Ezekiel 20:20 Study Bible: and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'

◄ Ezekiel 20:20 ►

Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'

Keep My Sabbaths holy
The phrase "Keep My Sabbaths holy" emphasizes the importance of the Sabbath as a day set apart for rest and worship. The Hebrew word for "keep" is "שָׁמַר" (shamar), which means to guard, protect, or observe. This implies an active role in maintaining the sanctity of the Sabbath. The term "holy" comes from the Hebrew "קָדוֹשׁ" (qadosh), meaning sacred or set apart. The Sabbath is not merely a day of rest but a divine institution that reflects God's creation order and His covenant with Israel. Historically, the Sabbath served as a weekly reminder of God's deliverance from Egypt and His ongoing provision and care.

and they will be a sign between Me and you
The word "sign" in Hebrew is "אוֹת" (oth), which denotes a mark or symbol. In the ancient Near Eastern context, signs were often used to signify covenants or agreements. The Sabbath as a sign indicates a visible and perpetual reminder of the unique relationship between God and His people. It is a testament to God's faithfulness and a call for Israel to reciprocate with loyalty and obedience. This covenantal sign distinguishes Israel from other nations, highlighting their identity as God's chosen people.

so that you may know
The phrase "so that you may know" underscores the purpose of the Sabbath as a means of revelation and understanding. The Hebrew word for "know" is "יָדַע" (yada), which implies an intimate, experiential knowledge. Observing the Sabbath is intended to deepen the Israelites' relationship with God, fostering a greater awareness of His character and will. It is through this regular, intentional practice that the people of Israel are reminded of God's sovereignty and their dependence on Him.

that I am the LORD your God
This declaration, "that I am the LORD your God," is a reaffirmation of God's identity and authority. The name "LORD" is the English rendering of the Tetragrammaton "יהוה" (YHWH), the personal name of God revealed to Moses. It signifies God's eternal, self-existent nature and His covenantal faithfulness. The phrase "your God" personalizes the relationship, emphasizing that God is not a distant deity but one who is intimately involved with His people. This statement serves as a reminder of the exclusive worship and allegiance that God requires from Israel, reinforcing the foundational truth of monotheism in the Hebrew faith.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel was called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, who were in exile due to their disobedience and idolatry.

3. Babylon
The place of exile for the Israelites, representing a period of judgment and reflection.

4. Sabbath
A day of rest and worship, instituted by God as a sign of His covenant with Israel.

5. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who desires a relationship with His people.

Teaching Points

The Significance of the Sabbath
The Sabbath is a divine institution meant to remind us of God's creation and covenant.

Observing the Sabbath is an act of obedience and trust in God's provision.

Holiness and Relationship
Keeping the Sabbath holy is a way to cultivate a deeper relationship with God.

It serves as a weekly reminder of our identity as God's people.

Rest and Renewal
The Sabbath provides physical rest and spiritual renewal, essential for a balanced life.

It is an opportunity to refocus on God and His purposes for our lives.

Covenant Faithfulness
Observing the Sabbath is a sign of our commitment to God's covenant.

It reflects our desire to honor God in all aspects of life.

Christ as Our Sabbath Rest
In Christ, we find ultimate rest and fulfillment of the Sabbath.

Our spiritual rest in Jesus is a foretaste of the eternal rest to come.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the command to keep the Sabbath holy in Ezekiel 20:20 relate to the broader context of Israel's covenant with God?

2. In what ways can observing a day of rest and worship impact your relationship with God and others?

3. How does the concept of Sabbath rest in the Old Testament find fulfillment in the New Testament through Jesus Christ?

4. What practical steps can you take to ensure that you are keeping a day of rest and worship in your weekly routine?

5. How can the principles of Sabbath rest be applied to modern life, considering the demands and distractions we face today?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Exodus 31:13
This verse emphasizes the Sabbath as a sign between God and the Israelites, highlighting its role in sanctification.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15
The command to observe the Sabbath is reiterated, linking it to God's deliverance from Egypt.

Isaiah 58:13-14
These verses discuss the blessings associated with honoring the Sabbath, emphasizing delight in the Lord.

Mark 2:27-28
Jesus teaches that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, indicating its purpose for rest and relationship with God.

Hebrews 4:9-10
The Sabbath rest is connected to the spiritual rest found in Christ, pointing to a deeper fulfillment.

Sermons

Unacceptable Prayer	J.D. Davies	Ezekiel 20:1-32
God, and Israel in the Wilderness	W. Jones	Ezekiel 20:10-26
The Memory of the Wilderness of the Wanderings	J.R. Thomson	Ezekiel 20:18-26

People

Ezekiel, Israelites, Jacob, Teman

Places

Babylon, Bamah, Egypt, Negeb

Topics

Clear, Hallow, Holy, Sabbaths, Sanctify, Sign

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Ezekiel 20:20

1450 signs, kinds of

Ezekiel 20:1-44

5029 knowledge, of God

Library

Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be Moral.
1. Because all the reasons of this commandment are moral and perpetual; and God has bound us to the obedience of this commandment with more forcible reasons than to any of the rest--First, because he foresaw that irreligious men would either more carelessly neglect, or more boldly break this commandment than any other; secondly, because that in the practice of this commandment the keeping of all the other consists; which makes God so often complain that all his worship is neglected or overthrown, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Manner of Covenanting.
Previous to an examination of the manner of engaging in the exercise of Covenanting, the consideration of God's procedure towards his people while performing the service seems to claim regard. Of the manner in which the great Supreme as God acts, as well as of Himself, our knowledge is limited. Yet though even of the effects on creatures of His doings we know little, we have reason to rejoice that, in His word He has informed us, and in His providence illustrated by that word, he has given us to …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Tithing
There are few subjects on which the Lord's own people are more astray than on the subject of giving. They profess to take the Bible as their own rule of faith and practice, and yet in the matter of Christian finance, the vast majority have utterly ignored its plain teachings and have tried every substitute the carnal mind could devise; therefore it is no wonder that the majority of Christian enterprises in the world today are handicapped and crippled through the lack of funds. Is our giving to be …
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
AND PROOF, THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath day.' London: Printed for Nath, Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1685. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. All our inquiries into divine commands are required to be made personally, solemnly, prayerful. To 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast' and obey 'that which is good,' is a precept, equally binding upon the clown, as it is upon the philosopher. Satisfied from our observations …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Covenanting Sanctioned by the Divine Example.
God's procedure when imitable forms a peculiar argument for duty. That is made known for many reasons; among which must stand this,--that it may be observed and followed as an example. That, being perfect, is a safe and necessary pattern to follow. The law of God proclaims what he wills men as well as angels to do. The purposes of God show what he has resolved to have accomplished. The constitutions of his moral subjects intimate that he has provided that his will shall be voluntarily accomplished …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close.
The first important part of the Old Testament put together as a whole was the Pentateuch, or rather, the five books of Moses and Joshua. This was preceded by smaller documents, which one or more redactors embodied in it. The earliest things committed to writing were probably the ten words proceeding from Moses himself, afterwards enlarged into the ten commandments which exist at present in two recensions (Exod. xx., Deut. v.) It is true that we have the oldest form of the decalogue from the Jehovist …
Samuel Davidson—The Canon of the Bible

A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox.
[In the Prospectus of our Publication it was stated, that one discourse, at least, would be given in each number. A strict adherence to this arrangement, however, it is found, would exclude from our pages some of the most talented discourses of our early Divines; and it is therefore deemed expedient to depart from it as occasion may require. The following Sermon will occupy two numbers, and we hope, that from its intrinsic value, its historical interest, and the illustrious name of its author, it …
John Knox—The Pulpit Of The Reformation, Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

The Covenant of Works
Q-12: I proceed to the next question, WHAT SPECIAL ACT OF PROVIDENCE DID GOD EXERCISE TOWARDS MAN IN THE ESTATE WHEREIN HE WAS CREATED? A: When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge upon pain of death. For this, consult with Gen 2:16, 17: And the Lord commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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