Topical Encyclopedia The Sabbath, a day of rest and worship, holds a significant place in Judeo-Christian tradition. It is rooted in the biblical account of creation and is observed as a day of rest, reflection, and spiritual renewal. The term "Sabbath" is derived from the Hebrew word "Shabbat," meaning "to cease" or "to rest."Biblical Foundation The concept of the Sabbath is first introduced in the Book of Genesis, where God rests on the seventh day after completing the work of creation. Genesis 2:2-3 states, "And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished." The Sabbath is further established as a commandment in the Mosaic Law. In Exodus 20:8-11 , the fourth commandment instructs, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping 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, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy." Purpose and Observance The Sabbath serves multiple purposes: it is a day of rest, a sign of the covenant between God and His people, and a time for worship and reflection. The Sabbath is a reminder of God's creation and His deliverance of Israel from Egypt, as noted in Deuteronomy 5:15 : "Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day." In Jewish tradition, the Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday. It is marked by prayer, family gatherings, and abstention from work. The observance of the Sabbath is a testament to faith and obedience to God's commandments. The Sabbath in the New Testament In the New Testament, Jesus' relationship with the Sabbath is a subject of significant discourse. Jesus often challenged the Pharisaic interpretations of the Sabbath laws, emphasizing the spirit rather than the letter of the law. In Mark 2:27-28 , Jesus declares, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." The early Christian church grappled with the observance of the Sabbath, especially as Gentile converts joined the faith. The Apostle Paul addresses this in Colossians 2:16-17 , stating, "Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ." Theological Significance The Sabbath is a profound symbol of rest and redemption. It points to the ultimate rest found in Christ, who offers spiritual rest to all who come to Him. Hebrews 4:9-10 speaks to this, "So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His." The Sabbath continues to be a day of rest and worship for many Christians, though its observance varies among denominations. It remains a testament to God's creation, His covenant with His people, and the rest and redemption offered through Jesus Christ. Torrey's Topical Textbook Exodus 16:23And he said to them, This is that which the LORD has said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath to the LORD: bake that which you will bake to day, and seethe that you will seethe; and that which remains over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Thou Shalt Sanctify the Holy Day. [Remember the Sabbath Day to ... Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be ... Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath ... A Sabbath in Capernaum Whether the Third Precept of the Decalogue, Concerning the ... Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day ... The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn ... On the Fourth Command in the Decalogue What is Written in the Revelation of John Regarding the Two ... Letter viii. Public and Social Worship, and Sabbath Employments. Resources Why does Exodus 35:2 require the death penalty for working on the Sabbath? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy? | GotQuestions.org Is Sunday the Christian Sabbath? | GotQuestions.org Sabbath: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Sabbath Day's Journey: About Two-Thousand Paces Sabbath: Observance of by John Sabbath: Observance of by Moses Sabbath: Observance of by Nehemiah Sabbath: Observance of by Paul Sabbath: Observance of by the Disciples Sabbath: Observance of by the Women Preparing to Embalm the Corpse of Jesus Sabbath: Religious Usages on The Sabbath: Signifying a Period of Rest Sabbath: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Sabbath: Violations of Gathering Manna Sabbath: Violations of Gathering Sticks Sabbath: Violations of Men of Tyre Sabbath: Violations of The Inhabitants of Jerusalem The Sabbath: A Sign of the Covenant The Sabbath: A Type of the Heavenly Rest The Sabbath: Blessedness of Honoring The Sabbath: Blessedness of Keeping The Sabbath: Called: God's Holy Day The Sabbath: Called: The Lord's Day The Sabbath: Called: The Rest of the Holy Sabbath The Sabbath: Called: The Sabbath of Rest The Sabbath: Called: The Sabbath of the Lord The Sabbath: Christ is Lord of The Sabbath: Christ was Accustomed to Observe The Sabbath: Christ: Taught On The Sabbath: Denunciations Against Those Who Profane The Sabbath: Dishonouring of: Gatherers of Manna The Sabbath: Dishonouring of: Gatherers of Sticks The Sabbath: Dishonouring of: Inhabitants of Jerusalem The Sabbath: Dishonouring of: Men of Tyre The Sabbath: Divine Worship to be Celebrated On The Sabbath: First Day of the Week Kept As, by the Church The Sabbath: God: Commanded to be Sanctified The Sabbath: God: Commanded, to be Kept The Sabbath: God: Shows Considerate Kindness in Appointing The Sabbath: God: Shows Favour in Appointing The Sabbath: God: Will Have his Goodness Commemorated in the Observance of The Sabbath: Grounds of Its Institution The Sabbath: Honoring of Disciples The Sabbath: Honoring of Moses The Sabbath: Honoring of Nehemiah The Sabbath: Honoring of The Women The Sabbath: Instituted by God The Sabbath: Necessary Wants May be Supplied The Sabbath: No Burdens to be Carried On The Sabbath: No Manner of Work to be Done On The Sabbath: No Purchases to be Made On The Sabbath: Observance of, to be Perpetual The Sabbath: Punishment of Those Who Profane The Sabbath: Saints: Honor God in Observing The Sabbath: Saints: Rejoice In The Sabbath: Saints: Testify Against Those Who Desecrate The Sabbath: Servants and Cattle should be Allowed to Rest Upon The Sabbath: The Scriptures to be Read On The Sabbath: The Seventh Day Observed As The Sabbath: The Wicked: Bear Burdens On The Sabbath: The Wicked: do Their own Pleasure On The Sabbath: The Wicked: Hide Their Eyes From The Sabbath: The Wicked: May be Judicially Deprived of The Sabbath: The Wicked: Mock At The Sabbath: The Wicked: Pollute The Sabbath: The Wicked: Profane The Sabbath: The Wicked: Sometimes Pretend to Zealous For The Sabbath: The Wicked: Traffic On The Sabbath: The Wicked: Wearied By The Sabbath: The Wicked: Work On The Sabbath: The Word of God to be Preached On The Sabbath: Works Connected With Religious Service Lawful On The Sabbath: Works of Mercy Lawful On Related Terms The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |