12:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 John 4:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Galatians 5:26 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Romans 12:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Romans 5:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote

John 3:16-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Luke 4:18 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Matthew 22:39 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Matthew 6:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Amos 2:6-7 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Amos 1:1-15 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Isaiah 58:6-7 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Proverbs 21:13 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Proverbs 14:21 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Psalm 1:2 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Deuteronomy 24:19-21 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV / 1 helpful vote

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34 Bible Verses about Starving Yourself

Ephesians 5:29 ESV / 32 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 4:3-5 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 3:1-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:26 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 5:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 4:18 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 22:39 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Amos 2:6-7 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Amos 1:1-15 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 58:6-7 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 21:13 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 14:21 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 1:2 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 24:19-21 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

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Ephesians 5:29 ESV / 32 helpful votes

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Timothy 4:3-5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

John 14:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Isaiah 3:1-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

James 1:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Romans 12:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 John 4:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Galatians 5:26 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Romans 12:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Romans 5:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote

John 3:16-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Luke 4:18 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Matthew 22:39 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Matthew 6:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Amos 2:6-7 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Amos 1:1-15 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Isaiah 58:6-7 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Proverbs 21:13 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Proverbs 14:21 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Psalm 1:2 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Deuteronomy 24:19-21 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV / 1 helpful vote