“You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Sabbath is called a "sign between Me and you," not just a day of rest, but a constant reminder that God is the one making them holy and setting them apart from other nations. This distinctive observance was meant to deepen their awareness of God's active role in their lives, distinguishing them as His people.
“You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Immediately following instructions for constructing the Tabernacle and its sacred vessels, God emphasizes that the Sabbath is not to be neglected, even for this holy work. He declares it a perpetual sign of His covenant with Israel, a constant reminder that He is the one who sets them apart as holy. This observance serves to distinguish them from other nations and reinforces their identity as God's chosen people, set apart for His service.
Why would God give His people a weekly holy day? It wasn't just a day off; it was a powerful symbol meant to set Israel apart.
A Sign Between God and Israel
The Sabbath was established as a distinct sign between God and the people of Israel, much like circumcision had been for Abraham and his lineage.
The verse says God sanctifies His people through the Sabbath. What does that really mean for us today?
God's Work of Making Us Holy
The observance of the Sabbath is directly linked to God's act of sanctification – setting His people apart and making them holy.
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Understand the original words
shabbat · Hebrew Noun
A day of cessation from ordinary labor, established by God at creation and commanded to Israel as a perpetual reminder of God's work, authority, and covenant relationship.
oth · Hebrew Noun
A visible token or pledge confirming a covenant; it serves as a memorial to remind the parties of their obligations and the reality of the relationship.
qadash · Hebrew Verb
To make holy or set apart for God's use; in relation to God's people, it denotes the process by which He separates them from the common and unclean to be His own possession.
This passage parallels the Sabbath as a sign with circumcision, highlighting its role as a physical mark of God's covenant people.
Ezekiel 20:12Ezekiel reiterates that the Sabbath was given as a sign between God and Israel, explicitly stating its purpose for them to know Him as their sanctifier.
John 10:22-23This passage mentions the Feast of Dedication, which occurred during winter, showing that holy observances and their meanings continued beyond the initial Exodus context.
Hebrews 4:9-10This New Testament passage connects the Sabbath rest to a future, eternal rest in God, suggesting a deeper spiritual meaning beyond the weekly observance.
clarkeExodus 31:13: "Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you."
My Sabbaths ye shall keep - See Clarke's note on Genesis 2:3 . See Clarke's note on Exodus 20:8 .
wesleyExodus 31:13: "Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you."
31:13 It is a sign between me and you - The institution of the sabbath was a great instance of God's favour, and a sign that he had distinguished them from all other people: and their religious observance of it, was a great instance of their duty to him. God, by sanctify…
The Sabbath is called a "sign between Me and you," not just a day of rest, but a constant reminder that God is the one making them holy and setting them apart from other nations. This distinctive observance was meant to deepen their awareness of God's active role in their lives, distinguishing them as His people.
Immediately following instructions for constructing the Tabernacle and its sacred vessels, God emphasizes that the Sabbath is not to be neglected, even for this holy work. He declares it a perpetual sign of His covenant with Israel, a constant reminder that He is the one who sets them apart as holy. This observance serves to distinguish them from other nations and reinforces their identity as God's chosen people, set apart for His service.
Immediately following instructions for constructing the Tabernacle and its sacred vessels, God emphasizes that the Sabbath is not to be neglected, even for this holy work. He declares it a perpetual sign of His covenant with Israel, a constant reminder that He is the one who sets them apart as holy. This observance serves to distinguish them from other nations and reinforces their identity as God's chosen people, set apart for His service.
"“You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you." — The Sabbath is called a "sign between Me and you," not just a day of rest, but a constant reminder that God is the one making them holy and setting them apart from other nations. This distinctive obs…
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Last reviewed October 2026