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    In Context

    What is the Sabbath — In Biblical Context

    The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week set apart for rest and worship, established by God at creation and formalized in the Ten Commandments.

    Quick Answer

    The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week set apart for rest and worship, established by God at creation and formalized in the Ten Commandments.

    "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." — Exodus 20:8 (KJV)

    The Biblical Context

    God rested on the seventh day of creation, blessing it and making it holy. The Sabbath command — 'Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy' — became the fourth of the Ten Commandments. Israel was required to cease work from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Jesus challenged the Pharisees' rigid Sabbath rules, declaring that 'the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.' Early Christians began gathering on the first day of the week (Sunday) to commemorate Christ's resurrection. Today, some Christians observe Saturday as the Sabbath while most worship on Sunday, but the principle of regular rest and worship remains important.

    Where It Sits in Scripture

    The core passage for this question, Exodus 20:8, sits inside Exodus 20. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.

    "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
    — Exodus 20:8 (KJV)

    Supporting Passages

    Mark 2:27
    "And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath."
    Genesis 2:3
    "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."

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    Meaning

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    Full Answer

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