A Quick Overview of Shabbat (a.k.a. the Sabbath)

Challah bread for Shabbat.

What exactly is Shabbat, and why do we need to keep it?  What is it all about?

When is Shabbat?

The first time we read about Shabbat (also known as the Sabbath) is in Genesis 2:2-3, when HaShem blesses and sanctifies the seventh day as a day of rest.  This seventh day is Saturday, since Yeshua rose from the grave on the first day of the week (Mark 16:9), which we acknowledge as Sunday.

Days in the Bible are counted from sunset to sunset (Genesis 1:5), so Shabbat, the seventh day, would be from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.

What do we do on Shabbat?

The Shabbat was meant to be a rest for all living things, human beings and animals alike (Exodus 20:10).  On it we should do no work.

But what is work?  There are many different interpretations of this word.  Some say that "no work" means "no creative work", since HaShem rested from creating the world.  We do know, however, that kindling fire and gathering firewood on Shabbat is forbidden (Exodus 35:3; Numbers 15:32-36).

The Shabbat is supposed to be delightful.  We should be joyful and rejoice in it!  In our family, we study the Bible, attend Shabbat services at our congregation, fellowship with friends and family, and eat delicious food on Shabbat.

Why Keep Shabbat?

The first reason to keep Shabbat is to rest from all our work (Exodus 20:10).  The second and third reasons are found in Exodus 20:11 and Deuteronomy 5:15.  In these verses we read that HaShem, in six days, "made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore [HaShem] blessed the [Shabbat] day, and hallowed it."  Deuteronomy tells us to "remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that [HaShem] thy [Elohim] brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore [HaShem] thy [Elohim] commanded thee to keep the [Shabbat] day."

Exodus 35:2 tells us that those who do not keep Shabbat should be put to death.  There are only a few commandments HaShem gave where people would be put to death if they didn't keep them (i.e. murder, cursing parents, etc.).  Shabbat is one of these commandments.

Many times we read in the Tanach that punishment came upon people who refused to keep the Shabbat.  Many prophets prophesied to the people concerning breaking the Shabbat.

Yet there are also many blessings for those who keep Shabbat.  Isaiah 56:2 says, "Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the [Shabbat] from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil."  The next five verses of Isaiah 56 go on to say that the eunuchs, who do not have a name (they have no descendants), will be given a name more than those who have children if they keep HaShem's Shabbat.  The strangers (Gentiles), who are not allowed to be in the Temple, will be taken to HaShem's holy mountain and to His house of prayer if they keep the Shabbat and take hold of His covenant.

"Every one that keepeth the [Shabbat] from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant..."  The Shabbat is the sign of the covenant between HaShem and His people (Exodus 31:13-18).  The covenant will never be nullified; as long as HaShem lives, the Shabbat is the sign of this covenant between us and Him.

On the Personal Side

For me, I think keeping Shabbat has helped me to re-focus each week and to get prepared for the six days of work that lay ahead of me.  It is a day of refreshing the spirit.

One important thing I try to remember is that the Tanach says, "six days you shall do your work".  If we don't diligently do our work during the week, Shabbat will not be as delightful as it should be.

Rashi, a famous rabbi, says that before Shabbat comes, we should make sure we have completed all our work.  Thus, we will not be worrying about it during Shabbat.


I hope this article has helped in strengthening your faith and has expounded clearly the truths of the Bible to you.  May HaShem bless you and keep you!