but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work--neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do. but the seventh dayThe phrase "the seventh day" refers to the Sabbath, a day of rest ordained by God. In Hebrew, "seventh" is "שְׁבִיעִי" (shevi'i), which is rooted in the word "שֶׁבַע" (sheva), meaning seven. This number often symbolizes completion and perfection in the Bible, reflecting God's creation week. The Sabbath is a reminder of God's rest after creation, emphasizing the importance of rest and spiritual reflection. is a Sabbath
The term "Sabbath" comes from the Hebrew "שַׁבָּת" (Shabbat), meaning to cease or rest. It is a holy day set apart for rest and worship. The Sabbath is a covenant sign between God and His people, symbolizing trust in God's provision and sovereignty. It is a day to cease from labor and focus on spiritual renewal and community worship. to the LORD your God
This phrase underscores the Sabbath's dedication to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. "LORD" in Hebrew is "יְהוָה" (YHWH), the sacred name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. The Sabbath is not merely a day off but a day devoted to honoring and worshiping God, acknowledging His lordship over time and life. on which you must not do any work
The command to refrain from work is central to the Sabbath observance. "Work" in Hebrew is "מְלָאכָה" (melachah), referring to occupational or creative labor. This cessation from work is a declaration of faith, trusting in God's provision and recognizing human limitations. It is a time to focus on spiritual matters and family, fostering a rhythm of rest and worship. neither you, nor your son or daughter
This inclusion of family members highlights the communal aspect of the Sabbath. It is a day for the entire household to rest and worship together, reinforcing family bonds and shared faith. The Sabbath is a gift to all generations, teaching children the importance of rest and reverence for God. nor your manservant or maidservant
The command extends to servants, emphasizing equality and compassion. In ancient times, servants were often overworked, but the Sabbath provided them with rest and dignity. This reflects God's justice and care for all people, regardless of social status, and calls believers to treat others with kindness and respect. nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock
Even animals are granted rest on the Sabbath, demonstrating God's concern for all creation. This provision reflects the broader biblical principle of stewardship and care for the earth and its creatures. It reminds believers of their responsibility to treat animals humanely and to honor God's creation. nor the foreigner within your gates
The inclusion of foreigners shows the Sabbath's universal scope. It is a day of rest for all who reside within the community, regardless of their origin. This reflects God's inclusive love and the call for His people to be a light to the nations, welcoming and caring for strangers. so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do
This phrase emphasizes equality and compassion, ensuring that servants enjoy the same rest as their masters. It reflects God's justice and the principle of loving one's neighbor as oneself. The Sabbath is a time to reflect on God's grace and to extend that grace to others, fostering a community of rest, worship, and mutual care. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites who delivered God's commandments, including the Sabbath law, to the people. 2. IsraelitesThe chosen people of God who received the law and were commanded to observe the Sabbath. 3. SabbathA day of rest on the seventh day, instituted by God as a sign of His covenant with Israel. 4. Servants and LivestockIncluded in the command to rest, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the Sabbath rest. 5. ForeignersNon-Israelites living among the Israelites, also commanded to observe the Sabbath rest. Teaching Points The Purpose of RestThe Sabbath is a gift from God, designed for physical rest and spiritual renewal. It reminds us of our dependence on God and His provision. Equality and CompassionThe command includes everyone, regardless of social status, emphasizing God's concern for justice and equality. It teaches us to care for those under our authority. A Sign of CovenantObserving the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between God and His people, reminding us of our identity and relationship with Him. Rest as WorshipThe Sabbath is not just about ceasing work but also about dedicating time to worship and reflection on God's goodness and creation. Modern ApplicationIn today's busy world, setting aside regular time for rest and worship is crucial for maintaining spiritual health and balance. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the command to rest on the Sabbath reflect God's character and His intentions for humanity? 2. In what ways can we apply the principle of Sabbath rest in our modern, fast-paced lives? 3. How does the inclusion of servants and foreigners in the Sabbath command challenge our views on equality and justice? 4. What are some practical ways to ensure that our time of rest includes worship and reflection on God? 5. How does understanding the Sabbath as a sign of the covenant deepen our appreciation for our relationship with God? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 2:2-3The origin of the Sabbath, where God rested on the seventh day after creation, setting a pattern for humanity. Exodus 20:8-11The Ten Commandments, where the Sabbath command is reiterated, emphasizing its importance. Mark 2:27Jesus' teaching that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, highlighting its purpose for human benefit. Hebrews 4:9-10The spiritual rest that believers enter through faith in Christ, symbolized by the Sabbath rest. People MosesPlaces Beth-baal-peor, Egypt, HorebTopics Alien, Animals, Ass, Bondman, Cattle, Daughter, Donkey, Female, Gates, Handmaid, Livestock, Maidservant, Maid-servant, Male, Manner, Manservant, Man-servant, Ox, Rest, Sabbath, Servant, Seventh, Sojourner, Stays, Strange, Stranger, Thyself, Within, Woman-servantDictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 5:14 4633 donkey
5636 work, and rest
7530 foreigners
8343 servanthood, in society Deuteronomy 5:6-21 1443 revelation, OT
7263 theocracy
8412 decisions Deuteronomy 5:12-14 4975 week Deuteronomy 5:12-15 4921 day
5057 rest, physical
8444 honouring God Deuteronomy 5:13-14 1653 numbers, 6-10 Library Prayer and Obedience
"An obedience discovered itself in Fletcher of Madeley, which I wish I could describe or imitate. It produced in him a ready mind to embrace every cross with alacrity and pleasure. He had a singular love for the lambs of the flock, and applied himself with the greatest diligence to their instruction, for which he had a peculiar gift. . . . All his intercourse with me was so mingled with prayer and praise, that every employment, and every meal was, as it were, perfumed therewith." -- JOHN WESLEY. …
Edward M. Bounds—The Necessity of PrayerThe 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 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 "They have Corrupted Themselves; their Spot is not the Spot of his Children; they are a Perverse and Crooked Generation. "
Deut. xxxii. 5.--"They have corrupted themselves; their spot is not the spot of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation." We doubt this people would take well with such a description of themselves as Moses gives. It might seem strange to us, that God should have chosen such a people out of all the nations of the earth, and they to be so rebellious and perverse, if our own experience did not teach us how free his choice is, and how long-suffering he is, and constant in his choice. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day.
Now the sanctifying of the Sabbath consists in two things--First, In resting from all servile and common business pertaining to our natural life; Secondly, In consecrating that rest wholly to the service of God, and the use of those holy means which belong to our spiritual life. For the First. 1. The servile and common works from which we are to cease are, generally, all civil works, from the least to the greatest (Exod. xxxi. 12, 13, 15, &c.) More particularly-- First, From all the works of our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Everlasting Covenant of the Spirit
"They shall be My people, and l will be their God. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me."--JER. xxxii. 38, 40. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye …
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants Jesus Fails to Attend the Third Passover.
Scribes Reproach Him for Disregarding Tradition. (Galilee, Probably Capernaum, Spring a.d. 29.) ^A Matt. XV. 1-20; ^B Mark VII. 1-23; ^D John VII. 1. ^d 1 And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judæa, because the Jews sought to kill him. [John told us in his last chapter that the passover was near at hand. He here makes a general statement which shows that Jesus did not attend this passover. The reason for his absence is given at John v. 18.] ^a 1 Then there …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Angel of the Lord in the Pentateuch, and the Book of Joshua.
The New Testament distinguishes between the hidden God and the revealed God--the Son or Logos--who is connected with the former by oneness of nature, and who from everlasting, and even at the creation itself, filled up the immeasurable distance between the Creator and the creation;--who has been the Mediator in all God's relations to the world;--who at all times, and even before He became man in Christ, has been the light of [Pg 116] the world,--and to whom, specially, was committed the direction …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Mount Zion.
"For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them: for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned; and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake: but ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews The Foundations of Good Citizenship.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.--Ex. 20:1-17. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible I, 194-198. Prin. of Politics, Chap. II. Lowell, Essay on "Democracy." Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image. Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor thy father and thy mother. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou …
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf. …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Deuteronomy 5:14 NIVDeuteronomy 5:14 NLTDeuteronomy 5:14 ESVDeuteronomy 5:14 NASBDeuteronomy 5:14 KJV
Deuteronomy 5:14 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
