Exodus 20:8-10
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The word "remember" here suggests the Sabbath wasn't a brand-new idea but a call to recall an existing, perhaps forgotten, sacred rhythm tied to God's own rest after creation. It's not just about stopping work, but about actively making the day holy by dedicating it to Him, distinguishing it from all other days.
This commandment comes right after God's foundational commands about who to worship and how to live, setting the stage for the covenant relationship He's establishing with Israel. It's presented not as a brand new rule, but as a reminder, drawing on God's own rest after creation and the previous instructions given about the manna. The focus is on setting aside one day out of every seven for holy rest and worship, distinguishing themselves from other nations and remembering their Creator.
Why does God start this command with 'Remember'? It suggests the Sabbath wasn't a brand new idea for Israel.
The instruction to 'Remember the Sabbath day' in Exodus 20:8 is significant. It implies that the concept of a Sabbath, a day of rest and holiness, was already known to the Israelites. God had previously instituted it at creation, as seen in Genesis 2:3, where God blessed and sanctified the seventh day after His work. Later, before this commandment was given at Sinai, God also demonstrated the Sabbath's importance through the provision of manna, withholding it on the seventh day (Exodus 16). This 'remembering' wasn't just about recalling a past event, but about re-establishing its vital importance in their lives, distinguishing them and reminding them of their Creator.
Keeping the Sabbath holy isn't just about not working. What else does it involve?
The commandment has a dual focus: rest and holiness. The 'rest' aspect involved abstaining from all forms of worldly labor, not just for the individual but for their entire household, including children, servants, and even animals. However, this rest was not meant to be idle or self-indulgent. The command to 'keep it holy' points to the positive aspect: setting the day apart for God. While the specifics of 'holy exercises' weren't always explicitly detailed in the Law, the intention was for the day to be dedicated to spiritual pursuits, communion with God, and reflection on His works and mercies. It was a way to actively honor the Holy God who had made them holy.
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How did observing the Sabbath set ancient Israel apart from the surrounding nations?
Observing the Sabbath was a profound declaration of Israel's faith. By resting on the seventh day and dedicating it to God, they were testifying that they served the God who created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. This stood in stark contrast to the surrounding nations who worshipped man-made idols and gods associated with creation but not its Creator. The Sabbath was a weekly reminder and public affirmation of their covenant relationship with the true God, distinguishing them as His people.
Understand the original words
zakar · Hebrew Verb
To call to mind, keep in awareness, or take action based on remembrance; it implies not just passive thought but active obedience or observance.
shabbat · Hebrew Noun
The seventh day of the week, set apart by God for rest and worship, commemorating His completion of creation and His deliverance of His people.
qadash · Hebrew Adjective
Dedicated to God; set apart for a specific, sacred purpose; manifesting the character of God, who is inherently separate from the common or profane.
melakah · Hebrew Noun
Physical or mental effort, occupation, or task, particularly regarding one's profession or regular activities; used here to contrast with the required rest of the Sabbath.
ger · Hebrew Noun
One who resides in a land not their own; a temporary resident or immigrant who lives among the Israelites and is expected to follow the community’s covenant laws.
This passage records God's original institution of the seventh day of rest after creation, establishing the Sabbath as a foundational concept before the Law was even given at Sinai.
Exodus 16:23This verse shows the Sabbath being observed and taught in relation to the manna before the Ten Commandments were formally given, highlighting the 'remember' aspect of the commandment.
Isaiah 58:13-14These verses connect honoring the Sabbath with finding delight and receiving God's blessing, emphasizing its spiritual significance beyond mere rest from labor.
Hebrews 4:4-11This passage draws a parallel between the Sabbath rest and the spiritual rest believers find in Christ, suggesting the Sabbath's deeper, eschatological meaning.
bensonExodus 20:8: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
Exodus 20:8-11 . The fourth commandment concerns the time of worship; God is to be served and honoured daily; but one day in seven is to be particularly dedicated to his honour, and spent in his service. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy; in it thou shalt do no manner of work — It is taken for granted, that the sabbath was instituted before. We read of God’s blessing and sanctifying a seventh day from the beginning, ( Genesis 2:3…
calvinExodus 20:8-11: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Dies autem septimus Sabbathum Jehovae Dei tui est. Non facies ullum opus, tu, et filius tuus, et filia tua, servus tuus, et ancilla tua, et inquilinus tuus qui est in portis tuis:
For in six days the L…
The word "remember" here suggests the Sabbath wasn't a brand-new idea but a call to recall an existing, perhaps forgotten, sacred rhythm tied to God's own rest after creation. It's not just about stopping work, but about actively making the day holy by dedicating it to Him, distinguishing it from all other days.
This commandment comes right after God's foundational commands about who to worship and how to live, setting the stage for the covenant relationship He's establishing with Israel. It's presented not as a brand new rule, but as a reminder, drawing on God's own rest after creation and the previous instructions given about the manna. The focus is on setting aside one day out of every seven for holy rest and worship, distinguishing themselves from other nations and remembering their Creator.
This commandment comes right after God's foundational commands about who to worship and how to live, setting the stage for the covenant relationship He's establishing with Israel. It's presented not as a brand new rule, but as a reminder, drawing on God's own rest after creation and the previous instructions given about the manna. The focus is on setting aside one day out of every seven for holy rest and worship, distinguishing themselves from other nations and remembering their Creator.
"“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or y…" — The word "remember" here suggests the Sabbath wasn't a brand-new idea but a call to recall an existing, perhaps forgotten, sacred rhythm tied to God's own rest after creation. It's not just about sto…
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