All word studies
Sabbath in the Bible
Sabbath is patterned rest — rooted in creation, written into covenant, and fulfilled in Christ. Both Hebrew and Greek words mean simply 'cessation.'
Greek & Hebrew words
Greek (New Testament)
Key KJV verses
All verses →Genesis 2:3
“God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work.”Read in context
Sabbath at creation
Genesis 2 grounds Sabbath in God's own rest — built into the week before any law was given.
Sabbath in Christ
Hebrews 4 reads the Sabbath as a pointer to the rest believers enter through Jesus. The shadow is kept; the substance is Christ (Colossians 2:16–17).
Frequently asked questions
What does Sabbath mean?
It comes from Hebrew shabbat (H7676), meaning cessation or rest — God's ordained pattern of stopping work to rest in Him.
Should Christians keep the Sabbath?
Christians honor the principle of Sabbath rest fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 4:9–10) and the Lord's Day in remembrance of the resurrection (Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10).