Numbers 29:7

“‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you are to have a holy assembly. You must humble yourselves; ¹  you must not do any work on it.

"‘On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work.

‘Then on the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall humble yourselves; you shall not do any work.

"Ten days later, you must call another holy assembly of all the people. On that day, the Day of Atonement, the people must go without food, and no regular work may be done.

"On the tenth day of this seventh month, gather in holy worship, humble yourselves, and do no work.

And on the tenth day of this seventh month there will be a holy meeting; keep yourselves from pleasure, and do no sort of work;

On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation, and deny yourselves; you shall do no work.

‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls; you shall not do any work.

“‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you are to have a holy assembly. You must humble yourselves; ¹  you must not do any work on it.

¹ tn Heb “afflict yourselves”; NAB “mortify yourselves”; NIV, NRSV “deny yourselves.”

sn The verb seems to mean “humble yourself.” There is no explanation given for it. In the days of the prophets fasting seems to be associated with it (see Isa 58:3-5), and possibly the symbolic wearing of ashes.