Deuteronomy 5:14

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.

Complete Jewish Bible:

but the seventh day is a Shabbat for ADONAI your God. On it you are not to do any kind of work - not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your ox, your donkey or any of your other livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property - so that your male and female servants can rest just as you do.

Berean Standard Bible:

but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do.

American Standard Version:

but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But the seventh{H7637} day{H3117} is the sabbath{H7676} of the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430}: in it thou shalt not do{H6213} any work{H4399}, thou, nor thy son{H1121}, nor thy daughter{H1323}, nor thy manservant{H5650}, nor thy maidservant{H519}, nor thine ox{H7794}, nor thine ass{H2543}, nor any of thy cattle{H929}, nor thy stranger{H1616} that is within thy gates{H8179}; that thy manservant{H5650} and thy maidservant{H519} may rest{H5117} as well as thou.

Cross-References (KJV):

Hebrews 4:4

  • For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Genesis 2:2

  • And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Exodus 23:12

  • Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

Exodus 16:29

  • See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

Exodus 16:30

  • So the people rested on the seventh day.

Nehemiah 5:5

  • Yet now our flesh [is] as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and [some] of our daughters are brought unto bondage [already]: neither [is it] in our power [to redeem them]; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

Nehemiah 13:21

  • Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do [so] again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no [more] on the sabbath.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Deuteronomy 5:14

Deuteronomy 5:14 is part of the second giving of the Ten Commandments in the book of Deuteronomy, which is a repetition and expansion of the laws first presented in Exodus 20. This particular verse addresses the fourth commandment regarding the observance of the Sabbath.

**Themes:**
1. **Sabbath Observance:** The verse emphasizes the sanctity of the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, as a day set apart for rest and worship of God. It is a day on which no work is to be done, reflecting the pattern of God's rest after the six days of creation (Genesis 2:2-3).
2. **Inclusivity and Equality:** The commandment extends to all members of society, including family members, servants, and even animals. This reflects a principle of social justice and equality, ensuring that everyone, regardless of status, has the opportunity to rest.
3. **Rest and Human Dignity:** By mandating rest for all, including servants and animals, the commandment underscores the importance of recognizing the human dignity and well-being of every individual and creature.
4. **Community:** The mention of "thy stranger that is within thy gates" suggests that the Sabbath rest is not just for Israelites but also for any foreigners living among them, highlighting the concept of a community that includes non-Israelites.

**Historical Context:**
- **Time of Writing:** The book of Deuteronomy is traditionally attributed to Moses and is set during the time when the Israelites were on the plains of Moab, just before they entered the Promised Land.
- **Cultural Context:** The Sabbath commandment would have been revolutionary in the ancient Near Eastern context, where continuous labor was the norm and there were no regularly scheduled days of rest for all classes of society.
- **Purpose:** The repetition of the law in Deuteronomy served to reinforce the covenant between God and Israel as they prepared to enter the land of Canaan. It also provided a new generation with instruction on how to live according to God's will.

In summary, Deuteronomy 5:14 underscores the importance of the Sabbath as a day of rest for all, reflecting themes of holiness, social justice, human dignity, and community inclusion, while also serving as a distinctive practice that set Israel apart from other ancient Near Eastern cultures.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H7637
    There are 94 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁבִיעִי
    Transliteration: shᵉbîyʻîy
    Pronunciation: sheb-ee-ee'
    Description: or שְׁבִעִי; ordinal from שִׁבְעִים; seventh; seventh (time).
  2. Strong's Number: H3117
    There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹם
    Transliteration: yôwm
    Pronunciation: yome
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
  3. Strong's Number: H7676
    There are 89 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שַׁבָּת
    Transliteration: shabbâth
    Pronunciation: shab-bawth'
    Description: intensive from שָׁבַת; intermission, i.e (specifically) the Sabbath; ([phrase] every) sabbath.
  4. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  5. Strong's Number: H430
    There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
    Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
    Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
    Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
  6. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
  7. Strong's Number: H4399
    There are 149 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מְלָאכָה
    Transliteration: mᵉlâʼkâh
    Pronunciation: mel-aw-kaw'
    Description: from the same as מֲלְאָךְ; properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor); business, [phrase] cattle, [phrase] industrious, occupation, ([phrase] -pied), [phrase] officer, thing (made), use, (manner of) work((-man), -manship).
  8. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
  9. Strong's Number: H1323
    There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בַּת
    Transliteration: bath
    Pronunciation: bath
    Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village.
  10. Strong's Number: H5650
    There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֶבֶד
    Transliteration: ʻebed
    Pronunciation: eh'-bed
    Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.
  11. Strong's Number: H519
    There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמָה
    Transliteration: ʼâmâh
    Pronunciation: aw-maw'
    Description: apparently a primitive word; a maidservant or female slave; (hand-) bondmaid(-woman), maid(-servant).
  12. Strong's Number: H7794
    There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שׁוֹר
    Transliteration: shôwr
    Pronunciation: shore
    Description: from שׁוּר; a bullock (as a traveller); bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for שׁוּר).
  13. Strong's Number: H2543
    There are 93 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֲמוֹר
    Transliteration: chămôwr
    Pronunciation: kham-ore'
    Description: or (shortened) חֲמֹר; from חָמַר; a male ass (from its dun red); (he) ass.
  14. Strong's Number: H929
    There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בְּהֵמָה
    Transliteration: bᵉhêmâh
    Pronunciation: be-hay-maw'
    Description: from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective); beast, cattle.
  15. Strong's Number: H1616
    There are 83 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גֵּר
    Transliteration: gêr
    Pronunciation: gare
    Description: or (fully) geyr (gare); from גּוּר; properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner; alien, sojourner, stranger.
  16. Strong's Number: H8179
    There are 302 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שַׁעַר
    Transliteration: shaʻar
    Pronunciation: shah'-ar
    Description: from שָׁעַר in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or gate; city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er).
  17. Strong's Number: H5117
    There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נוּחַ
    Transliteration: nûwach
    Pronunciation: noo'-akh
    Description: a primitive root; to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, let fall, place, let alone, withdraw, give comfort, etc.); cease, be confederate, lay, let down, (be) quiet, remain, (cause to, be at, give, have, make to) rest, set down. Compare יָנִים.