Six days you shall laborThis phrase establishes a pattern of work that reflects the creation account in Genesis, where God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. It underscores the value of diligent work and the importance of a structured workweek. In ancient Israel, this command was part of the covenantal law given to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. The six-day workweek was a counter-cultural practice in the ancient Near East, where labor was often continuous without a structured rest period. This commandment highlights the dignity of work and the divine order established by God. It also foreshadows the ultimate rest found in Christ, who invites believers to find rest in Him (
Matthew 11:28-30).
and do all your work
This phrase emphasizes personal responsibility and the completion of one's duties within the allotted time. It suggests a comprehensive approach to work, where individuals are encouraged to fulfill their obligations and tasks. The commandment implies that work is not merely a means of survival but a divine mandate that contributes to the well-being of the community and honors God. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment by encouraging believers to work diligently as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). The phrase also points to the eschatological rest that believers will enter, as described inHebrews 4:9-10, where the ultimate completion of work is realized in the eternal Sabbath rest with God.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
MosesThe prophet and leader of the Israelites who received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai.
2.
Mount SinaiThe mountain where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, including the commandment about labor and rest.
3.
IsraelitesThe chosen people of God who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and given the Law to guide their covenant relationship with God.
Teaching Points
The Divine Pattern of Work and RestGod established a rhythm of work and rest from the beginning of creation. This pattern is not only a command but a gift, allowing us to reflect God's order in our lives.
The Dignity of LaborWork is not a curse but a calling. It is an opportunity to serve God and others, fulfilling our purpose and contributing to the common good.
Balancing Work and RestWhile work is important, rest is equally vital. Observing a day of rest helps us to recharge physically, mentally, and spiritually, and to refocus on our relationship with God.
Work as WorshipOur daily labor can be an act of worship when done with the right heart and attitude. By working diligently and ethically, we honor God and reflect His character.
Trusting God with Our TimeObserving a day of rest requires faith that God will provide for our needs. It is a reminder that our ultimate security and provision come from Him, not our efforts alone.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Exodus 20:9?
2.How does Exodus 20:9 guide our understanding of a balanced work-life schedule?
3.What does "six days you shall labor" teach about God's design for work?
4.How can Exodus 20:9 be applied in today's fast-paced work environment?
5.How does Exodus 20:9 connect with Genesis 2:2-3 about rest and work?
6.In what ways can Exodus 20:9 influence our approach to vocational stewardship?
7.How does Exodus 20:9 relate to the concept of the Sabbath in modern times?
8.Why does Exodus 20:9 emphasize six days of labor?
9.What historical context influenced the command in Exodus 20:9?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 20?
11.How should we honor the Sabbath day?
12.Is working on the Sabbath considered wrong?
13.What does the Bible say regarding being busy?
14.What is the Bible's perspective on work?What Does Exodus 20:9 Mean
Six days• God set a literal, rhythmic pattern for human life: “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:11).
• The weekly cycle is not arbitrary; it mirrors creation itself (Genesis 2:1-3).
• Israel practiced this timetable even before Sinai: manna was gathered for six days, none fell on the seventh (Exodus 16:22-30).
• The same six-day structure undergirds later commands: “For six days you may work, but on the seventh day you must rest” (Exodus 23:12;Deuteronomy 5:13).
you shall labor• Work is not a curse but a calling. Adam worked before the Fall (Genesis 2:15).
• Scripture commends industriousness: “All hard work brings profit” (Proverbs 14:23).
• New-covenant believers are urged to “work with your own hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12) and to avoid idleness (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
• Labor done “heartily, as for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23) turns the ordinary into worship.
and do• The phrase highlights completion, not half-finished efforts. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
• God values follow-through: Noah built the ark “as God had commanded him; so he did” (Genesis 6:22).
• Faith produces action—“faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).
• Believers are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10), demonstrating obedience in tangible ways.
all your work• Nothing is excluded: farm chores, business ventures, household duties, ministry tasks.
• The sweep of the command teaches stewardship—managing every assignment within six days so the seventh can be wholly given to God (Exodus 31:15).
• “Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).
• Even mundane tasks become sacred when done “for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
summaryExodus 20:9 literally anchors our week: six successive days are ordained for diligent, comprehensive labor, echoing God’s own creative rhythm. Work undertaken during those six days is to be purposeful, wholehearted, and God-honoring, so that a full cessation on the seventh can spotlight the Creator and refresh His people.
(9)
Six days shalt thou labour.--The form is certainly imperative; and it has been held that the fourth commandment is "not limited to a mere enactment respecting one day, but prescribes the due distribution of a week, and
enforces the six days' work as much as the seventh day's rest" (Garden in Smith's
Dictionary of the Bible,vol. iii., p. 1068). But the work on the six days is really rather assumed as what will be than required as what must be; and the intention of the clause is prohibitory rather than mandatory--"thou shalt not work more than six days out of the seven."
Verse 9. -
Six days shalt thou labour. This is not so much a command as a prohibition" Thou shaft not labor more than six (consecutive) clays." In them thou shelf do all thy necessary work, so as to have the Sabbath free for the worship and service of God.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Sixשֵׁ֤֣שֶׁת(šê·šeṯ)Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8337:Six (a cardinal number)daysיָמִ֣ים֙(yā·mîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117:A dayyou shall laborתַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד֮(ta·‘ă·ḇōḏ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5647:To work, to serve, till, enslaveand doוְעָשִׂ֖֣יתָ(wə·‘ā·śî·ṯā)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213:To do, makeallכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everyyour work,מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒(mə·laḵ·te·ḵā)Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4399:Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property
Links
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OT Law: Exodus 20:9 You shall labor six days and do (Exo. Ex) 
