Exodus 20:8

8 Gedenke des Sabbathtages, ihn zu heiligen.

Exodus 20:8 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 20:8

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
] By abstaining from all servile work and business, and from all pleasures and recreations lawful on other days, and by spending it in religious exercises, both internal and external. This the Israelites are bid to "remember", by observing it in such a manner, because this command had been given them before at the first time the manna was rained about their tents, ( Exodus 16:23 Exodus 16:25 Exodus 16:26 ) and because it was a command of positive institution, and not a part of the law of nature, and therefore more liable to be forgotten and neglected; for, as a Jewish writer ^F5 observes, all the laws of the decalogue are according to the dictates of nature, the law and light of reason, and knowledge of men, excepting this: wherefore no other has this word "remember" prefixed to it; there being somewhat in the light of every man's reason and conscience to direct and engage him in some measure to the observation of them. In what day of the week this sabbath was to be kept next follows; for all to the end of the eleventh verse belongs to this command, which is the fourth.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Aben Ezra.

Exodus 20:8 In-Context

6 und der Güte erweist, auf Tausende hin, an denen, die mich lieben und meine Gebote beobachten. -

7 Du sollst den Namen Jehovas, deines Gottes, nicht zu Eitlem aussprechen; denn Jehova wird den nicht für schuldlos halten, der seinen Namen zu Eitlem ausspricht. -

8 Gedenke des Sabbathtages, ihn zu heiligen.

9 Sechs Tage sollst du arbeiten und all dein Werk tun;

10 aber der siebte Tag ist Sabbath dem Jehova, deinem Gott: du sollst keinerlei Werk tun, du und dein Sohn und deine Tochter, dein Knecht und deine Magd, und dein Vieh, und dein Fremdling, der in deinen Toren ist.