“Adonai said to Moshe, “Tell the people of Isra’el, ‘You are to observe my Shabbats; for this is a sign between me and you through all your generations; so that you will know that I am Adonai, who sets you apart for me. Therefore you are to keep my Shabbat, because it is set apart for you. Everyone who treats it as ordinary must be put to death; for whoever does any work on it is to be cut off from his people.-Exodus 31:13
There’s something especially profound about the Sabbath, but to truly grasp it, we need to dive into the original Hebrew language.
The phrase “sets you apart” in verse 13 is often translated as “sanctifies you,” “consecrates you,” or “makes you holy.”
All of these come from the Hebrew root word kadash.
In essence, kadash means “to set apart” or “to make holy.”
This is key to understanding the purpose behind the Sabbath. Why does God emphasize keeping this day?
The answer lies in verse 13: it’s to make Israel holy.
Take a moment to let that sink in.
The Sabbath isn’t just a day to remember or respect—it’s an active process through which God imparts holiness to His people.
But there’s more.
Verse 14 introduces another Hebrew word: kodesh.
While related to kadash, it carries a nuanced meaning. Kodesh isn’t merely “holy” but “holiness” itself.
A literal translation of the verse could be, “Keep the Sabbath because it is holiness for you.”
This distinction matters.
Observing the Sabbath doesn’t just acknowledge that the day is holy—it actively clothes the one who observes it in holiness.
In other words, the holiness of the Sabbath is not just an attribute of the day itself; it is something that God transfers to those who honor it.
What This Means for Us
Understanding this changes how we see the Sabbath. Many assume that the command is simply about reverence for a holy day.
But the deeper message is this: by keeping the Sabbath, we ourselves are made holy.
It’s a gift, not just a requirement.
This idea isn’t isolated to the Torah.
In the New Testament, Yeshua says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Rather than suggesting that the Sabbath is optional, He’s affirming its purpose: it was designed as a means for humanity to receive God’s holiness.
This also explains the serious consequences for profaning the Sabbath.
Verse 14 warns that breaking the Sabbath severs the individual’s connection to God’s holiness—a weighty matter indeed.
Finally, verse 16 declares the Sabbath as an everlasting sign between God and Israel.
The Hebrew word for “sign” here is owth, meaning a mark of distinction.
It’s a badge of the unique relationship between God and His chosen people.
Connecting to Today
The Sabbath reminds us that holiness isn’t something we achieve on our own—it’s something God imparts to us when we align with His commands.
Just as faith in Yeshua clothes us in righteousness, observing the Sabbath clothes us in holiness.
As you reflect on the significance of the Sabbath, consider how this ancient practice continues to offer a tangible way to draw closer to God, to be set apart, and to walk in His holiness.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
Then he said to them,
“The Sabbath was made for man,
not man for the Sabbath.”
-Mark 2:27
NEXT TIME WE BEGIN EXODUS CHAPTER 32
P.S. This article was inspired by teachings on the Sabbath from Tom Bradford’s Torah Class (Lesson 30 on his Exodus Teachings).
Those who desecrate the Shabbath would be stoned to death in the book of Exodus
This text is plagerized from Tom Bradford’s work from Torah Class Exodus 31. The writer should consider giving credit where credit is due. Reference https://www.torahclass.com/lessons/old-testament/exodus/lesson-30-ch31-ch32/
I love Tom Bradford’s Torah Class. As I’ve mentioned in other places, I get a lot of inspiration and make a lot of outlines for my articles based on the information he has on his site. This article, as you pointed out, is a perfect case in point. However, I would say it is far from a word-for-word rendering, as you put it.
I have absolutely nothing to hide in this regard, and I am happy you provided the link to the original source so anybody can see that what I’ve written is far from a word-for-word plagiarism.
On this note, I should also let you know I borrow ideas liberally from Robert Alter’s tremendous Torah commentary. Credit has also been given in those cases as well. Be blessed and Shalom!