Exodus 31:13 "Tell the Israelites, 'Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

◄ Exodus 31:13 ►

New International Version
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

New Living Translation
“Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

English Standard Version
“You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you.

Berean Standard Bible
“Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

New American Standard Bible
“Now as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You must keep My Sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

NASB 1995
“But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

NASB 1977
“But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely keep My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahweh who makes you holy.

Amplified Bible
“But as for you, say to the Israelites, ‘You shall most certainly observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the LORD who sanctifies you and sets you apart [for Myself].

Christian Standard Bible
“Tell the Israelites: You must observe my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am the LORD who consecrates you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Tell the Israelites: You must observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am Yahweh who sets you apart.

American Standard Version
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Jehovah who sanctifieth you.

English Revised Version
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD which sanctify you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Say to the Israelites, 'Be sure to observe my days of worship. This will be a sign between me and you for generations to come so that you will know that I am the LORD who makes you holy.

Good News Translation
to tell the people of Israel, "Keep the Sabbath, my day of rest, because it is a sign between you and me for all time to come, to show that I, the LORD, have made you my own people.

International Standard Version
"You are to tell the Israelis: 'You are to certainly observe my Sabbaths because it's a sign between me and you from generation to generation, so you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

Majority Standard Bible
“Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

NET Bible
"Tell the Israelites, 'Surely you must keep my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

New Heart English Bible
"Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, 'Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Speak thou also to 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.

World English Bible
“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
“And you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, Surely you keep My Sabbaths, for it [is] a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I, YHWH, am sanctifying you;

Young's Literal Translation
And thou, speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, Only, My sabbaths ye do keep, for it is a sign between Me and you, to your generations, to know that I, Jehovah, am sanctifying you;

Smith's Literal Translation
Speak thou to the sons of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths shall ye watch: for it is a sign between me and between you for your generations, to know that I am Jehovah consecrating you.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: See that thou keep my sabbath: because it is a sign between me and you in your generations: that you may know that I am the Lord, who sanctify you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: See that you keep my Sabbath. For it is a sign between me and you among your generations, so that you may know that I am the Lord, who sanctifies you.

New American Bible
You must also tell the Israelites: Keep my sabbaths, for that is to be the sign between you and me throughout the generations, to show that it is I, the LORD, who make you holy.

New Revised Standard Version
You yourself are to speak to the Israelites: “You shall keep my sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, given in order that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, My sabbaths you must keep; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD your God who sanctifies you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to Moshe:

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying: Verily ye shall keep My sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the LORD who sanctify you.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Do thou also charge the children of Israel, saying, Take heed and keep my sabbaths; for they are a sign with me and among you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord that sanctifies you.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Sign of the Sabbath
12And the LORD said to Moses, 13 “Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 14Keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Anyone who profanes it must surely be put to death. Whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from among his people.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Ezekiel 20:12
I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

Leviticus 19:3
Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 19:30
You must keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 23:3
For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do. ...

Isaiah 56:2
Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

Isaiah 58:13-14
If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, / then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Nehemiah 9:14
You revealed to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments and statutes and laws through Your servant Moses.

Jeremiah 17:21-22
This is what the LORD says: Take heed for yourselves; do not carry a load or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. / You must not carry a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath day, but you must keep the Sabbath day holy, just as I commanded your forefathers.

Genesis 2:2-3
And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. / Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.

Hebrews 4:9-10
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. / For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

Mark 2:27-28
Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. / Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Matthew 12:8
For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

Romans 14:5
One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

Treasury of Scripture

Speak you also to the children of Israel, saying, Truly my sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD that does sanctify you.

verily

Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy…

Leviticus 19:3,30
Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God…

Leviticus 23:3
Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

a sign

Exodus 31:17
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Nehemiah 9:14
And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

Ezekiel 20:12,20
Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them…

that ye may

Leviticus 20:8
And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.

Leviticus 21:8
Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.

Ezekiel 37:28
And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

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Exodus 31

1. Bezaleel and Aholiah are appointed for the work of the tabernacle
12. The observation of the Sabbath is again commanded
18. Moses receives the two tablets

Berean Study Bible

Tell the Israelites
This phrase indicates a direct command from God to Moses, emphasizing the importance of communication between God and His chosen people. The Hebrew root for "tell" is "דָּבַר" (dabar), which means to speak or declare. This highlights the authoritative nature of God's instructions. Historically, the Israelites were a distinct group chosen by God to be His people, and this command underscores their unique covenant relationship with Him.

Surely you must keep My Sabbaths
The word "surely" (אָכֵן, 'aken) adds emphasis, indicating the certainty and importance of the command. "Keep" (שָׁמַר, shamar) means to guard or observe, suggesting a vigilant and active role in maintaining the sanctity of the Sabbath. "My Sabbaths" refers to the weekly day of rest instituted by God, rooted in the creation narrative (Genesis 2:2-3) and the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11). The plural "Sabbaths" may also encompass other holy days and festivals, emphasizing the rhythm of rest and worship in Israel's life.

for this will be a sign
The term "sign" (אוֹת, 'oth) in Hebrew often denotes a visible or tangible symbol of a deeper spiritual truth. In this context, the Sabbath serves as a covenantal sign between God and Israel, much like circumcision (Genesis 17:11). It is a reminder of God's creation and His deliverance of Israel from Egypt, symbolizing rest and freedom.

between Me and you
This phrase highlights the personal and relational aspect of the covenant. "Between Me and you" signifies a mutual relationship, where God commits to His people, and they, in turn, commit to Him. It underscores the intimacy and exclusivity of the relationship between God and Israel, setting them apart from other nations.

for the generations to come
The Hebrew phrase "לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם" (le-doroteichem) means "for your generations," indicating the perpetual nature of this command. It is not limited to the immediate audience but extends to future descendants, emphasizing the timelessness of God's covenant and the enduring significance of the Sabbath.

so you may know that I am the LORD
The phrase "so you may know" (לְמַעַן תֵּדְעוּ, le-ma'an te'de'u) suggests a purpose or result, indicating that the observance of the Sabbath is intended to deepen the Israelites' understanding and recognition of God's identity. "The LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh) is the personal name of God, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but relational, fostering a deeper connection with God.

who sanctifies you
The word "sanctifies" (מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם, meqaddishchem) comes from the root "קָדַשׁ" (qadash), meaning to set apart or make holy. This highlights God's role in consecrating His people, setting them apart for His purposes. The Sabbath is a means by which God sanctifies Israel, reminding them of their distinct identity and calling as His holy nation.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) It is a sign between me and you.--Circumcision had been given as a covenant sign to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:9-13); but its adoption by many of the heathen nations had rendered it no longer a distinguishing mark by which God's people could be certainly known from others. Thus a new "sign" was needed. The observance of one day in seven as a day of holy rest became henceforth the distinguishing sign, and proved effectual. It was not likely to be adopted, and in point of fact was not adopted, by any of the heathen. We find it in the latest time of the Jewish nation still regarded as the special mark and badge of a Jew (Juv. Sat. vi. 159, 14:96; Mart. Epig. 4:4, 50:7, &c.).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - Verily. Rosenmuller suggests, "Nevertheless." But there is no need for any change. It is a sign. Hitherto circumcision had been the only visible "sign" that the Israelites were under a special covenant with God - his people, bound to him by special ties (Genesis 17:9-14; Acts 7:8). The adoption of circumcision by the Egyptians and other nations (Herod. 2:104) had produced the effect that this "sign" was no longer distinguishing. It might be still" a sign of profession "; but it had ceased to be "a mark of difference "; and some other mark was therefore needed. Such the observance of the sabbath by entire abstinence from servile work became. No other nation adopted it. It continued to Roman times the mark and badge of a Jew.(Juv. Sat. 6:159; 14:96). That ye may know, etc. By keeping the sabbath day as a day of holy rest the Israelites would know - i.e., would realise severally in their own per sons, that God was their sanctifier. Sanctification would be the fruit of their obedience.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“Tell
דַּבֵּ֨ר (dab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

the Israelites,
בְּנֵ֤י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

‘Surely
אַ֥ךְ (’aḵ)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

you must observe
תִּשְׁמֹ֑רוּ (tiš·mō·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

My Sabbaths,
שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י (šab·bə·ṯō·ṯay)
Noun - common plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

for
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

this
הִ֜וא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

will be a sign
א֨וֹת (’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 226: A signal, as a, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence

between Me
וּבֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ (ū·ḇê·nê·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

and you
בֵּינִ֤י (bê·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

for the generations to come,
לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם (lə·ḏō·rō·ṯê·ḵem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1755: A revolution of time, an age, generation, a dwelling

so that you may know
לָדַ֕עַת (lā·ḏa·‘aṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

who sanctifies you.
מְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃ (mə·qad·diš·ḵem)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

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OT Law: Exodus 31:13 Speak also to the children of Israel (Exo. Ex)