Deuteronomy 5:12

12 `Observe the day of the sabbath -- to sanctify it, as Jehovah 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 doing kindness to thousands, to those loving Me, and to those keeping My commands.

11 `Thou dost not take up the Name of Jehovah thy God for a vain thing, for Jehovah doth not acquit him who taketh up His Name for a vain thing.

12 `Observe the day of the sabbath -- to sanctify it, as Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee;

13 six days thou dost labour, and hast done all thy work,

14 and the seventh day [is] a sabbath to Jehovah thy God; thou dost not do any work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy handmaid, and thine ox, and thine ass, and all thy cattle, and thy sojourner who [is] within thy gates; so that thy man-servant, and thy handmaid doth rest like thyself;