Genesis 2:3 kjv

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Genesis 2:3 nkjv

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Genesis 2:3 niv

Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Genesis 2:3 esv

So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Genesis 2:3 nlt

And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

Genesis 2 verses

Genesis 2 3 Meaning

Genesis 2:3 reveals God's divine actions regarding the seventh day after the six days of creation. It declares that God blessed this day and consecrated it as holy. This sacred act was instituted because on this day, God ceased from His specific creative work, not out of weariness, but as a mark of completion and satisfaction with all that He had brought into existence. It establishes a foundational pattern of rest and sanctification.

Genesis 2 3 Context

Genesis chapter 2 verse 3 concludes the primary creation account, immediately following the narrative of the six days where God brought the universe into orderly existence. Chapter 1 outlines the unfolding of creation "in the beginning," detailing the distinct acts of forming and filling the heavens and the earth. Genesis 2:3 provides the culmination, revealing the divine pronouncement of the work's completion. Historically, this foundational act of God sets the stage for His relationship with humanity, introducing the concept of a hallowed day, preceding the giving of the Law to Israel, and thus establishing a universal pattern. This contrasts sharply with Ancient Near Eastern cosmogonies, where gods often "rested" out of exhaustion or after a struggle, rather than from satisfied completion and ordering.

Genesis 2 3 Word analysis

• And God: The subject, Elohim (אֱלֹהִים), emphasizes God as the sovereign, all-powerful Creator and ultimate authority, distinct from polytheistic deities.
• blessed (וַיְבָרֶךְ, vayvarekh): From the Hebrew root בָּרַךְ (barakh). This signifies a divine act of consecration, endowing with special favor, significance, or power. God's blessing is not merely a wish but a declaration that sets something apart and gives it inherent good or benefit. It implies prosperity, fruitfulness, and divine favor.
• the seventh day (אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, et yom ha-shevi'i): The ordinal number "seventh" indicates completion and perfection. It signifies a distinct point in time, marked out for a unique purpose. It's the culmination of a divine sequence.
• and made it holy (וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ, vayqaddesh oto): From the root קָדַשׁ (qadash). To "make holy" or "sanctify" means to set apart, separate, and dedicate for a sacred purpose, removing it from common use. God defines holiness by His own nature and action. This day becomes distinct from the working days.
• because on it (כִּי בוֹ, ki vo): "Because" (כִּי, ki) provides the divine reason and justification for blessing and hallowing the day. It connects the day's special status directly to God's finished work.
• he rested (שָׁבַת, shabat): From which the word "Sabbath" is derived. This "rest" does not imply exhaustion or ceasing to exist or govern the universe. Instead, it signifies ceasing from the specific work of forming and filling the cosmos (Gen 1). It denotes completion, satisfaction, and entering into a state of rule and enjoyment of the established creation. It is God establishing a pattern of purposeful pause and celebration.
• from all his work: Emphasizes the totality and thoroughness of God's creative activity over the previous six days. There was nothing left undone concerning the initial formation of the cosmos.
• that he had done in creation (אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא עָשָׂה, asher bara' asah): Uses both "created" (bara, referring to originating something new) and "made" (asah, referring to shaping or fashioning). This double expression underscores the comprehensive nature of God's creative enterprise, encompassing both the bringing into existence ex nihilo and the ordering and filling of creation. It means all aspects of His creative action were concluded.

Genesis 2 3 Bonus section

• This verse grounds the universal principle of the Sabbath, long before specific Mosaic Law. It's a creation ordinance, applying to humanity at large.
• The nature of God's rest, shabat, signifies that creation was good and complete. It emphasizes that creation did not degenerate from a chaotic state nor did God require cessation from weakness, unlike pagan deities often depicted in ancient myths.
• The hallowing of the day introduces the theological concept of "holy time," not just holy places or people. Time itself can be consecrated to God.
• This divine act anticipates the future experience of humanity. Man, created in God's image, is called to mirror this divine pattern of work followed by purposeful rest and worship, a reflection of God's own completion and satisfaction.

Genesis 2 3 Commentary

Genesis 2:3 is not merely a concluding statement about the creation week; it's a profound theological declaration. God's "resting" from His creative work established a cosmic rhythm of work and rest. This divine pattern serves as the ultimate model for humanity. The act of blessing the day denotes its intrinsic goodness and divine favor, while hallowing it sets it apart as distinct, special, and consecrated for divine purposes. It foreshadows the Israelite Sabbath as a covenant sign and a perpetual reminder of God as Creator and Redeemer, culminating in a deeper, spiritual rest offered in Christ. It underscores the perfection of God's creation, requiring no further primary foundational work, allowing for the subsequent phase of providential care and human stewardship. This day is marked by divine contentment and serves as a precursor to all future experiences of rest, both temporal and eternal.