Exodus 20:8-10
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The command starts with "Remember," implying the Sabbath wasn't a brand-new idea but a reminder of a prior institution, likely connected to creation itself. This grounds the Sabbath not just in human labor but in God's own pattern of work and rest.
“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)
This commandment is part of the Ten Commandments, God's foundational laws for His people, given right after their liberation from Egypt. The command to "remember" the Sabbath suggests it's not a new rule but a call to re-establish a practice already rooted in creation and observed during their journey. It's immediately followed by instructions on how to keep it holy and why it's important, linking it directly to God's own rest after creating the heavens and the earth.
Why does God say 'Remember' the Sabbath? It wasn't a brand new idea being introduced.
The commandment to 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy' in Exodus 20:8 isn't the introduction of a new law, but a reminder of an existing one.
A Foundation from Creation
Long before the Israelites were a nation, God established the Sabbath.
Reinforcing an Old Law
The use of the word 'remember' suggests that the Israelites were already familiar with the Sabbath.
What does it truly mean to 'keep it holy'? It's more than just avoiding work.
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The command to 'keep it holy' (Exodus 20:8) elevates the Sabbath beyond mere physical rest. It calls for a positive dedication of the day.
A Day Set Apart
'Holy' means set apart, dedicated to God.
A Positive Purpose
While the commandment emphasizes abstaining from work, its ultimate aim is to direct our attention and devotion towards God.
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 details God's original institution of the seventh day as a day of rest and blessing after creation, establishing the Sabbath as an ancient concept before the Law was even given at Sinai.
Exodus 16:23This verse shows God already instructing the Israelites to observe a Sabbath rest day for gathering manna before the Ten Commandments were formally given, highlighting the 'remember' aspect of the command.
Deuteronomy 5:12This parallel account of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy reiterates the Sabbath command, but uses the word 'Observe' instead of 'Remember,' suggesting the importance of actively keeping the day holy, not just recalling it.
Isaiah 58:13-14This prophetic passage elevates the Sabbath beyond mere abstinence from work, calling it a delight and honorable, promising blessings for those who honor it, showing its enduring spiritual significance.
Mark 2:27Jesus declares that 'the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath,' emphasizing that the Sabbath's purpose is to serve human well-being and spiritual needs, not to be an oppressive burden.
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 command starts with "Remember," implying the Sabbath wasn't a brand-new idea but a reminder of a prior institution, likely connected to creation itself. This grounds the Sabbath not just in human labor but in God's own pattern of work and rest.
This commandment is part of the Ten Commandments, God's foundational laws for His people, given right after their liberation from Egypt. The command to "remember" the Sabbath suggests it's not a new rule but a call to re-establish a practice already rooted in creation and observed during their journey. It's immediately followed by instructions on how to keep it holy and why it's important, linking it directly to God's own rest after creating the heavens and the earth.
This commandment is part of the Ten Commandments, God's foundational laws for His people, given right after their liberation from Egypt. The command to "remember" the Sabbath suggests it's not a new rule but a call to re-establish a practice already rooted in creation and observed during their journey. It's immediately followed by instructions on how to keep it holy and why it's important, linking it directly to God's own rest after creating the heavens and the earth.
"“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 command starts with "Remember," implying the Sabbath wasn't a brand-new idea but a reminder of a prior institution, likely connected to creation itself. This grounds the Sabbath not just in human…
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Last reviewed October 2026
