Exodus 31:17
New International Version
It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

New Living Translation
It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.’”

English Standard Version
It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

Berean Standard Bible
It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ ”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

NASB 1995
“It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

NASB 1977
“It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

Legacy Standard Bible
It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”

Amplified Bible
It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He ceased and was refreshed.”

Christian Standard Bible
It is a sign forever between me and the Israelites, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
It is a sign forever between Me and the Israelites, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”

American Standard Version
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Contemporary English Version
This day will always serve as a reminder, both to me and to the Israelites, that I made the heavens and the earth in six days, then on the seventh day I rested and relaxed.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It will be a permanent sign between me and the Israelites, because the LORD made heaven and earth in six days, and on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.'"

Good News Translation
It is a permanent sign between the people of Israel and me, because I, the LORD, made heaven and earth in six days, and on the seventh day I stopped working and rested."

International Standard Version
It is a sign forever between me and the Israelis, because the LORD made the heavens and the earth in six days, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"

Majority Standard Bible
It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”

NET Bible
It is a sign between me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"

New Heart English Bible
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
it [is] a sign between Me and the sons of Israel for all time; for [in] six days YHWH made the heavens and the earth, and in the seventh day He has ceased and is refreshed.”

Young's Literal Translation
between Me and the sons of Israel it is a sign -- to the age; for six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, and in the seventh day He hath ceased, and is refreshed.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Between me and between the sons of Israel it is a sign forever: for six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, and in the seventh day he rested and he will be refreshed.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Between me and the children of Israel, and a perpetual sign. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and in the seventh he ceased from work.

Catholic Public Domain Version
between me and the sons of Israel, and a perpetual sign. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and in the seventh he ceased from work.”

New American Bible
Between me and the Israelites it is to be an everlasting sign; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested at his ease.

New Revised Standard Version
It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth and the seas and all that are therein, and on the seventh day he ceased from work and rested.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath to LORD JEHOVAH to make the Sabbath for their descendants a covenant for eternity.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 ceased from work and rested.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
It is a perpetual covenant with me and the children of Israel, it is a perpetual sign with me; for in six days the Lord made the heaven and the earth, and on the seventh day he ceased, and rested.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sign of the Sabbath
16The Israelites must keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a permanent covenant for the generations to come. 17It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”

Cross References
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 4:4
For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”

Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. / 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 or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. ...

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 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.

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.

Ezekiel 20:20
Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

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.

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

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.

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 56:6
And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—

Luke 6:5
Then Jesus declared, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”


Treasury of Scripture

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.

a sign

Exodus 31:13
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.

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…

six days.

Genesis 1:31
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 2:2,3
And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made…

Hebrews 4:3,4,10
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world…

and was refreshed.

Genesis 1:31
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Job 38:7
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Psalm 104:31
The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

Jump to Previous
Abstained Age Ceased Children Earth Forever Heaven Heavens Israel Israelites Labor Pleasure Refreshed Rest Rested Seventh Sign Six Work
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Abstained Age Ceased Children Earth Forever Heaven Heavens Israel Israelites Labor Pleasure Refreshed Rest Rested Seventh Sign Six Work
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














It is a sign
The Hebrew word for "sign" is "אוֹת" (oth), which often denotes a visible symbol or mark. In the context of the covenant, a sign serves as a perpetual reminder of the relationship between God and His people. This particular sign, the Sabbath, is a testament to God's creative power and His covenantal faithfulness. It is a divine marker that distinguishes the Israelites as God's chosen people, set apart for His purposes.

between Me and the Israelites
This phrase emphasizes the personal and communal relationship between God and the nation of Israel. The covenant is not just a legal contract but a relational bond. The use of "between Me and the Israelites" underscores the exclusivity and intimacy of this relationship. It is a reminder that the Israelites are to live in a way that reflects their unique identity as God's people.

forever
The Hebrew word "עוֹלָם" (olam) can mean eternity or a long duration. In this context, it signifies the perpetual nature of the Sabbath as a covenantal sign. The Sabbath is not a temporary ordinance but an everlasting institution that points to the eternal rest and peace found in God. It is a timeless reminder of God's unchanging nature and His eternal promises.

for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth
This phrase reaffirms the creation account in Genesis, highlighting God's sovereignty and power as the Creator. The six-day creation period is foundational to the biblical worldview, affirming that the universe is not a product of random chance but of divine intentionality. It serves as a reminder of God's authority over all creation and His ability to bring order out of chaos.

but on the seventh day He rested
The Hebrew word for "rested" is "שָׁבַת" (shabat), from which the word "Sabbath" is derived. God's rest is not due to fatigue but is a cessation from creative work, setting a pattern for humanity to follow. It signifies completion and satisfaction in His creation. This divine rest is an invitation for humanity to enter into God's rest, finding peace and fulfillment in Him.

and was refreshed
The Hebrew word "וַיִּנָּפַשׁ" (vayinnaphash) conveys the idea of being refreshed or renewed. It suggests a deep sense of satisfaction and rejuvenation. For believers, this points to the spiritual renewal and refreshment that comes from resting in God's presence. It is a call to cease from our labors and find restoration in the Lord, trusting in His provision and care.

(17) For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth.--Whatever other grounds there were for Sabbath observance, this idea always lay at its root. Man was through it to be made like unto his Maker--to have from time to time a rest from his labours, as God had had (Genesis 2:2-3)--and thereby to realise the blessedness of that final rest which he may be sure "remaineth for the people of God."

Verse 17. - It is a sign. See above, ver. 13. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth. See the comment on Exodus 20:11. And was refreshed. Literally," and took breath." The metaphor is a bold one, but not bolder than others which occur in holy scripture (Psalm 44:23; Psalm 78:65). It does but carry out a little further the idea implied in God's "resting." We cannot speak of any of God's acts or attributes without anthropomorphisms.

CHAPTER 31:18

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

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

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

Me and the Israelites
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

forever;
לְעֹלָ֑ם (lə·‘ō·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

for
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

in six
שֵׁ֣שֶׁת (šê·šeṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8337: Six (a cardinal number)

days
יָמִ֗ים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

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

made
עָשָׂ֤ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

the heavens
הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

and the earth,
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

but on the seventh
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י (haš·šə·ḇî·‘î)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 7637: Seventh (an ordinal number)

day
וּבַיּוֹם֙ (ū·ḇay·yō·wm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

He rested
שָׁבַ֖ת (šā·ḇaṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7673: To repose, desist from exertion

and was refreshed.’”
וַיִּנָּפַֽשׁ׃ (way·yin·nā·p̄aš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5314: To breathe, refreshed


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OT Law: Exodus 31:17 It is a sign between me (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 31:16
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