Exodus 20:11
ESV
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
NIV
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
NASB
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
CSB
For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.
NLT
For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
KJV
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
NKJV
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
What does Exodus 20:11 mean?
When God created, He completed His work in six "days" (Genesis 2:1–3). On the seventh, He did no creative work. This is the model for the six-day work week followed by a day of rest (Exodus 16:22–23). The fourth of God's first Ten Commandments is for Israel to observe the seventh day as a time of rest. Every person and animal within an Israelite household—including guests—is to honor this day (Exodus 20:8–10).Scripture establishes the Sabbath as an observation for the nation of Israel (Exodus 19:5–6), from Friday sundown until Saturday sundown (Genesis 1:5; Leviticus 23:3), to be set aside for rest (Mark 2:27). It was not changed to Sunday or reassigned to worship. Sabbath-keeping was only mandatory for those under the Mosaic covenant given at Sinai (Exodus 20:1). Current believers in Christ are not required to keep the Sabbath (Romans 14:5–6; Colossians 2:16–17).
The seventh day was "set apart." This is the basic concept of holiness: being distinct from everything else. Unlike the other six, the seventh day was designated for a special purpose. Many laws contained in the Mosaic covenant demonstrate Israel's unique status as God's chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2). Distinctive diets (Deuteronomy 14:3–10), clothes (Leviticus 19:19), and rituals such as circumcision (Genesis 17:9–10) also set Israel apart from any other nation.
