Matthew 4:2
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And after going without food for forty days and forty nights, he was in need of it.
Webster's Revision
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry.
World English Bible
When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.
English Revised Version (ERV)
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered.
Definitions for Matthew 4:2
Clarke's Matthew 4:2 Bible Commentary
And when he had fasted forty days - It is remarkable that Moses, the great lawgiver of the Jews, previously to his receiving the law from God, fasted forty days in the mount; that Elijah, the chief of the prophets, fasted also forty days; and that Christ, the giver of the New Covenant, should act in the same way. Was not all this intended to show, that God's kingdom on earth was to be spiritual and Divine? - that it should not consist in meat and drink, but in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost? Romans 14:17. Relative to the forty days' fast of Moses, there is a beautiful saying in the Talmudists. "Is it possible that any man can fast forty days and forty nights? To which Rabbi Meir answered, When thou takest up thy abode in any particular city, thou must live according to its customs. Moses ascended to heaven, where they neither eat nor drink therefore he became assimilated to them. We are accustomed to eat and drink; and, when angels descend to us, they eat and drink also."
Moses, Elijah, and our blessed Lord could fast forty days and forty nights, because they were in communion with God, and living a heavenly life.
Barnes's Matthew 4:2 Bible Commentary
Had fasted - Abstained from food.
Forty days and forty nights - It has been questioned by some whether Christ abstained wholly from food, or only from the food to which he was accustomed. Luke says Luke 4:2 that he ate nothing. This settles the question. Mark says Mark 1:13 that angels came and ministered unto him. At first view this would seem to imply that he did eat during that time. But Mark does not mention the time when the angels performed this office of kindness, and we are at liberty to suppose that he means to say that it was done at the close of the 40 days; and the rather as Matthew, after giving an account of the temptation, says the same thing Matthew 4:2. There are other instances of persons fasting 40 days recorded in the Scriptures. Thus, Moses fasted 40 days, Exodus 34:28. Elijah also fasted the same length of time, 1 Kings 19:8. In these cases they were no doubt miraculously supported.
Wesley's Matthew 4:2 Bible Commentary
4:2 Having fasted - Whereby doubtless he received more abundant spiritual strength from God. Forty days and forty nights - As did Moses, the giver of the law, and Elijah, the great restorer of it. He was afterward hungry - And so prepared for the first temptation.
