King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"For six days, you are to work. But on the seventh day, you are to rest, so that your ox and donkey can rest, and your slave-girl's son and the foreigner be renewed.
Berean Standard Bible:
For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the son of your maidservant may be refreshed, as well as the foreign resident.
American Standard Version:
Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest; that thine ox and thine ass may have rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the sojourner, may be refreshed.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Six{H8337} days{H3117} thou shalt do{H6213} thy work{H4639}, and on the seventh{H7637} day{H3117} thou shalt rest{H7673}: that thine ox{H7794} and thine ass{H2543} may rest{H5117}, and the son{H1121} of thy handmaid{H519}, and the stranger{H1616}, may be refreshed{H5314}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Luke 13:14
- And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
Exodus 35:3
- Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.
Exodus 20:8
- Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:11
- 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.
Deuteronomy 5:13
- Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:
Deuteronomy 5:15
- And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and [that] the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
Exodus 34:21
- Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 23:12
1. **Themes:**
- **Sabbath Observance:** The primary theme of Exodus 23:12 is the commandment to observe the Sabbath, a day of rest. This is rooted in the Creation narrative where God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3), establishing a pattern for humanity to follow.
- **Humanitarian Concerns:** The verse emphasizes the importance of rest not only for oneself but also for all members of society, including animals and servants. This reflects a concern for the well-being of all creatures and an acknowledgment of the need for periodic physical and spiritual rejuvenation.
- **Social Justice:** By including the "son of thy handmaid" and "the stranger," the verse promotes social inclusivity and equity, ensuring that even the most vulnerable—such as servants and foreigners—are entitled to rest, highlighting the principle of equal treatment under the law.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Mosaic Law:** This verse is part of the legal corpus found in the book of Exodus, traditionally ascribed to Moses. It is situated within the Covenant Code (Exodus 20:22-23:33), which outlines various laws given to the Israelites after their Exodus from Egypt and before their entrance into the Promised Land.
- **Post-Slavery Identity:** Coming out of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites are being shaped into a new kind of society, one that is to reflect the justice and compassion of their God. The command to rest on the seventh day serves as a weekly reminder of their liberation and the need to treat others with dignity, contrasting with their past experience of relentless labor.
- **Agrarian Society:** The mention of oxen and asses reflects the agrarian lifestyle of ancient Israel. The law acknowledges the rhythm of agricultural life, where six days of work are necessary, but rest is also vital for the sustainability of both human and animal laborers.
In summary, Exodus 23:12 underscores the sanctity of the Sabbath, the need for rest and refreshment for all, and the principles of social justice and inclusivity within the historical context of the Israelites' formation as a covenant community under God's law.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8337
There are 203 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁשׁ
Transliteration: shêsh
Pronunciation: shaysh
Description: masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth. - 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. - 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. - Strong's Number: H4639
There are 221 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַעֲשֶׂה
Transliteration: maʻăseh
Pronunciation: mah-as-eh'
Description: from עָשָׂה; an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property; act, art, [phrase] bakemeat, business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making, occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, [idiom] well, (handy-, needle-, net-) work(ing, -manship), wrought. - 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). - Strong's Number: H7673
There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁבַת
Transliteration: shâbath
Pronunciation: shaw-bath'
Description: a primitive root; to repose, i.e. desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific); (cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause (make) to fail, keep (sabbath), suffer to be lacking, leave, put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away. - 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). - 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. - 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. - 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. - 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). - 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. - Strong's Number: H5314
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָפַשׁ
Transliteration: nâphash
Pronunciation: naw-fash'
Description: a primitive root; to breathe; passively, to be breathed upon , i.e. (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air); (be) refresh selves (-ed).