And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just state Jesus was hungry after his fast; it highlights that this extreme hunger only struck him at the end of the forty days. This timing is crucial, showing that his divine nature sustained him through the ordeal, and the physical need only became overwhelming at the breaking point, perfectly setting the stage for temptation.
And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just been baptized and affirmed by God, and now the Spirit leads Him into the wilderness for forty days of fasting and solitude. As this intense period concludes, the stark reality of His physical hunger emerges, setting the stage for the devil's direct confrontation.
Why forty days? This number echoes important biblical moments and points to a divine purpose for Jesus' time in the wilderness.
The number 'forty' isn't random. It's a recurring theme in Scripture, often signifying a period of testing, preparation, or divine judgment.
Jesus’ forty-day fast was a deliberate, divinely appointed season of intense spiritual focus, setting the stage for His redemptive work.
Jesus' intense hunger wasn't just a physical state; it was the precise moment the Tempter chose to strike. Why?
The verse makes it clear: Jesus wasn't tempted during the entire forty days. The real assault came after the fast, when His physical needs were most acute.
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Understand the original words
nēsteuō · Greek Verb
A spiritual discipline involving voluntary abstinence from food, used throughout the Bible to humble the soul, seek God’s face, and focus entirely on spiritual matters rather than physical appetites.
The forty-day fast mirrors the experiences of Moses and Elijah, highlighting Jesus' role as the ultimate Law-Giver and Prophet. This intense period of preparation underscores that Jesus' ministry, unlike earthly kingdoms, is fundamentally spiritual, focused on God's kingdom rather than physical needs or political power.
c. 1446 BC
Moses receives the Law
Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai before receiving the Ten Commandments from God, setting a precedent for prolonged fasting.
c. 875 BC
Elijah's journey to Horeb
After fleeing from Jezebel, Elijah fasted for forty days and forty nights on his journey to Mount Horeb, miraculously sustained by God.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile begins
The first major deportation of Judeans to Babylon occurs, marking a period of spiritual crisis and separation from the promised land.
c. 20 BC - AD 1
Herod the Great's reign
The Roman-backed King Herod the Great rules Judea, a time of political tension and religious expectation for a Messiah.
c. AD 27
John the Baptist begins ministry
John the Baptist starts his public ministry, calling people to repentance and preparing the way for the Lord.
c. AD 27— this verse
Jesus is baptized
Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan River, after which the Spirit leads him into the wilderness to be tested.
c. AD 27
Jesus' temptation in the wilderness
Jesus, after forty days and nights of fasting and prayer in the wilderness, faces intense temptations from Satan.
Like Moses before receiving the Law, Jesus also fasted for forty days, highlighting a pattern of significant spiritual preparation involving abstinence before divine encounters.
1 Kings 19:8Similar to Elijah's forty-day fast in the wilderness, Jesus' extended period without food underscores a spiritual intensity and reliance on God, preparing him for prophetic ministry and spiritual battles.
Luke 4:2This passage, describing the same event, explicitly states Jesus 'ate nothing,' reinforcing the completeness of his forty-day fast and emphasizing his vulnerability to hunger and temptation afterward.
Hebrews 4:15This verse speaks to Jesus' perfect empathy with human weakness, which is powerfully demonstrated by his experiencing intense hunger after his fast, showing he was tempted in every way, just as we are.
bensonMatthew 4:2: "And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred."
Matthew 4:2 . And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights — As Moses, the giver, and Elias, the restorer of the law, had done before: he was afterward a hungered — That is, he was as sharply assaulted with hunger, as any man is at any time for want of food. Thus he was fitted for the ensuing trial of his trust in God. And, as an ancient writer observes, We are then especially to expect temptat…
cambridgeMatthew 4:2: "And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred."
2 . he was afterward a hungred ] The words imply that the temptation was not throughout the forty days, but at the end of the forty days.
The verse doesn't just state Jesus was hungry after his fast; it highlights that this extreme hunger only struck him at the end of the forty days. This timing is crucial, showing that his divine nature sustained him through the ordeal, and the physical need only became overwhelming at the breaking point, perfectly setting the stage for temptation.
Jesus has just been baptized and affirmed by God, and now the Spirit leads Him into the wilderness for forty days of fasting and solitude. As this intense period concludes, the stark reality of His physical hunger emerges, setting the stage for the devil's direct confrontation.
Jesus has just been baptized and affirmed by God, and now the Spirit leads Him into the wilderness for forty days of fasting and solitude. As this intense period concludes, the stark reality of His physical hunger emerges, setting the stage for the devil's direct confrontation.
"And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." — The verse doesn't just state Jesus was hungry after his fast; it highlights that this extreme hunger only struck him at the end of the forty days. This timing is crucial, showing that his divine…
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Last reviewed October 2026