Exodus 20:10 kjv

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 20:10 nkjv

but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

Exodus 20:10 niv

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 male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

Exodus 20:10 esv

but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.

Exodus 20:10 nlt

but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you.

Exodus 20 verses

Exodus 20 10 Meaning

Exodus 20:10 proclaims the sanctity of the seventh day, the Sabbath, designating it as a day of complete cessation from labor. It explicitly states that neither the Israelite household head, nor their children, male and female servants, livestock, or even foreigners residing within their community boundaries, are permitted to perform any work. This commandment ensures a universal weekly rest for all within the community, reflecting God's own pattern of rest after creation and underscoring the Lordship of God over all life and time.

Exodus 20 10 Context

Exodus 20:10 is part of the Ten Commandments, given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai to the newly formed nation of Israel. This particular verse expands on the fourth commandment, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exod 20:8), detailing who specifically must rest and what constitutes work's cessation. Historically, Israel had just been delivered from Egyptian bondage, where they experienced relentless forced labor. The command for universal rest, extending even to servants and sojourners, served as a profound reminder of their liberation from slavery and a polemic against the oppressive labor practices prevalent in surrounding pagan cultures like Egypt, where only the elite might enjoy respite. It highlights God's justice and concern for all, from the master to the least member of the household, mirroring His own redemptive act.

Exodus 20 10 Word analysis

• But the seventh day: ve-yom ha-shevi'i (וְיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי). Emphasizes the specific nature of this day as distinct from the six days of labor. It connects directly to God's act of resting on the seventh day after creation (Gen 2:2-3).
• is the Sabbath: shabbat (שַׁבָּת). Derived from the verb shavat (שָׁבַת), meaning "to cease, to stop, to rest." It signifies a cessation from ordinary activities, a consecrated day for a different purpose—worship and communion with God.
• of the Lord your God: Yahweh Eloheka (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ). This declaration attributes ownership and authority of the Sabbath to the covenant God of Israel. It emphasizes that the Sabbath is not merely a human institution for social benefit but a divine commandment and gift.
• in it you shall not do any work: lo-ta'aseh kol-melakha (לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה כָל-מְלָאכָה). "Work" here, melakha, refers to purposeful, skilled, or gainful labor. It encompasses creative, professional, or commercial activity, not all physical exertion or acts of mercy/necessity (e.g., pulling an ox out of a pit, Matt 12:11).
• you, nor your son, nor your daughter: Refers to the immediate family of the household head. This indicates that the primary Israelite male (the patriarch) is responsible for ensuring the observance of this command by all under his direct authority.
• nor your male servant, nor your female servant: evdeka v'amateka (עַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתֶךָ). Includes both male and female bondservants, often slaves or hired laborers. This is a profound statement of social justice, extending the privilege of rest to those in subordinate positions who often had no rights in other cultures. It echoes their own experience of deliverance from slavery in Egypt.
• nor your ox, nor your donkey: Represents livestock, crucial for agricultural labor. The rest command extends to them, demonstrating God's care even for creation and highlighting that the animals, though property, are not to be exploited continuously. This anticipates animal welfare laws.
• nor any of your livestock: kol-behemtekha (כָל-בְּהֶמְתֶּךָ). A broader category, encompassing all domesticated animals, ensuring comprehensive cessation of labor reliant on animal power.
• nor your sojourner who is within your gates: gerkha asher bi-she'arekha (גֵּרְךָ אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ). The "sojourner" or "stranger" refers to resident foreigners who live among the Israelites, perhaps temporary residents or permanent immigrants. "Within your gates" implies anyone living under the civil and spiritual jurisdiction of the Israelite community. This is a unique and remarkably inclusive command, extending the blessings and responsibilities of the Sabbath to non-Israelites, reflecting God's universal compassion and inviting others to witness and participate in the life of His people.

Exodus 20 10 Bonus section

The Hebrew phrasing for "Sabbath of the Lord your God" can be understood as an "appositional genitive," meaning "a Sabbath that is the Lord your God," indicating that the Sabbath is not merely commanded by God but is intrinsically linked to His very being and character. This underscores its profound theological significance beyond a simple day off. The polemical nature against other gods and their demanding deities is evident; Yahweh provides rest, unlike gods who demand constant sacrifice and labor from their devotees. The Sabbath provides a weekly "redemptive re-enactment" for Israel, reminding them of their deliverance from perpetual toil in Egypt (as detailed in Deut 5:15). This social dimension of the Sabbath law is key, establishing a weekly day when economic hierarchy is momentarily suspended, and everyone is equal in their rest before God.

Exodus 20 10 Commentary

Exodus 20:10 precisely delineates the scope of the Sabbath command's application, reinforcing its core meaning as a total cessation of specific types of work for everyone and everything under an Israelite's charge. It's not just a personal day off, but a communal commitment to honor God's pattern of creation and to reflect His character of rest and justice. By commanding rest for children, servants, and even livestock, the verse promotes dignity for all beings, countering exploitative practices common in ancient Near Eastern societies. The inclusion of the "sojourner within your gates" is particularly remarkable, demonstrating that God's covenant ethics extend beyond ethnic or familial boundaries, ensuring that no one under the community's purview is exempt from this divinely ordained rest. This provision not only offers physical respite but also points to the spiritual reality that rest, freedom, and access to God are universal blessings. It highlights the Sabbath as a sign not only of Israel's unique covenant relationship with God but also of a principle that transcends legalism, anticipating a spiritual rest offered in Christ to all who believe, fulfilling the shadow with substance. Practically, this implies a communal rhythm that respects human limits, ensures fair labor practices, and points to God as the ultimate provider and sovereign over all time and activity.