What does it mean to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy?

Answer

The fourth of the Ten Commandments is “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” «Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. », (Exodus 20:8, ESV). Following the command are statements defining the Sabbath as “the seventh day” (verse 10), dedicating it to “the Lord your God” (verse 10), forbidding all work on it, applying it to everyone in Israel, and citing the basis for it: “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (verse 11).

The Israelites under the Mosaic Law were to remember that no work could be done on the seventh day of the week. By examining the command, we can gain a better understanding of its meaning:

Remember. This is the only commandment of the Ten that begins with the word “remember.” This might indicate that the Sabbath command had been previously given—indeed, God had ordained a Sabbath rest in Exodus 16:22–30. Alternatively, the word “remember” could simply mean “keep this command in mind” without referring to an earlier instruction. Nevertheless, the word carries emphasis; the Israelites were not to neglect their observance of this command.

The Sabbath day. The term Sabbath originates from a Hebrew word meaning “day of rest.” The Bible specifies that this day of rest is the seventh day of the week, known as “Saturday,” or in the Israelite tradition, from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. God established the precedent for Sabbath rest in Genesis 2:2, ceasing His work of creation on the seventh day. God’s action (or rather, His inaction) in Genesis 2 foreshadowed the command in Exodus 20:8.

To keep it holy. This four-word phrase in English is a single word in Hebrew, meaning “consecrate,” “set apart,” or “sanctify.” The Israelites were instructed to consecrate the Sabbath day by refraining from work and dedicating it to the Lord.

Tests were made to distinguish the seventh day from the rest of the week. The Sabbath was unique. It was meant to be devoted to the Lord. The priests were instructed to increase the daily sacrifices on the Sabbath (Numbers 28:9-10), emphasizing the day with heightened sacred activity. The rest of the Israelites were to observe the day with reduced activity—no work at all—as a tribute to the Lord. The consequence for violating the Sabbath by working was death (Exodus 31:14;Numbers 15:32-36).

Observing the Sabbath was a symbol of the covenant between Israel and the Lord: “You must keep my Sabbaths. This will serve as a symbol between me and you for the generations to come” «Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. », (Exodus 31:13). As Israel honored the Sabbath as sacred, they were reminded that they too were set apart: “So you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy” (verse 13). Believers today, under the New Covenant, are not obligated to observe the symbol of the Old Covenant.