Language Studies

Hebrew Thoughts

shabbâth / shâbhath - שבת (Strong's #7673/7676)
Sabbath, rest

The verb שבת shâbhath (Strong's #7673, x73) has some affinities with the cognate verbs ישב yâshabh (Strong's #3427) "to sit" and שפת shâphath (Strong's #8239) "to set, place, put down". This latter verb is twice used of putting a pot on to boil (2 Kings 4:38; Ezekiel 24:3), of being lain to rest in death (Psalm 22:15), and of establishing peace (Isaiah 26:12).

The Hebrew root verb practically means "to rest, desist, sit down, be still" but is used in Leviticus 23:32 of "observing your sabbath" by "humbling your souls" during the Day of Atonement.

Whilst the verb first occurs in Genesis 2:2, "on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done", it is not related to the word שבע shebha‘ (Strong's #7651) "seven" except in sound.

God, mankind, animals and even the land (Leviticus 25:4), are said to "rest" but according to Genesis 8:22, "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not rest". Certain cycles of life cannot cease or rest because they serve the whole creation. Indeed, should they, according to Jeremiah 31:36, only then would "Israel ever cease to be a nation before me", says God. Thus the verb can mean to cease or even to sever, perhaps "to put a stop to...".

The Sabbath is instituted for all including donkey, slave and stranger (Exodus 23:12), that they may be "refreshed", from נפש nâphash (Strong's #5314) the Hebrew verb behind the word for "soul, life". The purpose of the Sabbath, then, is not restraint but rest and refreshment, despite the ominous tones of Exodus 35:2, "Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death."

The derived noun "Sabbath", שבּת shabbâth (Strong's #7676), occurs 108 times in the Bible, first occurring in Exodus 16:23 "This is what the LORD has said: 'Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD'". This verse is also the very first instance the intensive term used for a great or solemn Sabbath, שבּתון shabbâthôwn (Strong's #7677), and which appears on another 10 occasions.

Another derived noun שבת shebheth (Strong's #7674) occurs just 3 times (Exodus 21:19; Proverbs 20:3; Isaiah 30:7) and refers to lost work time or an interruption through cessation by inactivity or pure idleness.

Another like-sounding noun שבת shebheth (Strong's #7675) actually means a "seat" (2 Samuel 23:7-8; 1 Kings 10:19; Amos 6:3) and which is derived from the probably related verb ישב yâshabh (Strong's #3427).

The Sabbath is a necessary respite for our bodies and souls, and indeed our animals and lands. It was instituted to celebrate Creation, the day on which God ceased to create - not that he needed a "rest" per se. In addition, according to Deuteronomy 5:15 it served to celebrate freedom and liberation from captivity in Egypt and as such marked the day when God caused their slavery to "cease".

It became a sign of God's covenant (Exodus 31:13-17; cf. Ezekiel 20:12-20) and its non-observance was a crime against ourselves, our employees and livestock, and most especially against God Himself. To work on the Sabbath was both a sign of lack of respect and lack of trust since God could and would give double bread provision on the day before as during the wilderness travels. This accounts for the seriousness of the Sabbath and the reason that the penalty for profaning the Sabbath was death because it was considered a covenant-breaking offence. Nonetheless, the tone of the Sabbath was not overly serious or fearful for it was "made for man" according to Jesus (Mark 2:27) and it was "lawful to do good on the Sabbath" (Matthew 12:12).

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