Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “’Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. New Living Translation You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. English Standard Version You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Berean Standard Bible Keep 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. King James Bible Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. New King James Version You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. New American Standard Bible Therefore you are to keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it must be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. NASB 1995 ‘Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. NASB 1977 ‘Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Legacy Standard Bible Therefore you shall keep the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Amplified Bible Therefore, you shall keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it must be put to death; for whoever does work on the Sabbath, that person (soul) shall be cut off from among his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them]. Christian Standard Bible Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Whoever profanes it must be put to death. If anyone does work on it, that person must be cut off from his people. Holman Christian Standard Bible Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Whoever profanes it must be put to death. If anyone does work on it, that person must be cut off from his people. American Standard Version Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. English Revised Version Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. GOD'S WORD® Translation " 'Observe the day of worship because it is holy to you. Whoever treats it like any other day must be put to death. Whoever works on that day must be excluded from the people. Good News Translation You must keep the day of rest, because it is sacred. Whoever does not keep it, but works on that day, is to be put to death. International Standard Version You are to observe the Sabbath, because it's holy for you. Whoever profanes it is certainly to die; indeed, whoever does work on it is to be cut off from among his people. Majority Standard Bible Keep 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. NET Bible So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people. New Heart English Bible You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Webster's Bible Translation Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore: for it is holy to you. Every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death: for whoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. World English Bible You shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand you have kept the Sabbath, for it [is] holy to you, he who is defiling it is certainly put to death—for any who does work in it—that person has even been cut off from the midst of his people. Young's Literal Translation and ye have kept the sabbath, for it is holy to you, he who is polluting it is certainly put to death -- for any who doeth work in it -- that person hath even been cut off from the midst of his people. Smith's Literal Translation And watch ye the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. He profaning it, dying, shall die; for all doing work in it, and that soul shall be cut off from the midst of his people. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleKeep you my sabbath: for it is holy unto you: he that shall profane it, shall be put to death: he that shall do my work in it, his soul shall perish out of the midst of his people. Catholic Public Domain Version Keep my Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Whoever will have polluted it, shall die a death. Whoever will have done any work in it, his soul shall perish from the midst of his people. New American Bible Therefore, you must keep the sabbath for it is holiness for you. Whoever desecrates it shall be put to death. If anyone does work on that day, that person must be cut off from the people. New Revised Standard Version You shall keep the sabbath, because it is holy for you; everyone who profanes it shall be put to death; whoever does any work on it shall be cut off from among the people. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYou shall keep the sabbath; for it is holy to you; every one who defiles it shall surely be put to death; and whoever shall do any work on it, that soul shall surely be cut off from among his people. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated “You say to the children of Israel, ‘Be keeping the Sabbath because that is a sign between me and you for your generations, that you will know that I AM LORD JEHOVAH, I Who hallow you. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you; every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Brenton Septuagint Translation And ye shall keep the sabbaths, because this is holy to the Lord for you; he that profanes it shall surely be put to death: every one who shall do a work on it, that soul shall be destroyed from the midst of his people. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Sign of the Sabbath…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. 15For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.… Cross References 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. Leviticus 26:2 You must keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD. Numbers 15:32-36 While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. / Those who found the man gathering wood brought him to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation, / and because it had not been declared what should be done to him, they placed him in custody. ... 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.” Nehemiah 13:15-22 In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day. / Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem. / Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day? ... Ezekiel 20:12-13 I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. / Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness. Ezekiel 22:8 You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths. Jeremiah 17:21-27 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. / Yet they would not listen or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and would not listen or receive My discipline. ... 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. ... Matthew 12:1-8 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. / When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” / Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ... Mark 2:23-28 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along. / So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” / Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? ... Luke 6:1-5 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them. / But some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” / Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ... Hebrews 4:9-11 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. / Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. 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. Treasury of Scripture You shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. keep Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee… 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: everyone Isaiah 56:2,6 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil… Ezekiel 20:13,16,21,24 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them… doeth Exodus 35:2,3 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death… Numbers 15:35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. Jump to Previous Cut Death Defileth Holy Observe Profanes Profaneth Sabbath Soul Surely Therein WorkJump to Next Cut Death Defileth Holy Observe Profanes Profaneth Sabbath Soul Surely Therein WorkExodus 31 1. Bezaleel and Aholiah are appointed for the work of the tabernacle12. The observation of the Sabbath is again commanded 18. Moses receives the two tablets Keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. The command to keep the Sabbath is rooted in the creation narrative, where God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, emphasizing rest and holiness. It serves as a reminder of God's creation and deliverance from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15). The holiness of the Sabbath underscores its separation from ordinary days, calling for a cessation of work to focus on spiritual renewal and worship. The Sabbath is a type of the rest found in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10), pointing to the ultimate rest believers have in Him. 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. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites who received the law from God on Mount Sinai, including the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. 2. The Israelites The chosen people of God, who were given the command to observe the Sabbath as a sign of their covenant with Him. 3. Mount Sinai The place where God delivered the Ten Commandments and other laws to Moses, including the Sabbath commandment. 4. The Sabbath A day of rest on the seventh day, instituted by God as a holy day for the Israelites to cease from work and remember their covenant with Him. 5. God The divine lawgiver who established the Sabbath as a perpetual covenant and a sign of sanctification for His people. Teaching Points The Holiness of the SabbathThe Sabbath is set apart as holy, a day dedicated to God. It is a time to cease from regular work and focus on spiritual renewal and worship. The Seriousness of Sabbath Observance The commandment includes severe consequences for profaning the Sabbath, underscoring its importance in the covenant relationship between God and His people. Rest as a Divine Principle The Sabbath rest reflects God's own rest after creation, serving as a reminder of His sovereignty and provision. Sabbath as a Sign of Covenant Observing the Sabbath is a sign of the Israelites' unique relationship with God, a perpetual covenant that distinguishes them as His people. Application for Today While the specific observance of the Sabbath may differ, the principle of rest and dedicating time to God remains relevant. Christians are encouraged to find regular times for rest, worship, and reflection.(14) Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death.--This is a new enactment, and must be regarded in conjunction with the new dignity attached to Sabbath observance by its having become the special covenant sign between God and His people. The Sabbath-breaker now threw himself out of covenant with God, and not only so, but did what in him lay to throw the whole people out of covenant. His guilt was therefore great, and the assignment to it of the death-penalty is in no way surprising; rather, it is in accordance with the general spirit of the code (see Exodus 21:16-17; Exodus 21:29; Exodus 22:18-20, &c.). When the occasion arose, there was no hesitation in carrying the law out (Numbers 15:32-35). Cut off.--Or, separated, set apart from. His act at once cast him out from the number of God's people, made him an outlaw, ipso facto excommunicated him. Verse 14. - Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death. To defile the sabbath was to do any unnecessary servile work upon it. Works of mercy, works of necessity, and works connected with religious observance were not prohibited. (See Matthew 12:1-7; Matthew 10-12.) The penalty of death for breaking the sabbath seems to moderns over-severe; but the erection of sabbath-observance into the special sacramental sign that Israel was in covenant with God made non-observance an offence of the gravest character. The man who broke the sabbath destroyed, so far as in him lay, the entire covenant between God and his people - not only broke it, but annulled it, and threw Israel out of covenant. Hence, when the sin was committed, no hesitation was felt in carrying out the law. (See Numbers 15:32-36.)Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Observeוּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙ (ū·šə·mar·tem) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to the Sabbath, הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת (haš·šab·bāṯ) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath for כִּ֛י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction it הִ֖וא (hî) Pronoun - third person feminine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are is holy קֹ֥דֶשׁ (qō·ḏeš) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity to you. לָכֶ֑ם (lā·ḵem) Preposition | second person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew Everyone who profanes it מְחַֽלְלֶ֙יהָ֙ (mə·ḥal·le·hā) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play must surely מ֣וֹת (mō·wṯ) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 4191: To die, to kill be put to death. יוּמָ֔ת (yū·māṯ) Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4191: To die, to kill Whoever כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every does הָעֹשֶׂ֥ה (hā·‘ō·śeh) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make work מְלָאכָ֔ה (mə·lā·ḵāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4399: Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property on [that day] בָהּ֙ (ḇāh) Preposition | third person feminine singular Strong's Hebrew must be cut off וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה (wə·niḵ·rə·ṯāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant from מִקֶּ֥רֶב (miq·qe·reḇ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7130: The nearest part, the center his people. עַמֶּֽיהָ׃ (‘am·me·hā) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock Links Exodus 31:14 NIVExodus 31:14 NLT Exodus 31:14 ESV Exodus 31:14 NASB Exodus 31:14 KJV Exodus 31:14 BibleApps.com Exodus 31:14 Biblia Paralela Exodus 31:14 Chinese Bible Exodus 31:14 French Bible Exodus 31:14 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 31:14 You shall keep the Sabbath therefore (Exo. 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