Exodus 31:17 kjv
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
Exodus 31:17 nkjv
It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.' "
Exodus 31:17 niv
It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'?"
Exodus 31:17 esv
It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"
Exodus 31:17 nlt
It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.'"
Exodus 31 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:2-3 | "And on the seventh day God ended his work... and he rested... and sanctified it." | Foundation of Sabbath in creation, God's rest and blessing. |
| Ex 20:8-11 | "Remember the sabbath day... for in six days the LORD made... and rested." | The Ten Commandments; explicitly links Sabbath to creation. |
| Ex 31:13 | "Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you." | Earlier in the chapter, also defining Sabbath as a sign. |
| Ex 35:2-3 | "Six days shall work be done... but the seventh day... a sabbath of rest." | Reiterates Sabbath before Tabernacle construction instructions. |
| Lev 23:3 | "Six days shall work be done... the seventh day is a sabbath of rest." | Sabbath as one of the LORD's appointed feasts. |
| Deut 5:12-15 | "Keep the sabbath day... remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt." | Connects Sabbath to Israel's redemption and liberation from slavery. |
| Ezek 20:12 | "Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them." | Reinforces Sabbath as a sign for knowledge of God. |
| Ezek 20:20 | "And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you." | Further emphasizes Sabbath as a distinctive sign. |
| Neh 9:14 | "And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them." | God's specific revelation of the Sabbath to Israel. |
| Isa 58:13-14 | "If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath... then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD." | Blessings for delighting in and honoring the Sabbath. |
| Jer 17:21-27 | "Take heed to yourselves... bear no burden on the sabbath day." | Consequences of Sabbath observance or desecration for Judah. |
| Psa 33:6 | "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host by the breath." | Creation by God's word and spirit. |
| Matt 11:28-30 | "Come unto me, all ye that labour... and I will give you rest." | Jesus offers spiritual rest to the burdened. |
| Mark 2:27-28 | "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." | Jesus' authority over the Sabbath, for humanity's benefit. |
| Luke 13:10-17 | "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?" | Jesus performs healing on the Sabbath, revealing its true purpose. |
| John 5:16-17 | "Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus... because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered... My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." | Jesus defends His work on the Sabbath, mirroring God's continuous work. |
| Acts 20:7 | "And upon the first day of the week... the disciples came together to break bread." | Early church's practice of meeting on the first day (resurrection day). |
| Rom 14:5-6 | "One man esteemeth one day above another... another esteemeth every day alike." | Paul on Christian liberty regarding days of observance. |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Let no man therefore judge you in meat... or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." | Sabbath as a shadow fulfilled in Christ. |
| Heb 4:1-11 | "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God... for he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." | Expounds on God's rest and believers entering a spiritual rest in Christ. |
| Rev 14:7 | "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth." | Emphasizes worship of the Creator God in the end times. |
| Ex 16:23-30 | "To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD." | Provision of manna and first specific instructions for Sabbath observance. |
Exodus 31 verses
Exodus 31 17 Meaning
Exodus 31:17 serves as a conclusive declaration regarding the Sabbath command, linking it intrinsically to God's creation act and establishing it as an eternal covenant sign between God and the nation of Israel. It affirms that just as the LORD completed His creative work in six days and ceased on the seventh, Israel is to observe the seventh day as a sacred day of rest, distinguishing them as His chosen people and commemorating His ultimate power and satisfaction in creation. The verse emphasizes that God's "resting" was not due to weariness but a cessation from labor, finding fulfillment and delight in His accomplished work.
Exodus 31 17 Context
Exodus 31:17 is the concluding statement in a detailed section (Exodus 31:1-17) concerning the divine mandate for constructing the Tabernacle and its furnishings, and the anointing of priests. This chapter introduces Bezalel and Oholiab, divinely gifted craftsmen, for this specific task. Immediately after giving these elaborate instructions for diligent work on the Tabernacle, God emphasizes the crucial importance of Sabbath observance. This placement is highly significant: it reiterates that even sacred work commanded by God must yield to the sanctity of His designated day of rest. It solidifies the Sabbath's position as a foundational element of the covenant with Israel, serving as an ongoing reminder of God as both Creator and Redeemer, even amidst the greatest endeavor of covenant worship through the Tabernacle.
Exodus 31 17 Word analysis
- It is a sign (
ôṯ, אוֹת): More than a mere symbol,ôṯin the Bible signifies a divine credential or mark of distinction, a covenant marker that confirms God's presence, authority, or promises. Here, it marks Israel's special relationship with the LORD, separating them from other nations and indicating God's sanctification of them, just as He sanctified the seventh day. It is an outward expression of an inward reality of their belonging to God. - between Me and the children of Israel: This emphasizes the exclusivity and particularity of the Sinai covenant. The Sabbath was uniquely given to Israel, distinguishing their covenant relationship from all other peoples. It points to Israel's identity as God's chosen people, set apart to live by His laws.
- forever (
le'olam, לְעֹלָם): This signifies enduring perpetuity and an unbreakable nature. It implies the Sabbath ordinance would continue throughout their generations, underscoring its timeless significance within the Old Covenant and hinting at an eternal principle of divine rest. - for in six days: Establishes the divine precedent and foundational reason for the Sabbath – God's creative work. It roots the Sabbath deeply in the order of creation itself, presenting it not merely as a legal decree but as a participation in God's cosmic pattern.
- the LORD made the heavens and earth:
Yahweh(יְהוָה), the covenant God, is here identified as the sole Creator (`āśāh, עָשָׂה`). This assertion stands in stark contrast and serves as a polemic against the polytheistic myths of creation prevalent in the ancient Near East, where gods often toiled endlessly or creation emerged from chaotic conflict. It highlights His supreme power and sovereignty. - and on the seventh day He rested:
šāḇat(שָׁבַת). This word means "ceased," "stopped," or "desisted from labor." It does not imply exhaustion or weariness, as God is omnipotent. Instead, it conveys the completion of creation and His intentional cessation from active creative work, signifying fulfillment and satisfaction in His perfect accomplishment. - and was refreshed:
yinnāp̄aš(וַיִּנָּפַשׁ), related tonephēš(soul, breath, self). This anthropomorphism is significant. It describes God "drawing breath" or "recovering soul" or "being refreshed." It suggests an ultimate sense of satisfaction, delight, and restoration that comes from observing His creation, seeing that "it was very good." It points to God's deep pleasure in His completed work and His perfect contentment, which then serves as a model for human rest and spiritual rejuvenation. It teaches humanity to find rest and delight in the cessation of work.
Exodus 31 17 Bonus section
The concept of God "resting" and being "refreshed" has strong implications for understanding the divine-human relationship. It suggests that just as God delighted in His perfect work, humanity is meant to find satisfaction and peace in ceasing from their labors and entering into a spiritual repose. This prefigures the ultimate rest offered in Christ, where believers cease from their own works of striving and enter into salvation by grace, a "Sabbath rest" that remains for the people of God. The polemic against continuous labor or worship of endless deities found in surrounding cultures further underscores the distinctiveness of the Israelite God, who works with purpose and then celebrates His finished work.
Exodus 31 17 Commentary
Exodus 31:17 succinctly re-emphasizes the Sabbath as the enduring sign of the covenant between God and Israel. Its placement, directly following intricate instructions for Tabernacle construction, highlights the Sabbath's theological priority: divine work always yields to divine rest. The verse anchors the Sabbath's meaning directly in God's own rhythm of creation – six days of making followed by a day of rest and refreshment. This "refreshment" for God is not from weariness, but from delight and completion, providing a model for humanity's holistic rest – physical, mental, and spiritual. The Sabbath, therefore, serves as both a weekly reminder of God's sovereign creativity and Israel's unique relationship with their Creator, distinct from any other nation by observing His day.