Deuteronomy 5:15

15 Have mind, that also thyself servedest in Egypt, and thy Lord God led thee out from thence, in a strong hand, and in an arm stretched forth (Remember, that thou were slaves in Egypt, and that the Lord thy God led thee out from there, with a strong hand, and an outstretched arm); therefore he commanded to thee, that thou shouldest keep the sabbath day.

Deuteronomy 5:15 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 5:15

And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt,
&c.] Even a bondservant; for Egypt was an house of bondage, and there the Israelites were made to serve in hard bondage; of which they are reminded, that their hearts might be touched with it, and inclined to show pity to persons in somewhat similar circumstances; calling to mind how sweet a little rest would have been unto them when in Egypt:

and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence, through a mighty
hand and by a stretched out arm;
signifying that their deliverance from their state of bondage was not owing to themselves, nor to any creature, but to the mercy and kindness of God, and to his almighty power; and therefore they were under the greatest obligations to observe any command and institution of his he should think fit to make; and particularly this of the sabbath, which was made on that account, as follows:

wherefore the Lord thy God commandeth thee to keep the sabbath day;
in commemoration of their rest from Egyptian bondage.

Deuteronomy 5:15 In-Context

13 In six days thou shalt work, and do all thy works;
14 the seventh day is the day of sabbath, that is, the rest of thy Lord God. Thou shalt not do therein anything of work; thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy servant, and thine handmaid, and thine ox, and thine ass, and all thy work beasts, and the pilgrim that is within thy gates; that thy servant rest and thine handmaid, as also thou. (the seventh day is the day of sabbath, that is, the rest of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not do any work on it; thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy slave, and thy slave-girl, and thy ox, and thy donkey, and all thy work beasts, and the foreigner, or the stranger, who is within thy gates; so that thy slave and thy slave-girl can rest, as thou doeth.)
15 Have mind, that also thyself servedest in Egypt, and thy Lord God led thee out from thence, in a strong hand, and in an arm stretched forth (Remember, that thou were slaves in Egypt, and that the Lord thy God led thee out from there, with a strong hand, and an outstretched arm); therefore he commanded to thee, that thou shouldest keep the sabbath day.
16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as thy Lord God commanded to thee, that thou live in long time, and that it be well to thee, in the land which thy Lord God shall give to thee. (Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God commanded thee, so that thou live a long time, and that it be well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee.)
17 Thou shalt not slay. (Thou shalt not kill.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.