Exodus 20:11 kjv

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Exodus 20:11 nkjv

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Exodus 20:11 niv

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 20:11 esv

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 20:11 nlt

For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

Exodus 20 verses

Exodus 20 11 Meaning

This verse provides the divine rationale and theological foundation for the Fourth Commandment to "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exo 20:8). It directly links the Sabbath institution to God's act of creation, establishing it as a memorial of the Creator's work and rest. By observing the Sabbath, humanity participates in God's pattern, acknowledging His sovereignty over creation and time, and His blessing and consecration of the seventh day. It is a profound declaration that the command is not arbitrary but rooted in God's own nature and perfect design for His cosmos.

Exodus 20 11 Context

Exodus 20:11 is an integral part of the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments, given by God to the newly freed Israelites at Mount Sinai. Specifically, it concludes the Fourth Commandment concerning the Sabbath day. This foundational legal and moral code serves as the covenant stipulations between God and His people, defining their relationship and way of life in the wilderness and the Promised Land. The immediate context of this verse highlights God's unique identity as both Creator and Deliverer, linking the historical redemption from Egypt to the cosmic reality of His creative power. It grounds the practical requirement of Sabbath rest in the ultimate example of the sovereign Creator. The cultural context contrasts with pagan belief systems, where creation might be a result of divine conflict or the gods being burdened; instead, the God of Israel creates perfectly and then establishes His reign over His complete work.

Exodus 20 11 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This Hebrew particle introduces a causal or explanatory clause. It signifies "because" or "indeed," linking the command to keep the Sabbath to the foundational reason of God's creative work. It shows that the command is not arbitrary but logically founded.
• in six days (שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים, sheshet yamim): This refers to the creation narrative in Genesis 1. It emphasizes the specific duration of God's creative activity, setting a divine precedent for human labor within a seven-day cycle.
• the Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH / Adonai): This is the personal, covenant name of God, often translated as LORD (all caps). It underscores the specific, relational God of Israel as the Creator. It highlights His unchanging character and ultimate authority, demonstrating that the command comes from the very Being who ordered existence.
• made (עָשָׂה, asah): While bara (בָּרָא) refers to creation ex nihilo (from nothing), asah typically means "to make," "fashion," or "do." Here, in the context of creating the cosmos, asah carries the full weight of bringing into being, encompassing both bara's act of original creation and the subsequent ordering and shaping of all things within creation. It denotes God's comprehensive creative activity.
• the heavens (הַשָּׁמַיִם, ha'shamayim): The sky, the abode of celestial bodies, and in ancient cosmology, the expanse above the earth where God's dwelling is understood to be.
• and the earth (וְהָאָרֶץ, v'ha'aretz): The dry land, the terrestrial realm, and the habitable world. Together with "heavens," this phrase (heavens and earth) is a merism, signifying the entire cosmos, everything in existence, both seen and unseen.
• the sea (וְהַיָּם, v'ha'yam): The vast bodies of water, which held both life and mystery/chaos for ancient peoples. Explicitly mentioning the sea reinforces the comprehensive scope of God's creative power, including parts that were awe-inspiring or potentially threatening.
• and all that is in them (וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר בָּם, v'kol asher bahem): This further emphasizes the totality of creation. It includes every living thing, every structure, every element – nothing is outside the scope of God's handiwork. This totality grounds the comprehensive reach of God's command.
• and rested (וַיָּנַח, vayyanach): From the root נוּחַ (nuach), meaning "to settle down," "to cease," or "to repose." God's rest is not from weariness, as though He was fatigued. Instead, it signifies cessation from His creative activity, indicating that His work was complete, perfect, and sustained. It implies a "rest of completion" and a "rest of sovereignty," where He took His place to rule over His finished creation.
• the seventh day (יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, yom ha'shevi'i): The specific day of God's cessation and sanctification. This is the model for the Sabbath day, the final day in a full week cycle.
• Therefore (עַל־כֵּן, al-ken): A consequential marker, meaning "for this reason" or "because of this." It links God's action to His subsequent blessing and sanctification of the Sabbath.
• the Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH / Adonai): Again, emphasizing the divine agent of blessing and sanctification.
• blessed (בֵּרַךְ, berakh): To empower, endow with good, pronounce good upon, or confer favor. God's blessing made the day intrinsically beneficial and spiritually fruitful.
• the Sabbath day (יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, yom ha'shabbat): From the root שָׁבַת (shavat), "to cease" or "to rest." It is the appointed day of cessation from labor.
• and made it holy (וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ, vayikaddeshehu): From the root קָדַשׁ (qadash), meaning "to set apart," "to consecrate," "to sanctify." God separated this day from the others for a special, sacred purpose. This implies its unique status as distinct and sacred, a time dedicated to Him and to communion with Him.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them": This clause serves as the divine historical precedent. It anchors the Sabbath commandment in the Genesis creation account, portraying God as the sovereign Creator of the entire cosmos. It asserts the completeness and comprehensiveness of His work, emphasizing that all existence owes its origin to Him within a defined temporal period.
• "and rested the seventh day": This clarifies the nature of the Sabbath: it's a day of divine cessation, not due to weariness, but as an intentional pattern set by God upon completion of His perfect work. It's a statement of finality and sovereign establishment, showing God taking up His place as King over His ordered realm.
• "Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy": This consequent clause reveals God's purpose for the seventh day. His act of "rest" was immediately followed by His active blessing and consecration of the day. This act established the day's special character, distinguishing it from other days as a time endowed with divine favor and set apart for sacred observance, reflecting the Creator's own actions and wisdom.

Exodus 20 11 Bonus section

The two formulations of the Sabbath commandment (Exo 20:11 and Dt 5:15) offer complementary yet distinct theological rationales. While Exodus emphasizes creation, Deuteronomy ties it to redemption from slavery in Egypt. This dual foundation underscores that the Sabbath is both a universal principle, mirroring God's creative work for all humanity, and a specific covenant sign for Israel, celebrating their deliverance and freedom to serve God. The creation rationale (Exo 20:11) suggests a timeless and universal design for human flourishing through work and rest, echoing the pre-Fall relationship. The redemptive rationale (Dt 5:15) connects the rest to liberation from toil, symbolizing deliverance from spiritual bondage and reminding Israel that their ability to rest comes from God's saving power. Both point to God's sovereignty and His benevolent desire for humanity's good.

Exodus 20 11 Commentary

Exodus 20:11 provides the cosmic-theological basis for the Sabbath, linking humanity's weekly rhythm to God's own rhythm of creation and rest. It is not merely a social or ethical injunction but a divine imperative rooted in the very structure of reality. God’s "rest" on the seventh day was not an act of ceasing from exhaustion but a deliberate conclusion to His perfect creative work, moving into a state of sustaining and ruling His completed cosmos. By blessing and making the seventh day holy, God imbued it with sacred significance, setting it apart as a time to remember His sovereignty, acknowledge His finished work, and find spiritual rest and rejuvenation by aligning with His divine pattern. This commandment transcends cultural boundaries, reflecting a universal principle derived from the Creator. It teaches us to cease from our labor, to trust God's provision, and to enter into a posture of worship and gratitude for His perfect creation and sustaining care. The Sabbath thus serves as a weekly re-enactment and remembrance of the Creator's dominion and the blessing found in resting in His finished work.