Exodus 20:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,

NIV: Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

NASB: For six days you shall labor and do all your work,

CSB: You are to labor six days and do all your work,

NLT: You have six days each week for your ordinary work,

KJV: Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

NKJV: Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

This is part of God's explanation of the fourth commandment (Exodus 19:5–6; 20:1–7). The rule instructs Israel to honor the "Sabbath" day (Exodus 16:22–23). The Sabbath is a day of rest at the end of the seven-day week. When God created, He spent six "days" making all things (Genesis 2:1–3). On the seventh, He ceased His work. When He provided Israel with manna (Exodus 16:14–16), God told them to observe a rest day after six days of work (Exodus 16:26–30). Sabbath-keeping is included here as one of the fundamental laws in the Mosaic covenant (Exodus 20:11).

Sabbath law was given to Israel and not established as a universal requirement. The true "Sabbath" has never changed: from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday (Genesis 1:5; Leviticus 23:3). It has never been commanded as a day of worship, only one of rest (Exodus 35:2). And it was never meant to be treated with paranoid legalism (Matthew 12:3–5; Mark 2:27).

Since the old covenant has been fulfilled (Hebrews 8:8–13), its laws are no longer in force. Other than Sabbath-keeping, however, the Ten Commandments are all repeated in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 20:1–17 contains the Ten Commandments: the foundational laws of the ancient nation of Israel. These provide a basis for every other Mosaic law (2 Chronicles 5:10). The laws prohibit worship of other gods, idolatry, blasphemy, perjury, theft, murder, adultery, and covetousness. They command Israelites to honor parents and observe a weekly Sabbath rest. Like the rest of the old covenant, these commandments will be "fulfilled" and no longer applicable after Christ's completed work (Galatians 4:4–5; Hebrews 8:8–13). However, all these rules, other than the command to observe the Sabbath, are repeated in Christ's teachings.

At Mount Sinai, God begins declaring the laws of His covenant with Israel. The first of these are the Ten Commandments. These establish core principles intended to guide the Lord's chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6). Further details will come in other chapters and books. This chapter ends with specifics about altars and idols. The following chapters will address various social and civil issues (Exodus 21—23)

Centuries after being enslaved in Egypt (Exodus 1), Israel has been freed (Exodus 12). God leads the people across the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and into the wilderness of Sinai (Exodus 17—19). Here, He will give them laws which distinguish them from other nations. The first of these are the renowned Ten Commandments. The Lord will continue to provide details and statutes (Exodus 21—23) before confirming the covenant (Exodus 24) and establishing regulations for the tabernacle and priests (Exodus 25—31).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.