King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh [is] the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth [any] work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
Complete Jewish Bible:
On six days work will get done; but the seventh day is Shabbat, for complete rest, set apart for ADONAI. Whoever does any work on the day of Shabbat must be put to death.
Berean Standard Bible:
For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.
American Standard Version:
Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work on the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Six{H8337} days{H3117} may work{H4399} be done{H6213}; but in the seventh{H7637} is the sabbath{H7676} of rest{H7677}, holy{H6944} to the LORD{H3068}: whosoever doeth{H6213} any work{H4399} in the sabbath{H7676} day{H3117}, he shall surely{H4191} be put to death{H4191}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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 16:23
- And he said unto them, This [is that] which the LORD hath said, To morrow [is] the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake [that] which ye will bake [to day], and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
Leviticus 23:3
- Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day [is] the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work [therein]: it [is] the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
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.
Exodus 31:17
- 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.
Jeremiah 17:24
- And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;
Jeremiah 17:27
- But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
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Commentary for Exodus 31:15
1. **Themes of Exodus 31:15:**
- **Observance of the Sabbath:** The verse emphasizes the importance of resting on the seventh day, the Sabbath, as a day set apart for rest and worship, reflecting the pattern of God's rest after creation (Exodus 20:8-11).
- **Sanctity of the Sabbath:** It underscores the holiness of the Sabbath, which is consecrated to the Lord, indicating that the day is dedicated to God and should be treated with reverence.
- **Sabbath as a Sign:** The Sabbath serves as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, symbolizing their special relationship (Exodus 31:13, 17).
- **Seriousness of Sabbath Violation:** The command carries a severe penalty for its violation, indicating the gravity with which the Sabbath observance was to be taken by the Israelites.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The book of Exodus is set in the period following the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt, covering their liberation under Moses' leadership and their journey towards the Promised Land.
- **Sinai Covenant:** Exodus 31:15 is part of the instructions given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, where God established a covenant with Israel. These instructions include laws and guidelines for worship, moral conduct, and social order.
- **The Tabernacle:** The verse is situated within the context of the construction of the tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that would serve as the center of worship for the Israelites in the wilderness. The command to observe the Sabbath is given amidst detailed instructions about the tabernacle's design and the craftsmanship required, emphasizing that even sacred work must cease on the Sabbath.
- **Law and Society:** The strict penalty for Sabbath breaking reflects the theocratic nature of Israelite society at the time, where religious and civil laws were deeply intertwined, and violations could carry severe consequences.
In summary, Exodus 31:15 reflects the centrality of the Sabbath in Israelite religious and social life, reinforcing the importance of observing this day of rest as a holy and inviolable commitment to God, with serious implications for those who disregarded this commandment.
*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: 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). - 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: 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: 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. - Strong's Number: H7677
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׁבָּתוֹן
Transliteration: shabbâthôwn
Pronunciation: shab-baw-thone'
Description: from שַׁבָּת; a sabbatism or special holiday; rest, sabbath. - Strong's Number: H6944
There are 382 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֹדֶשׁ
Transliteration: qôdesh
Pronunciation: ko'-desh
Description: from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. - 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. - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.