Exodus 34 21

Exodus 34:21 kjv

Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

Exodus 34:21 nkjv

"Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.

Exodus 34:21 niv

"Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

Exodus 34:21 esv

"Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.

Exodus 34:21 nlt

"You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working, even during the seasons of plowing and harvest.

Exodus 34 verses

Exodus 34 21 Meaning

Exodus 34:21 reiterates the divine command for the Sabbath rest, emphasizing its universal application and supreme importance by requiring cessation from labor even during the most critical agricultural seasons: plowing and harvest. It establishes a divine priority for rest, trust, and worship over human productivity, ensuring that Israel would remember their Creator and Provider regardless of earthly demands.

Exodus 34 21 Context

Exodus chapter 34 marks the renewal of the covenant between God and Israel after the devastating golden calf idolatry. Moses intercedes, and God, proclaiming His character as merciful and gracious (Ex 34:6-7), agrees to renew His covenant with His people. Verses 10-26 outline the terms of this renewed covenant, often referred to by scholars as the "Ritual Decalogue" due to its emphasis on worship, festivals, and ethical purity, setting Israel apart from surrounding pagan cultures. These laws ensure Israel's unique identity and proper worship of YHWH. Verse 21, specifically, reinforces the foundational commandment of the Sabbath within this renewed covenant, emphasizing its absolute importance by extending its requirement even to the busiest and most critical times in an agricultural society. The historical-cultural context for the original audience was agrarian, heavily dependent on seasonal labor for survival. For them, abstaining from work during plowing and harvest was a radical act of faith and dependence on God's provision, a direct challenge to the prevalent beliefs in other Canaanite deities (like Baal, associated with fertility and harvest) which might compel ceaseless toil. The Sabbath provided a vital break from potential labor exploitation and a structured rhythm for worship, distinguishing God's people.

Exodus 34 21 Word analysis

• Six days (שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים - sheshat yamim):

  • Signifies the complete workweek, established in Gen 1 as the pattern for human labor.
  • Highlights the expectation of diligence and effort in daily life.
  • Foundational in defining the rhythm of human activity against God's creational pattern.

• you shall labor (תַּעֲבֹד - ta'avod):

  • Root is עָבַד (abad), meaning "to work, serve, till."
  • Implies active, productive work as part of the human calling before God.
  • It's not idleness for six days but purposeful engagement in life and livelihood.

• but on the seventh day (וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי - u'bayyom hashvi'i):

  • "The seventh day" (yom hashvi'i) points to completion, perfection, and sacred rest.
  • Emphasizes this specific day's distinctness and divine designation.
  • Echoes God's rest after creation, marking it as a divine imitation.

• you shall rest (תִּשְׁבֹּת - tishbot):

  • Root is שָׁבַת (shabat), meaning "to cease, desist, stop working, keep the Sabbath."
  • Not merely inactivity, but a purposeful cessation for renewal, worship, and reliance on God.
  • It implies a break from all "productive" work, reorienting focus from self-provision to God's provision.

• even during plowing time (בַּחֲרִישׁ - baḥarish):

  • ḥārīš (plowing) refers to the season of tilling the ground, an intensely laborious and foundational activity, crucial for the entire agricultural year.
  • This specifies a period of peak activity, typically in autumn (for winter rain) or spring.
  • Involves great physical exertion and significant time investment to prepare for planting.

• and harvest time (וּבַקָּצִיר - u'bakatzir):

  • kātsir (harvest) refers to the season of gathering crops, a critical, time-sensitive period where delays can lead to spoilage and economic ruin.
  • It is the culmination of all prior labor and represents immediate economic gain.
  • These two periods represent the alpha and omega of the agricultural year, symbolizing the absolute demands and pressures on an agrarian society.

• you shall rest (תִּשְׁבֹּת - tishbot):

  • The repetition of "you shall rest" emphatically underscores the uncompromisable nature of the Sabbath command.
  • It demonstrates that no temporal human concern, no matter how vital, supersedes divine command and provision.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest": This phrase establishes the foundational rhythm of life mandated by God. It defines a divine balance between work and rest, asserting God's sovereignty over the Israelites' time and productivity. It highlights that the human experience is not one of endless toil but structured by God's own rhythm, reminding them of the Creator's design.

• "even during plowing time and harvest time you shall rest": This is a powerful, counter-intuitive clause that elevates the Sabbath above the most pressing economic needs of an agrarian society. It confronts the inherent human temptation to prioritize immediate material gain over spiritual obedience. This stipulation underscores the radical trust God demands from His people—faith that God, not incessant toil, provides for their sustenance. It functions as a direct polemic against the "work harder" mindset often found in pagan agrarian cults that lacked a Sabbath, showing YHWH's authority over the seasons and provision, making human effort secondary to divine command and blessing. It reveals the Sabbath as a test of faith and dependence.

Exodus 34 21 Bonus section

The command in Ex 34:21 reveals the radical nature of the Israelite Sabbath in the ancient world. While other cultures might have had festival days, a regular, compulsory, and universal day of cessation from all productive labor, even during peak agricultural periods, was unique to Israel. This divine instruction served multiple purposes: it was a test of obedience, a social equalizer providing rest for all (master and slave, human and animal), a public declaration of reliance on God's provision (challenging polytheistic fertility cults), and a weekly reminder of God's creative power and redemptive work. The verse also hints at the holistic nature of the Sabbath, impacting both physical well-being and spiritual posture. It reminds humanity that true life and fulfillment are found not in ceaseless toil but in a rhythmic obedience to the Creator who gives both labor and rest. This concept anticipates the spiritual rest found in Christ, who invites the weary and burdened to find rest for their souls (Matt 11:28).

Exodus 34 21 Commentary

Exodus 34:21 profoundly emphasizes the non-negotiable sanctity of the Sabbath rest, establishing it as an unyielding divine mandate regardless of economic urgency or societal pressure. Coming after the golden calf idolatry, this reiteration underscored the Sabbath's vital role as a sign of covenant fidelity and trust in God's provision, distinguishing Israel from surrounding nations who toiled ceaselessly. The inclusion of "plowing time and harvest time" is a stark, radical declaration. These were peak periods of labor in an agrarian society, where every moment felt crucial for survival. To rest during these times required immense faith—faith that God, not human effort, would ensure the success of their crops and the sustenance of their families. It was an act of surrender and recognition that true prosperity comes from God's blessing, not human toil alone. This principle extends to modern life, calling believers to periodic cessation from the demands of career, finances, or studies to rest in God, worship Him, and recognize His ultimate sovereignty and provision, rather than succumbing to the pressure of an achievement-driven world. The Sabbath offers a perpetual reminder that life is more than endless labor; it is for God.