Sabbath

The Sabbath (Hebrew shabbat, from the verb shabbath, to cease or rest) is the seventh day of the week, set apart as a day of rest and worship by divine command. Its institution is traced to the creation account, where God rested on the seventh day and blessed it (Gen. 2:2–3). The Sabbath commandment is the fourth of the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:8–11; Deut. 5:12–15), grounded in creation (Exodus) and in the Exodus from Egypt (Deuteronomy), making it both a commemoration of divine creation and a memorial of redemption. No work was to be done — neither by Israelites, servants, animals, nor resident aliens — and the penalty for violation was death (Ex. 35:2). Jesus' ministry generated controversy over Sabbath observance: he healed on the Sabbath and declared himself Lord of it (Mark 2:27–28; John 5:9–18). The early church shifted its principal day of worship to Sunday (the Lord's Day) in commemoration of the resurrection. Paul treats the Sabbath as part of the ceremonial shadow fulfilled in Christ (Col. 2:16; Heb. 4:9–11).