Topic(s):  Old Testament, Bible Authority

Todd Clippard

The Bible first identifies the sabbath as the seventh day in Exodus 16:23. The word translated "sabbath" is a transliterated noun form of the Hebrew verb shabat or shabath, which simply means "to rest." The noun form is the word shabbat.

The sabbath was not observed until the Exodus from Egypt in Exodus 16. Deuteronomy 5:1-3 teaches the sabbath was given exclusively to the Hebrews, and Deuteronomy 5:12-15 teaches the sabbath was to be observed as a remembrance of their time in Egypt when they had no rest from their labors (cf Exodus 5; Deuteronomy 15:15; 16:12).

As being given exclusively to the Hebrews, and since that law has been nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:12-14), the sabbath is not to be observed today.