Exodus 20:10
What does Exodus 20:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Exodus 20:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Exodus 20:10 means
This verse defines the seventh day as the Sabbath of Jehovah God, a day specifically set apart for rest, prohibiting any work from being done by anyone in the household, including servants, animals, and even visitors. This comprehensive prohibition underscores the universality of the Sabbath rest within the Israelite community, ensuring that everyone, regardless of status, benefits from and participates in this divine institution. It emphasizes that this day is dedicated to God, freeing all from daily toil.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000but 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, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
KJV
King James Version · 1611But 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, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901but 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, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on that day you are to do no work, you or your son or your daughter, your man-servant or your woman-servant, your cattle or the man from a strange country who is living among you:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the seventh day <FI>is<Fi> a Sabbath to Jehovah thy God; thou dost not do any work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy handmaid, and thy cattle, and thy sojourner who is within thy gates, --
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But on the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work on it, thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy beast, nor the stranger that is within thy gates.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890but the seventh day is the sabbath of Jehovah thyGod: thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy bondman, nor thy handmaid, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.
Context
This verse provides the specific details of Sabbath observance, building upon the command to remember it and the directive for six days of labor. It clearly outlines who is to rest and what is prohibited, giving the practical application of the fourth commandment. This detailed instruction ensures that the Sabbath is truly a day of rest for the entire society, leading into the divine reason for its observance in the following verse.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 16:27
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that there went out some of the people to gather, and they found none.
- Deuteronomy 5:14
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.
- Exodus 31:13
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Jehovah who sanctifieth you.
- Luke 23:56
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
- Nehemiah 10:31
and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
- Genesis 2:2
And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
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