Topical Encyclopedia
The Sabbath-day, observed on the seventh day of the week, is a day of rest and worship that holds significant importance in Judeo-Christian traditions. Its origins are rooted in the creation narrative found in the Book of Genesis, where God rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth. This divine rest established a pattern for humanity, as seen in
Genesis 2:2-3 : "And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished."
The command to observe the Sabbath is explicitly stated in the Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Exodus 20:8-11 instructs, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy."
The Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, serving as a reminder of their deliverance from Egypt and their special relationship with God.
Deuteronomy 5:15 emphasizes this aspect: "Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day."
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ's relationship with the Sabbath is a focal point of His ministry. He often healed and performed miracles on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisaic interpretations of the law. In
Mark 2:27-28 , Jesus declares, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." This statement underscores the intended purpose of the Sabbath as a blessing for humanity, rather than a burdensome legalistic requirement.
The early Christian church grappled with the observance of the Sabbath, especially as Gentile converts joined the faith. The Apostle Paul addresses this issue in
Colossians 2:16-17 , advising, "Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ." This passage suggests a shift from strict Sabbath observance to a focus on the spiritual rest found in Christ.
Throughout church history, the observance of the Sabbath has evolved, with many Christians traditionally observing Sunday, the first day of the week, as the Lord's Day in commemoration of Christ's resurrection. This practice is rooted in the early church's gatherings on the first day, as seen in
Acts 20:7 : "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread."
The Sabbath-day remains a topic of theological reflection and practice, with various Christian denominations interpreting its observance in diverse ways, yet all recognizing its foundational role in the rhythm of worship and rest.
Greek
4521. sabbaton -- the Sabbath, ie the seventh day (of the week)... 1), week (9).
Sabbath day. Of Hebrew origin (shabbath); the Sabbath (ie
Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations
...Library
A Morning Prayer for theSabbath-Day.
... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. A Morning Prayer for theSabbath-day. O Lord most
high, O God eternal, all whose worka are glorious, and...
Sabbath Day.
... INTRODUCTION AND CLOSE OF WORSHIP. 55. "Sabbath Day. 55. LM New York
Coll.Sabbath Day. 1 We bless thee for this sacred day...
The Law of theSabbath-Day Explained. The Eight Days' Procession...
... Chapter XXI."The Law of theSabbath-Day Explained.... Accordingly, the man who went
and gathered sticks on theSabbath-day was punished with death....
An UniversalSabbath Day Anticipated.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCLXVIII. An universalSabbath Day anticipated. 8.8.8.8 James
Montgomery. An universalSabbath Day anticipated. PART I. PART II....
Evening Song for theSabbath-Day.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CXX. Evening Song for theSabbath-day. 8.8.8.8 James Montgomery.
Evening Song for theSabbath-day. Millions within Thy courts have met,....
Jesus Heals on theSabbath Day and Defends his Act.
... Part Fifth. From Second Passover Until Third.(Time: One Year.) XXXVII. Jesus
Heals on theSabbath Day and Defends His Act. (at Feast...
Of the Man with the Withered Hand, who was Restored on theSabbath...
... Chapter XXXV."Of the Man with the Withered Hand, Who Was Restored on the
Sabbath-Day; And of the Question as to How Matthew's Narrative of This Incident...
Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on theSabbath...
... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. MEDITATIONS OF THE TRUE MANNER OF PRACTISING PIETY ON
THESABBATH-DAY. Almighty God will have himself worshipped...
During Lent the Bread must not be Offered Except on theSabbath...
... Canon XLIX. During Lent the Bread must not be offered except on theSabbath
Day and on? During Lent the Bread must not be offered...
Thou Shalt Sanctify the Holy Day. [Remember theSabbath Day to...
... Thou shalt sanctify the holy day. [Remember theSabbath day to keep it
holy.]. The word holy day (Feiertag) is rendered from the...
Thesaurus
Sabbath-day (23 Occurrences)Sabbath-
day. Sabbath-breaking,
Sabbath-
day. Sabbath-days .
Multi-Version Concordance
Sabbath-
day (23 Occurrences). Luke
...Sabbath-day's (1 Occurrence)
Sabbath-day's. Sabbath-days,Sabbath-day's. Sabbatheus .
Multi-Version ConcordanceSabbath-day's (1 Occurrence). Acts...
Load (22 Occurrences)
... the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden should
be brought in on theSabbathday. (See NAS NIV). Job...
Day's (19 Occurrences)
...SABBATHDAY'S JOURNEY.... The 2,000-cubit limits around the Levitical cities (Numbers
35:5) may have suggested the limit of theSabbathday's journey also....
Lawful (38 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:10 And behold there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him,
"Is it lawful to heal on theSabbathday?" that they might accuse him....
Journey (214 Occurrences)
... (2.) ASabbath-day's journey is 2,000 paces or yards from the city walls (Acts
1:12).... jur'-ni. See DAY'S JOURNEY;SABBATHDAY'S JOURNEY.SABBATHDAY'S JOURNEY....
Doorways (26 Occurrences)
... 24 And it will be, that if with all care you give ear to me, says the Lord, and
take no weight through the doorways of this town on theSabbathday, but keep...
Kindle (25 Occurrences)
... (Root in KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). Exodus 35:3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your
habitations on theSabbathday.'" (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)....
Shewbread (16 Occurrences)
... about four-fifths of a peck of fine flour, placed in two piles upon a pure table
with frankincense beside each pile and changed everySabbathday (Leviticus 24...
Six (198 Occurrences)
... work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on theSabbath
day!" (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). John...
Resources
What day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? Do Christians have to observe the Sabbath day? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Sabbath day? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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