Exodus 12:16 On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly, and another on the seventh day. You must not do any work on those days, except to prepare the meals--that is all you may do.

◄ Exodus 12:16 ►

New International Version
On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.

New Living Translation
On the first day of the festival and again on the seventh day, all the people must observe an official day for holy assembly. No work of any kind may be done on these days except in the preparation of food.

English Standard Version
On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you.

Berean Standard Bible
On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly, and another on the seventh day. You must not do any work on those days, except to prepare the meals—that is all you may do.

King James Bible
And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.

New King James Version
On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you.

New American Standard Bible
And on the first day you shall have a holy assembly, and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except for what must be eaten by every person—that alone may be prepared by you.

NASB 1995
On the first day you shall have a holy assembly, and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be prepared by you.

NASB 1977
‘And on the first day you shall have a holy assembly, and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be prepared by you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now on the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be done by you.

Amplified Bible
On the first day [of the feast] you shall have a holy and solemn assembly, and on the seventh day there shall be another holy and solemn assembly; no work of any kind shall be done on those days, except for the preparation of food which every person must eat—only that may be done by you.

Christian Standard Bible
You are to hold a sacred assembly on the first day and another sacred assembly on the seventh day. No work may be done on those days except for preparing what people need to eat—you may do only that.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You are to hold a sacred assembly on the first day and another sacred assembly on the seventh day. No work may be done on those days except for preparing what people need to eat—you may do only that.”

American Standard Version
And in the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you.

Contemporary English Version
Meet together for worship on the first and seventh days of the festival. The only work you are allowed to do on either of these two days is that of preparing the bread.

English Revised Version
And in the first day there shall be to you an holy convocation, and in the seventh day an holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You must have a holy assembly on the first day and another one on the seventh. You must not work on these days except to prepare your own meals. That's all you may do.

Good News Translation
On the first day and again on the seventh day you are to meet for worship. No work is to be done on those days, but you may prepare food.

International Standard Version
Also, on the first day you're to hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day you're to hold a holy assembly. No work is to be done during those days, except for preparing what is to be eaten by each person.

Majority Standard Bible
On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly, and another on the seventh day. You must not do any work on those days, except to prepare the meals?that is all you may do.

NET Bible
On the first day there will be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there will be a holy convocation for you. You must do no work of any kind on them, only what every person will eat--that alone may be prepared for you.

New Heart English Bible
In the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, except that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you.

Webster's Bible Translation
And in the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation to you: no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you.

World English Bible
In the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no kind of work shall be done in them, except that which every man must eat, only that may be done by you.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And in the first day [is] a holy convocation, and in the seventh day you have a holy convocation; any work is not done in them, only that which is eaten by any person—it alone is done by you,

Young's Literal Translation
And in the first day is a holy convocation, and in the seventh day ye have a holy convocation; any work is not done in them, only that which is eaten by any person -- it alone is done by you,

Smith's Literal Translation
And in the first day a calling of holiness, and in the seventh day a calling of holiness shall be to you; every service shall not be done in them only what shall be eaten by every soul; this only shall be done by you.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
The first day shall be holy and solemn, and the seventh day shall be kept with the like solemnity: you shall do no work in them, except those things that belong to eating.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The first day shall be holy and solemn, and the seventh day shall be venerated with the same festivity. You shall do no work in these days, except that which pertains to the eating.

New American Bible
On the first day you will hold a sacred assembly, and likewise on the seventh. On these days no sort of work shall be done, except to prepare the food that everyone needs.

New Revised Standard Version
On the first day you shall hold a solemn assembly, and on the seventh day a solemn assembly; no work shall be done on those days; only what everyone must eat, that alone may be prepared by you.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
On the first day there shall be a holy convocation and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them; except that which every man must eat, that only may be prepared by you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the first day is called and holy, and the seventh day shall be called and holy to you, and no work shall be done in them, except whatever a son of man eats, only that will be done by you.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And in the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the first day shall be called holy, and the seventh day shall be a holy convocation to you: ye shall do no servile work on them, only as many things as will necessarily be done by every soul, this only shall be done by you.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Feast of Unleavened Bread
…15For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. 16On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly, and another on the seventh day. You must not do any work on those days, except to prepare the meals — that is all you may do. 17So you are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt. You must keep this day as a permanent statute for the generations to come.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Leviticus 23:7-8
On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any regular work. / For seven days you are to present a food offering to the LORD. On the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work.’”

Numbers 28:18-25
On the first day there is to be a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work. / Present to the LORD a food offering, a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished. / The grain offering shall consist of fine flour mixed with oil; offer three-tenths of an ephah with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram, ...

Deuteronomy 16:8
For six days you must eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day you shall hold a solemn assembly to the LORD your God, and you must not do any work.

Leviticus 23:21
On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This is to be a permanent statute wherever you live for the generations to come.

Leviticus 23:35-36
On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly. You must not do any regular work. / For seven days you are to present a food offering to the LORD. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you must not do any regular work.

Leviticus 23:39
On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the produce of the land, you are to celebrate a feast to the LORD for seven days. There shall be complete rest on the first day and also on the eighth day.

Numbers 29:12
On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work, and you shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days.

Deuteronomy 16:4
No leaven is to be found in all your land for seven days, and none of the meat you sacrifice in the evening of the first day shall remain until morning.

Deuteronomy 16:3
You must not eat leavened bread with it; for seven days you are to eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left the land of Egypt in haste—so that you may remember for the rest of your life the day you left the land of Egypt.

Leviticus 23:3
For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.

Matthew 12:12
How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:27-28
Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. / Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Luke 6:9
Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

John 7:37
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.

Treasury of Scripture

And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.

first day

Leviticus 23:2,3,7,8,21,24,25,27,35
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts…

Numbers 28:18,25
In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: …

Numbers 29:1,12
And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you…

no manner

Exodus 16:5,23,29
And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily…

Exodus 20:10
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:

Exodus 35:2,3
Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death…

man Heb.

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Alone Assembly Convocation Eat Eaten Everyone's Except First Food Hold Holy Manner Meeting Necessary Prepare Prepared Ready Sacred Save Seventh Sort Work

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Alone Assembly Convocation Eat Eaten Everyone's Except First Food Hold Holy Manner Meeting Necessary Prepare Prepared Ready Sacred Save Seventh Sort Work

Exodus 12

1. The beginning of the year is changed
3. The Passover is instituted
11. The import of the rite of the Passover
15. Unleavened bread
29. The firstborn are slain
31. The Israelites are driven out of the land
37. They come to Succoth
41. The time of their sojourning
43. The ordinance of the Passover

Berean Study Bible

On the first day
The phrase "On the first day" refers to the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which follows the Passover. In the Hebrew calendar, this day marks a significant transition from slavery to freedom for the Israelites. The "first day" is a time of new beginnings, symbolizing the start of a journey towards the Promised Land. It is a reminder of God's deliverance and the importance of setting aside time to honor Him.

you are to hold a sacred assembly
The term "sacred assembly" comes from the Hebrew word "miqra," which means a convocation or gathering for a holy purpose. This assembly is not merely a social gathering but a divinely ordained meeting where the community comes together to worship and reflect on God's mighty acts. It underscores the importance of communal worship and the collective remembrance of God's faithfulness.

and another on the seventh day
The "seventh day" marks the conclusion of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Biblically, the number seven often signifies completion and perfection. This day serves as a bookend to the sacred period, emphasizing the completeness of God's deliverance. It is a time to reflect on the journey from bondage to freedom and to celebrate the fulfillment of God's promises.

You must not do any work on those days
This command highlights the principle of rest and the sanctity of the holy days. The prohibition against work is a call to focus entirely on spiritual matters, setting aside the mundane tasks of daily life. It reflects the Sabbath principle, where rest is not just physical but spiritual, allowing believers to rejuvenate their relationship with God.

except to prepare the meals
The allowance "except to prepare the meals" shows God's understanding of human needs. While work is prohibited, the preparation of food is permitted, recognizing the necessity of sustenance. This exception underscores God's provision and care, ensuring that the physical needs of His people are met even as they focus on spiritual observance.

that is all you may do
This phrase serves as a boundary, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's commands. It reminds the Israelites of the need for discipline and the prioritization of spiritual over material concerns. By setting clear limits, God teaches His people the value of devotion and the importance of adhering to His instructions for holy living.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) In the first day there shall be an holy convocation.--The Passover was to be kept on the fourteenth day of Abib, at even. The seven following days were to be "days of unleavened bread." On the first of these, the fifteenth of Abib (Leviticus 23:6), there was to be a "holy convocation," i.e., a general gathering of the people to the door of the sanctuary for sacrifice, worship, and perhaps instruction. (Comp. Nehemiah 8:1.) The term "convocation" implies that the people were summoned to attend; and the actual summons appears to have been made by the blowing of the silver trumpets (Numbers 10:2). On the seventh day, the twenty-first of Abib, was to be another similar meeting. "No manner of work" was to be done on either of these two days; or rather, as explained in Leviticus 23:7-8, "no servile work."

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - On the first day there shall be an holy convocation. After the Paschal meal on the evening of the 14th of Abib, there was to be a solemn assembly of the people on the next day for religions worship. The name "convocation;" applied to these gatherings, seems to show that originally the people were summoned to such meetings, as they still are by the muezzin from the minarets of mosques in Mahommedan countries, and by bells from the steeples of churches in Christian ones. And on the seventh day. On the 22nd of Abib - the seventh day after the first holy convocation on the 15th (see Leviticus 23:4-8). Only two of the Jewish festivals were of this duration - the feast of unleavened bread, and the feast of tabernacles (ib. 39-42). The Christian Church has adopted the usage for Christmas, Easter, Ascension, and Whitsuntide, where the last day of the week is known technically as "the octave." No manner of work shall be done in them. Festival-days were in all countries days of abstention from the ordinary business of life, which could not conveniently be carried on conjointly with attendance at the services, meetings, processions, etc., wherein the festival consisted. But absolute cessation from all work was nowhere strictly commanded except among the Hebrews, where it appears to have been connected with the belief in God's absolute rest after the six days of creation. The command here given was solemnly repeated in the law (Leviticus 23:6 8).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

On the first
הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ (hā·ri·šō·wn)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

day
וּבַיּ֤וֹם (ū·ḇay·yō·wm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

you are to hold
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a sacred
קֹ֔דֶשׁ (qō·ḏeš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

assembly,
מִקְרָא־ (miq·rā-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4744: Something called out, a public meeting, a rehearsal

and another
קֹ֖דֶשׁ (qō·ḏeš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

on the seventh
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י (haš·šə·ḇî·‘î)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 7637: Seventh (an ordinal number)

day.
וּבַיּוֹם֙ (ū·ḇay·yō·wm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

You must
בָהֶ֔ם (ḇā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

do
יֵעָשֶׂ֣ה (yê·‘ā·śeh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

any work
מְלָאכָה֙ (mə·lā·ḵāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4399: Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property

on those days,
אַ֚ךְ (’aḵ)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

except to prepare
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the meals—
יֵאָכֵ֣ל (yê·’ā·ḵêl)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

that
ה֥וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is all
לְבַדּ֖וֹ (lə·ḇad·dōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of

you may do.
יֵעָשֶׂ֥ה (yê·‘ā·śeh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

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OT Law: Exodus 12:16 In the first day there shall be (Exo. Ex)