TRV
- English
- King James KJV
- Complete Jewish CJB
- World English WEBM
- Berean Standard BSB
- American Standard ASV
- Geneva GNV
- Young's Literal YLT
- Douay-Rheims DRC
- International
- Shqip ALB
- العربية SVD
- বাংলা BN-IRV
- မြန်မာ Judson
- 简体文 CUV-S
- 繁體中文 CUV-T
- Čeština BKR
- Nederlands STVE
- Français LSG
- Deutsch SCH
- Ελληνικά Vamvas
- ગુજરાતી GU-IRV
- Hausa HCB
- עברית Hebrew
- हिन्दी HCV
- Magyar KAROLI
- Bahasa Indonesia INDO-TB
- Italiano Diodati
- 日本語 Kougo
- 한국어 Korean
- മലയാളം MAL
- मराठी MRCV
- Norsk DNB
- فارسی OPV
- Polski BG
- Português Almeida
- Română Cornilescu
- Русский Synodal
- Español RVG
- Kiswahili Neno
- Svenska SV1917
- Tagalog TAG-ADB
- தமிழ் TCV
- తెలుగు TSA
- ภาษาไทย THAI-KJV
- Українська Ohienko
- Tiếng Việt CADMAN
- Yorùbá YCB
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Deuteronomy 5:6–22.
Here is the repetition of the ten commandments, in which observe, 1. Though they had been spoken before, and written, yet they are again rehearsed; for precept must be upon precept, and line upon line, and all little enough to keep the word of God in our minds and to preserve and renew the impressions of it. We have need to have the same things often inculcated upon us. See Phi 3:1. 2. There is some variation here from that record (Ex. 20), as there is between the Lord's prayer as it is in Mt. 6 and as it is Lu. 11. In both it is more necessary that we tie ourselves to the things than to the words unalterably. 3. The most considerable variation is in the fourth commandment. In Ex. 20 the reason annexed is taken from the creation of the world; here it is taken from their deliverance out of Egypt, because that was typical of our redemption by Jesus Christ, in remembrance of which the Christian sabbath was to be observed: Remember that thou wast a servant, and God brought thee out, Deu 5:15. And Therefore, (1.) "It is fit that thy servants should be favoured by the sabbath-rest; for thou knowest the heart of a servant, and how welcome one day's ease will be after six days' labour." (2.) "It is fit that thy God should be honoured by the sabbath-work, and the religious services of the day, in consideration of the great things he has done for thee." In the resurrection of Christ we were brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore, by the gospel-edition of the law, we are directed to observe the first day of the week, in remembrance of that glorious work of power and grace. 4. It is added in the fifth commandment, That it may go well with thee, which addition the apostle quotes, and puts first (Eph 6:3), that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long. If there be instances of some that have been very dutiful to their parents, and yet have not lived long upon earth, we may reconcile it to the promise by this explication of it, Whether they live long or no, it shall go well with them, either in this world or in a better. See Ecc 8:12. 5. The last five commandments are connected or coupled together, which they are not in Exodus: Neither shalt thou commit adultery, neither shalt thou steal, etc., which intimate that God's commands are all of a piece: the same authority that obliges us to one obliges us to another; and we must not be partial in the law, but have respect to all God's commandments, for he that offends in one point is guilty of all, Jam 2:10, Jam 2:11. 6. That these commandments were given with a great deal of awful solemnity, Deu 5:22. (1.) They were spoken with a great voice out of the fire, and thick darkness. That was a dispensation of terror, designed to make the gospel of grace the more welcome, and to be a specimen of the terrors of the judgment-day, Psa 50:3, Psa 50:4. (2.) He added no more. What other laws he gave them were sent by Moses, but no more were spoken in the same manner that the ten commandments were. He added no more, therefore we must not add: the law of the Lord is perfect. (3.) He wrote them in two tables of stone, that they might be preserved from corruption, and might be transmitted pure and entire to posterity, for whose use they were intended, as well as for the present generation. These being the heads of the covenant, the chest in which the written tables were deposited was called the ark of the covenant. See Rev 11:19.
Continue studying Deuteronomy 5:15 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
Deuteronomy 5:15 offers a profound theological rationale for the Sabbath command, rooting its observance not only in God's completed work of creation but also, distinctively, in Israel's historical experience of divine redemption from Egyptian bondage. This verse transforms the Sabbath into a weekly, tangible memorial of God's powerful liberation, compelling Israel to remember their past oppression and to extend the gift of rest and freedom to all within their household, reflecting God's compassionate character as both Creator and Redeemer.
Context
Literary Context
Deuteronomy 5:15 is situated within Moses' second recitation of the Ten Commandments to the new generation of Israelites assembled on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the Promised Land. Unlike the initial giving of the Law at Mount Sinai (recorded in Exodus 20), Moses here provides extended explanations and motivations for each commandment. This re-presentation of the covenant is didactic, designed to impress upon a generation that did not witness the Exodus firsthand the profound significance and implications of God's foundational laws. While Exodus 20:11 grounds the Sabbath in God's rest after creation, Deuteronomy 5:15 offers a complementary, redemptive basis, thereby broadening the theological understanding and practical application of the fourth commandment. This dual foundation underscores the comprehensive nature of God's authority and grace, encompassing both His role as Creator and His identity as Redeemer.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Israelites addressed in Deuteronomy 5 are the descendants of those who escaped Egyptian slavery. Their collective memory was shaped by generations of forced labor, relentless toil, and the absence of rest under Pharaoh's oppressive regime. In this context, the Sabbath—a divinely mandated day of cessation from labor—was a revolutionary concept, symbolizing their new status as a free people, delivered by God's miraculous intervention. The phrases "mighty hand" and "stretched out arm" are iconic idioms frequently used throughout the Pentateuch (e.g., Exodus 6:6) to describe God's irresistible power and decisive action in bringing about the Exodus. This historical experience of liberation from a land of bondage deeply informs the ethical and social dimensions of the Sabbath, urging Israel to remember their own past and to extend compassion and rest to others, including servants and sojourners, who might otherwise experience a form of oppression.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Remembrance (זָכַר, zakhar), urging Israel to actively recall and internalize their history of divine deliverance, ensuring that the lessons of the Exodus are never forgotten and continually shape their identity. Secondly, it highlights God's Redemptive Power, emphasizing His active and sovereign role in liberating His people from oppression, establishing Him as the ultimate Deliverer. The Sabbath, therefore, becomes a weekly celebration of this liberation, a tangible sign of God's ongoing faithfulness. Thirdly, the verse develops the theme of Sabbath as a Symbol of Freedom and Social Justice. For a people who knew only slavery, the Sabbath was a tangible expression of their new freedom in God, and it mandated that this freedom, particularly the right to rest, be extended to all members of their household, including those who were not ethnically Israelite (as seen in Deuteronomy 5:14). Finally, it reinforces the theme of Divine Command and Authority, asserting that the Sabbath is not merely a human tradition but a direct imperative from "the LORD thy God" (Deuteronomy 5:15), rooted in His character as both Creator and Redeemer, demanding obedience based on His gracious acts.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This word (H2142) signifies more than mere mental recall; it implies an active, intentional engagement with the past, often leading to a re-enactment or a shaping of present behavior. For Israel, "remembering" their slavery and God's deliverance meant living as a liberated people and extending that liberation to others. It is a call to embody the lessons of history, ensuring that the past informs and transforms present actions and communal ethics.
This term (H5650) starkly defines Israel's former status in Egypt as bondservants or slaves. The contrast between this state of involuntary servitude and their new status as a people set free by God underscores the profound nature of their redemption. The Sabbath, as a day of mandated cessation from labor, directly counteracts the relentless toil of their past as ʻebed, marking a fundamental shift in their identity and relationship with work and rest.
This word (H3027), often paired with "arm" in the idiom "mighty hand and stretched out arm," is a primitive word referring to the open hand, indicating power, means, and direction. In this context, it is a powerful metonymy for God's active power and intervention. Coupled with "mighty" (H2389, châzâq) and "stretched out arm" (H2220, zᵉrôwaʻ from H5186, nâṭâh), it evokes the irresistible, overwhelming force and direct, decisive action of God in delivering Israel from Egypt.
Verse Breakdown
"And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt,"
This clause establishes the foundational historical memory for the Sabbath command. It directly links the people's present freedom to their past oppression, urging them to never forget their former state of bondage and the suffering associated with it. This remembrance is crucial for understanding the grace of their liberation and for fostering empathy towards others who may be oppressed.
"and [that] the LORD thy God brought thee out thence"
This identifies the agent of their liberation: "the LORD thy God." It emphasizes divine initiative and power, making it clear that their freedom was a miraculous act of God, not a result of their own efforts or a mere historical accident. This highlights God's covenantal faithfulness and His active, sovereign involvement in their history, establishing His authority to command.
"through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm:"
This phrase describes the irresistible nature and overwhelming power of God's deliverance. It conjures images of the dramatic, supernatural events of the Exodus, underscoring the divine omnipotence that broke Pharaoh's grip and brought Israel out of slavery with undeniable force and authority. It serves as a powerful reminder that their freedom was a gift, not an achievement.
"therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day."
This concluding clause provides the direct causal link between God's redemptive act and the Sabbath commandment. Because God delivered them from slavery with such power and grace, He commands them to observe a day of rest. The Sabbath thus becomes a weekly memorial of their freedom, a reminder of God's power, and an ethical imperative to extend rest and compassion to others, mirroring God's own gracious character and establishing a pattern for a just society.
Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 5:15 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The phrase "through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm" is a classic example of parallelism, where two phrases convey a similar idea using different but complementary imagery, intensifying the sense of God's overwhelming power and decisive action. This is also a form of metonymy, where "hand" and "arm" stand in for God's active power and intervention, allowing the reader to visualize the divine force. The structure of the verse itself demonstrates clear causality, explicitly stating that because God delivered Israel with such power and grace, therefore He commanded the Sabbath. This logical connection underscores the ethical and theological foundation of the command, making it a response to divine favor rather than a mere legalistic obligation. Furthermore, the repetition of "the LORD thy God" emphasizes the personal and covenantal relationship between God and Israel, highlighting the divine authority and intimate concern behind the commandment. Finally, the Sabbath itself functions as a powerful symbolism, representing not just physical rest but also spiritual freedom, God's redemptive work, and a commitment to justice and compassion for all within the community, extending the grace of rest to the vulnerable.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Deuteronomy 5:15 profoundly enriches our understanding of the Sabbath by grounding it in God's redemptive history, not solely in creation. This dual foundation—creation and redemption—reveals God as both the sovereign Creator who orders the cosmos and the compassionate Redeemer who liberates His people from oppression. The Sabbath, therefore, becomes a weekly act of remembering God's power to deliver and His desire for humanity's flourishing, extending beyond mere physical rest to encompass social justice and spiritual freedom. It transforms the law from a burden into a gracious gift, a perpetual reminder of God's liberating love and a call for His people to reflect that love in their interactions with others. This verse teaches that true rest is found in acknowledging God's completed work, both in creation and in salvation, and living in light of that divine accomplishment.
Reflection and Application
Deuteronomy 5:15 invites contemporary believers to consider the deeper meaning of rest in their lives. Our rest, whether on a designated Sabbath or in moments of spiritual respite, should be an intentional act of remembering God's profound redemptive work. Just as Israel was delivered from the physical bondage of Egypt, we have been delivered from the spiritual bondage of sin, striving, and endless performance by God's "mighty hand and stretched out arm" through Christ. This verse challenges us to view rest not as a luxury or a mere cessation of activity, but as a sacred practice that celebrates our freedom in God, acknowledges His sovereignty, and reorients our priorities away from worldly anxieties and towards divine grace. Furthermore, it calls us to extend this compassion and opportunity for rest to others, recognizing the inherent dignity of every individual and advocating for justice and respite for those who are burdened, reflecting the very heart of our liberating God in a world still marked by various forms of oppression and relentless toil.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does Deuteronomy 5:15 give a different reason for keeping the Sabbath than Exodus 20:11?
The reasons provided in Deuteronomy 5:15 and Exodus 20:11 are not contradictory but complementary. Exodus grounds the Sabbath in God's creation, emphasizing His cosmic sovereignty and the pattern of rest He established after His six days of work. Deuteronomy, spoken to a new generation on the cusp of entering the Promised Land, adds a redemptive dimension, linking the Sabbath to Israel's liberation from slavery in Egypt. This dual rationale highlights God's character as both Creator and Redeemer. It means the Sabbath is a reminder of God's universal dominion over all things and His particular, gracious act of delivering His people from bondage, thereby infusing the command with both theological depth and ethical urgency. It underscores that the Sabbath is for all humanity (as part of creation) and specifically for Israel (as a redeemed people), calling them to extend the grace of rest to others.
What is the significance of the phrase "mighty hand and stretched out arm"?
The phrase "mighty hand and stretched out arm" (Hebrew: yad chazaqah uzeroa' netuyah) is a powerful, recurring idiom throughout the Pentateuch, particularly associated with the Exodus event. It signifies God's irresistible power, overwhelming force, and direct, decisive intervention in human history. It describes a display of divine omnipotence that no earthly power can withstand. In the context of Deuteronomy 5:15, it serves as a vivid reminder that Israel's liberation from the formidable power of Pharaoh and Egypt was not by their own strength or cunning, but solely by the miraculous and sovereign power of God. This phrase emphasizes God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His ability to deliver His people from any form of oppression, establishing Him as the ultimate and invincible Deliverer.
How does this verse relate to social justice?
Deuteronomy 5:15 has profound implications for social justice. By explicitly linking the Sabbath command to Israel's experience as "servants in the land of Egypt," it mandates that the liberated people remember their past oppression and extend the freedom and rest they received from God to all within their community. This includes servants, sojourners, and even animals, as stated in Deuteronomy 5:14. The Sabbath thus becomes a weekly reminder that no one should be subjected to endless toil or exploitation. It instills empathy for the oppressed and calls for a society where the inherent dignity of every individual, regardless of status, is recognized through the provision of rest and freedom. It challenges systems that perpetuate injustice and reminds God's people to be agents of His liberating compassion in the world, ensuring that the blessings of freedom and rest are shared equitably.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Deuteronomy 5:15, with its emphasis on the Sabbath as a memorial of liberation from slavery by God's "mighty hand and stretched out arm," finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Just as Israel was delivered from physical bondage, humanity is delivered from the spiritual slavery of sin and death through Christ's redemptive work. He is the true "mighty hand" of God, whose crucifixion and resurrection constitute the ultimate act of divine power, breaking the chains of sin and bringing us into a new realm of freedom. Jesus declared Himself "Lord even of the Sabbath day" (Matthew 12:8), not to abolish it, but to reveal its true meaning: a rest found in Him. He invites all who are weary and burdened to "come to me, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). The Sabbath, therefore, foreshadows the spiritual rest that remains for the people of God in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10), a rest from striving under the law and from the futility of self-salvation. Our weekly observance of rest, whether on a specific day or in a broader sense of ceasing from our own works, becomes a celebration of the completed work of Christ, who has set us free from the ultimate bondage, allowing us to live in the glorious liberty of the children of God (Galatians 5:1). In Him, the memory of past slavery gives way to the present reality of eternal freedom and rest, a foretaste of the perfect rest in God's eternal kingdom.