Deuteronomy 5:12

12 "`Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.

Deuteronomy 5:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 12,13. Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it
Or observe it, by setting it apart as a time of natural rest, and for the performance of holy and religious exercises; see ( Exodus 20:8 ) , where the phrase is a little varied, "remember the sabbath day to keep it holy"; it having been instituted before:

as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee;
not at Sinai only, for the same might then have been observed of all the rest of the commands, but before the giving of the law, at the first of the manna; see ( Exodus 16:23 ) .

Deuteronomy 5:12 In-Context

10 and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments.

11 "`Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

12 "`Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.

13 Six days thou shalt labor and do all thy work,

14 but 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, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates, that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.