Sabbath in Hebrew - SHABBAT
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Hebrew pronunciation, origin and meaning of "Sabbath":
The Hebrew pronunciation of "Sabbath" is sha/BA-T, Shabbat שַׁבָּת.
The root of the word “Shabbat”, is the verb Shavat שָׁבַת .
You might have seen it translated as “rested”, but the more literal translation would be “ceased" or “came to a stop”, especially from work, while “rested” is implied.
The theological meaning of the word SHAVAT, can be found in Genesis 2:2, when after 6 days of creation:
“God completes by the seventh day His work which He has made, and CEASES ( וַיִּשְׁבֹּת) by the seventh day, from all His work which He has made.”
(Gen. 2:2, LSV)
God created the universe in six days, and on the seventh He came to a stop, ceased or rested. He didn’t rest because He was tired, but by doing so He marked the completion of His work of creation and initiated a weekly pattern for us to follow. This pattern, becomes the basis for keeping the Shabbat Day on the seventh day of the week.
And in verse 3:
“… God blesses the seventh day, and sanctifies it, for in it He has CEASED ( שָׁבַת) from all His work which God had created for making.”
(Gen. 2:3, LSV)
So the seventh day is set apart and above other days.
It’s not until Exodus 16, after God provides manna for the Israelites, and instructs them to gather twice as much on the sixth day, so they could rest on the seventh day.
This is the first commandment given for the seventh day.
Shabbat Commandments / God's Recipe for Life:
In Exodus 16:23 the seventh day is called “ShaBBat” for the first time, when Moses says:
“This is what ADONAI has said. ‘Tomorrow is a Shabbat (שַׁבָּת) rest,
a holy Shabbat to ADONAI.’”
(Ex. 16:23)
It is interesting to note that the first commandment for the Shabbat was given before the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai. This means that Shabbat was actually observed before God wrote it on tablets of stone. It also means that Shabbat observance is not limited to or by the Mosaic covenant, so I think that it’s very possible that the concept of “Shabbat” as a day of rest was already known and practiced among the people, maybe even as early as Adam & Eve, but again, that is just a possibility.
In Exodus 20, God gives us the Ten Commandments, and dedicates the forth commandment for the Shabbat Day. There is something in the way God lists the Ten Commandments, that we need to pay attention to:
- The first 3 commandments focus on a right relationship with God.
- The forth commandment, for the Shabbat Day, makes the connection between a right relationship with God to a right relationship with our family, servants and animals.
- And the fifth commandment emphasizes the importance of and the blessing that comes from honoring and respecting our parents.
- Then, the last 5 commandments focus on a right relationship between one person to another.
Together, and specifically in this particular order, the Ten Commandments make up God’s “recipe” for the life that He intended for us. In His recipe, Shabbat observance is a “must-have” ingredient, so if you take it out, it’s just not going to turn out as good.
In Exodus 31 God emphasizes the importance of the Shabbat commandments again and adds that the Sabbath is also an affirmation of Israel's identity:
“It [is] a sign between Me and the sons of Israel for all time; for [in] six days ADONAI made the heavens and the earth, and in the seventh day He has ceased (שָׁבַת) and is refreshed.”
(Ex. 31:17, ESV)
So, the Shabbat the sign of the Mosaic covenant, and therefore is a central part of Judaism.
Ahad Ha’am, a Russian-Jewish thinker and founder of cultural Zionism said that:
“More than Israel have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel”
~Ahad Ha’am
This statement emphasizes the importance of the Sabbath to Jewish identity and community, and how it has helped preserve the Jewish people.
More commandments, instructions and prohibitions for the Shabbat are given throughout the Bible. The word “Shabbat” (שַׁבָּת) is mentioned over 100 times in the Hebrew Scriptures and about 60 times in the New Testament, so obviously, the Shabbat is one of the most sacred times in Scripture and is extremely important to God!
Should we observe Shabbat?
There are many questions people raise about the Shabbat, like: What does it mean to “observe” it? Who is it really for? Should it be observed on Saturday or Sunday, or is it even relevant at all? These questions/arguments can get very legalistic and judgmental, and with the many rabbinical regulations and traditions that people attach to it, the day might seem more of a “burden” instead of the blessing that God has intended for it to bring.
In its essence, the Shabbat is a weekly day of rest, given to us by God as a gift and as a blessing for our own well-being. It’s primary purpose has always been to be a spiritual and physical blessing to all. It is to be a delight and a joy, not a “burden”.
The Shabbat brings a state of peace and fellowship with God. It’s a weekly reminder that we are depended on a God who cares for and sustains us. When we observe or keep the Shabbat, we receive the spiritual and physical blessings that it promises.
So, what does it mean to “observe” or “keep” Shabbat?
The truth is that according to God’s calendar, the first day of the week was Sunday, so the seventh day Shabbat was on Saturday. The biblical Shabbat starts at sundown on Friday evening and ends at sundown on Saturday evening.
It wasn’t until mid-1st century, that believers started to also gather on Sunday to worship in celebration of Yeshua’s resurrection.
By the 2nd century, Sunday officially became the Christian Day of worship, or the “Lord’s Day”.
Christians worship on Sundays in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, and there is nothing wrong in worshiping on any day of the week, but it is very important to remember that Sunday worship, is not commanded in the Bible, and while the New Testament describes Christians gathering and worshiping on Sundays, it nowhere states that Sunday has replaced Saturday as the Shabbat.
With that said, I believe, that the argument of Sunday vs Saturday is not as important as long as we maintain a weekly rhythm with a Shabbat Day that is set-aside to separate between what is common and what is holy.
Depending on your faith or where you are in the world, YOUR Shabbat might already be on Saturday or on Sunday, maybe even on both those days.
The important thing is to make sure that we set apart a day of rest from our daily works, of reflection, worship & fellowship and that we do that in honor of God, all that He has created and done for us.
Jewish Traditions:
There are many Jewish traditions associated with Shabbat observance, that help set the day apart and create a sacred atmosphere in our homes like the greeting “Shabbat Shalom”, dressing in white, lighting Shabbat candles, reciting different blessings, singing, etc.
These are beautiful traditions that have helped in preserving the Jewish people throughout the times and anyone should feel free to embrace them if it brings joy and closeness to God, but remember that these are traditions, not “commandments” and should never, in my opinion, become legalistic or a “burden”.
Shabbat in the New Testament:
Yeshua said:
“…The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
(Mark 2:23-28a, ESV)
He spoke up when he believed that Shabbat regulations failed to achieve its intended state of spiritual rest, and offered himself as a source of eternal Sabbath rest:
“Come to Me, all who weary and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
(Matthew 11:28-30, TLV)
In the book of Hebrews 4:9-11, we read:
“So there remains a Shabbat rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered God’s rest has also ceased from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through the same pattern of disobedience.”
(Hebrews 4:9-11, TLV)
As believers in Yeshua, Yeshua is our spiritual rest, now and for eternity.
Shabbat in the Millennial Kingdom:
Another point is that observing the Shabbat and God’s appointed times today can be seen as preparation for the future kingdom. According to Isaiah 66:22-23, the Shabbat and other appointed times, will continue, and will be celebrated universally in the Millennial Kingdom.
The Saturday Shabbat, will be reaffirmed as an eternal principle.
“And it will come to pass, that from one New Moon to another, and from one Shabbat to another, all flesh will come to bow down before Me,” says ADONAI."
(Isaiah 66:23, TLV)
So, God’s instructions for the Shabbat, remain significant and eternal.
We can look forward to the time when God will restore all things, and His reign will be universally acknowledged. A time when everyone will worship God in unity and will observe Saturday as the Shabbat.
Conclusion:
Believers or not, I think we can all agree that intentionally setting apart time to experience rest refreshes us, helps us focus on the work we are called to do here on earth and gives us a taste of what is to come.
I hope that this will encourage you to reflect on your week, your life and your walk with God, and to try and embrace God’s gift of Shabbat.
You will surely be blessed by it!
Until next time, Shalom & God bless!
Ayelet - The WORD in HEBREW
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