Exodus 16:23
he said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that the Sabbath isn't just about not working; it’s about preparing for rest. God instructs them to "bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil" today, emphasizing that preparation is part of honoring the sacred day.
God is providing manna daily for the Israelites in the wilderness, but on the sixth day, they gathered double. This leads the rulers to question Moses, prompting him to explain that the next day is a holy Sabbath to the Lord, a day of rest. He instructs them to prepare their food today so they can cease from labor tomorrow, setting the stage for the observance of the Sabbath.
Did the Israelites invent the Sabbath in the wilderness? Or was it something they already knew?
This passage reveals that the Sabbath wasn't a brand new rule introduced in the wilderness. Moses explains the instructions for manna on the sixth day by referencing the 'holy Sabbath to the LORD.' This implies the concept of a weekly day of rest was already known to the Israelites, perhaps even from creation itself. The instructions about preparing food before the Sabbath and saving leftovers for that day show a practical understanding of how the Sabbath was to be observed, even before the formal law was given at Mount Sinai. It suggests a deep, ancient rhythm of life established by God.
Why did God provide double the manna on the sixth day? It wasn't just about making sure they had enough, but about honoring His special day.
The miraculous provision of manna on the sixth day, enough for two days, highlights God's intentional care for His people and His design for the Sabbath. He made sure that obeying the command to rest would not lead to lack or hunger. Preparing food beforehand ('bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil') was a practical way to ensure the day of rest was truly set apart for holiness, not for burdensome labor. This shows that God's commands are not meant to be a burden, but are given with His provision and grace, enabling us to honor Him.
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, revealing Him as the self-existent, faithful, and redeeming God of Israel.
shabbat · Hebrew Noun
A period of time set apart by God for cessation from labor and for rest, established to commemorate God's creative work and His covenant with His people. It is holy because it belongs to God and is intended for His service.
qodesh · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Something dedicated or consecrated to God; set apart from common use for sacred purposes. It reflects God’s own nature of absolute purity and separation from sin.
shabbathon · Hebrew Noun
A time of complete cessation from work. It signifies a pause in human activity to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and provision, often associated with a formal assembly.
This passage directly links the seventh day's rest to God's own rest after creation, suggesting the Sabbath's origin is at the very beginning of time, even before the Law was given.
Deuteronomy 5:12-15This passage recounts the Ten Commandments again, explicitly linking the Sabbath observance to Israel's liberation from Egypt, highlighting both the sacred rest and God's redemptive work.
Isaiah 58:13-14This prophetic passage expands on the Sabbath's purpose, calling it a delight and a day for honor, suggesting it's not just about rest but about seeking God and finding joy in His ways.
Mark 2:27Jesus declares that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, reinforcing the idea that this holy day is designed for human well-being and is not an oppressive burden.
bensonExodus 16:23: "And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning."
Exodus 16:23 . This is that which the Lord hath spoken — Either to Moses, by inspiration, or to the former patriarchs, on a like occasion. It is agreeable to the former word and law of God concerning the sabbath. To-morr…
calvinExodus 16:19-30: "And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning."
Sed non audierunt Mosen: quia quidam reservarunt ex eo usque mane. Et scatere coepit vermibus, et computruit: ideoque iratus est contra eos Moses.
And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.
Itaque collegerunt illud singulis diebus mane: quisque secundum mensuram suam: et quum sol incaluerat, liquefiebat.
And it came to pass, that on th…
This verse highlights that the Sabbath isn't just about not working; it’s about preparing for rest. God instructs them to "bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil" today, emphasizing that preparation is part of honoring the sacred day.
God is providing manna daily for the Israelites in the wilderness, but on the sixth day, they gathered double. This leads the rulers to question Moses, prompting him to explain that the next day is a holy Sabbath to the Lord, a day of rest. He instructs them to prepare their food today so they can cease from labor tomorrow, setting the stage for the observance of the Sabbath.
God is providing manna daily for the Israelites in the wilderness, but on the sixth day, they gathered double. This leads the rulers to question Moses, prompting him to explain that the next day is a holy Sabbath to the Lord, a day of rest. He instructs them to prepare their food today so they can cease from labor tomorrow, setting the stage for the observance of the Sabbath.
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"he said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’”" — This verse highlights that the Sabbath isn't just about not working; it’s about preparing for rest. God instructs them to "bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil" today, emphasizing…
