Sabbath — Meaning in the Bible
The seventh day, a day of rest set apart for God. It recalls God resting after creation and Israel's freedom from slavery.
What it means
God rested on the seventh day and blessed it. The fourth commandment tells Israel to keep the Sabbath holy, resting from work along with servants, animals and foreigners. Genesis 2:2–3Exodus 20:8–11Deuteronomy 5:12–15
Jesus taught and healed on the Sabbath and said "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath", which led to disputes with some Pharisees. Mark 2:23–28Mark 3:1–6Luke 13:10–17
Key passages
- Genesis 2:1–3 — God rested.
- Exodus 16:22–30 — No manna gathered on the Sabbath.
- Exodus 20:8–11 — The fourth commandment.
- Deuteronomy 5:12–15 — Remember you were slaves.
- Mark 2:23–3:6 — Jesus and the Sabbath.
Original language
שַׁבָּת shab.bat
Hebrew · Strong’s H7676 · gloss: “Sabbath”
The Hebrew word shabbat, rest. Exodus 20:8
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
For children
The Sabbath is the seventh day, a day to rest and remember God. God rested on the seventh day after making the world. Genesis 2:2–3
Study further
- Genesis 2:1–3 The pattern.
- Deuteronomy 5:12–15 Rest for all.
- Mark 2:23–3:6 Lord of the Sabbath.