The Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word “Shabbat“ שַׁבָּת (H7676 – shab·bät) meaning “the seventh day of the week.” It was set aside as the day of rest and worship, a set-apart day unto Yahweh for all generations!
The word Shabbat is derived from the primitive Hebrew root “shabat“ שָׁבַת (H7673 – shä·vat’) meaning “to rest, desist from labor, to cease, or to remove.” The first time the word is used is in Genesis 2:2-3:
Beresheit (Genesis) 2:2-3:
(2) On the seventh day Elohim finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
(3) Elohim blessed the seventh day, and made it set-apart, because he rested in it from all his work which he had created and made.
– The evening and morning, the seventh day, forever became the Shabbat/Sabbath of Elohim, a day set-apart for rest. This very fact is why it is so pivotal that we return to the path of righteousness establish by Our Creator from the beginning – He created it and we give him honor and esteem by keeping it the way He wants it!
Here are some scripture examples of Shabbat:
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:10-11:
(10) “but the seventh day is a Shabbat to Yahweh your Elohim. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your man-servant, nor your maid-servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates;
(11) for in six days Elohim made the shamayim and the eretz (heavens and earth), the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Elohim blessed the day of Shabbat, and made it set-apart.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 31:13-16:
(13) “Speak also to the children of Yisra’el, saying, ‘Most assuredly you shall keep my Shabbatot: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.
(14) You shall keep the Shabbat therefore; for it is set-apart to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
(15) Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Shabbat of solemn rest, set-apart to Elohim. Whoever does any work on the day of Shabbat shall surely be put to death.
(16) Therefore the children of Yisra’el shall keep the Shabbat, to observe the Shabbat throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
Wayikra/Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:15-16:
(15) “‘You shall count from the next day after the Shabbat, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Shabbatot shall be completed:
(16) even to the next day after the seventh Shabbat you shall number fifty days; and you shall offer a new meal offering to Elohim.
– This is speaking of the Counting of the Omer, the 50 day period between the Feast of Matzah/Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Shavuot/”Pentecost” – two of the Set-apart Feast of Yahweh our Elohim.
Wayikra/Vayikra (Leviticus) 25:2: Speak to the children of Yisra’el, and tell them, When you come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a Shabbat to Elohim.
– This refers to the Shemitah year – the seventh year’s rest for the land.
There are several more examples of the Sabbath, commands for keeping it, and references to the root word and its meanings. Please take the time to examine the scriptures for the truth, so that you may gain a complete rest in Him, Our Eternal, Loving Father Yahweh. If you cannot keep, observe, and enjoy His day of rest, how will you enter into His eternal rest? For more info on the Sabbath, please study the study entitled – Where did the Sabbath Go!