Exodus 16 30

Exodus 16:30 kjv

So the people rested on the seventh day.

Exodus 16:30 nkjv

So the people rested on the seventh day.

Exodus 16:30 niv

So the people rested on the seventh day.

Exodus 16:30 esv

So the people rested on the seventh day.

Exodus 16:30 nlt

So the people did not gather any food on the seventh day.

Exodus 16 verses

Exodus 16 30 Meaning

Exodus 16:30 records the people of Israel observing God's directive regarding the Sabbath in the wilderness. After several days of daily manna gathering, the instruction was given to collect a double portion on the sixth day and cease gathering on the seventh. This verse affirms their corporate obedience, highlighting that the community adhered to the divine command to rest on the designated seventh day. It signifies an early act of compliance with God's developing law concerning sacred time and the weekly cycle of work and rest.

Exodus 16 30 Context

Exodus chapter 16 depicts the Israelite encampment in the Wilderness of Sin, roughly a month after their departure from Egypt. Faced with hunger, they murmured against Moses and Aaron, wishing for the food of Egypt. In response, the Lord promised to provide "bread from heaven" and meat, not just to satisfy their physical needs but also to teach them reliance and obedience. The chapter details the miraculous provision of manna each morning (except the seventh day) and quail in the evening. Key to understanding verse 30 are God's explicit instructions: gather enough for each day, not more, as leftovers would spoil (Ex 16:16-20); but on the sixth day, gather a double portion, for there would be none on the seventh, which was to be a "Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord" (Ex 16:22-26). There was initial disobedience from some who tried to gather on the seventh day and found none, leading to God's reprimand (Ex 16:27-28). Exodus 16:30 serves as a summary statement, concluding this specific period of the test and highlighting that despite earlier transgressions, the majority did ultimately observe the Sabbath as commanded, setting a precedent before the formal promulgation of the Decalogue at Mount Sinai.

Exodus 16 30 Word analysis

• So: This transitional conjunction (וַ) indicates a consequence or outcome, connecting the people's action directly to the preceding divine instruction (Ex 16:25-29). It suggests successful implementation of the command.

• the people: (הָעָם - hā'ām) Refers collectively to the entire Israelite community, implying a widespread or general observance rather than just isolated individuals. This indicates that God's authority and instructions had a formative effect on the entire group.

• rested: (וַיִּשְׁבְּתוּ - vāyiššebtû) This verb comes from the root šābat (שָׁבַת), meaning to cease, stop, rest, or keep Sabbath. It's the very same root used for God's resting on the seventh day of creation (Gen 2:2-3). It signifies not merely inactivity, but a cessation from the customary labor of gathering manna, an intentional cessation that marks it as sacred time. This act of ceasing was an act of trust, relying on God's provision and the sufficiency of the sixth day's double portion.

• on the seventh day: (בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי - bayyôm hašševi'i) This specifies the exact day of observance. It links this temporary provision-related Sabbath directly to the cosmic pattern of creation and prefigures its formal establishment as the Sabbath commandment within the Mosaic Law. It underscores the concept of a recurring sacred day within their week.

• So the people rested: This phrase signifies the people's eventual collective obedience and alignment with God's will. Despite previous instances of murmuring and testing God (Ex 16:2, 20, 27), this statement points to a pivotal moment of conformity and the establishment of a foundational religious practice. It illustrates God's persistent instruction leading to a measure of faith and obedience.

• rested on the seventh day: This combined phrase emphasizes the essence of the Sabbath as a cessation of work dedicated to God, demonstrating faith in His ability to provide without their labor on that day. It highlights the structured, cyclical nature of the rest, aligning their weekly rhythm with a divine blueprint and distinguishing their practices from the relentless labor experienced under Egyptian bondage. This patterned rest was also a formative element for their unique identity as God's covenant people.

Exodus 16 30 Bonus section

The act of resting on the seventh day in Exodus 16 was a foundational step in Israel's theological and social identity. This initial adherence to the Sabbath principle established a rhythmic structure to their lives that transcended mere human habit, rooting it in divine command and provision. It stood in stark contrast to the relentless work schedule imposed during their slavery in Egypt, symbolizing a newfound freedom and identity defined by God's benevolence rather than oppressive labor. The theological implication extends to God's control over time and sustenance, compelling the Israelites to trust His sufficiency day by day and week by week. This practical lesson in obedience and faith through the manna provision and Sabbath rest prepared them spiritually for the grand covenant at Mount Sinai, where the Sabbath commandment would be formally enshrined within the Ten Commandments, becoming a permanent and distinguishing sign of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. This episode also served as a clear indicator of God testing the nation's heart before the law was given.

Exodus 16 30 Commentary

Exodus 16:30 marks a significant moment of obedience in the Israelite journey. After experiencing God's miraculous provision of manna and direct instructions regarding the weekly Sabbath, this verse records that "the people" (as a unified body) indeed rested on the seventh day. This wasn't a casual break, but a commanded cessation of labor, particularly the labor of gathering daily sustenance, indicating a nascent understanding of sacred time. This pre-Sinaitic Sabbath observance highlights God's progressive revelation; the practice was instituted even before the written commandment at Sinai. It was an exercise in trust – believing that God's double portion on the sixth day would suffice and that He would provide, even when they abstained from labor. This weekly rest served multiple purposes: it fostered reliance on God, broke the chains of slavery's incessant toil, and foreshadowed the future, more formal establishment of the Sabbath as a central sign of the covenant between God and Israel, linking them to creation and God's own rest. It also stands as an example of initial responsiveness, setting a hopeful tone for their journey toward becoming God's covenant people.