The Sabbath
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Please do NOT visit this
site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I will
use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917),
2. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), and 3. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC).
Colour coded details of
the - TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History &
Law, 2. Nevi’im =
The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song
of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and
Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ having been corrected as it once was, pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following three truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the LORD your Eloleichem) which I
command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
“This is My Name FOREVER, and this is My Memorial to ALL Generations”. Shemot - Exodus 3:15. (JPS).
“I am יְהוָה, that is My Name; and My glory
will I not give to another”. Yeshayahu - Isaiah 42:8. (JPS).
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Blessings and the Mitzvoth (Laws).
With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
“Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey the entire Torah My servant Moshe has given you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
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The Sabbath - Shabbat stands as one of the most profound and enduring gifts bestowed upon us, the people of Israel. Rooted in the very fabric of creation and woven through the covenantal history of our people, the seventh day is more than a cessation of labour; it is a sanctified rhythm of Divine ‘intention’, ‘human dignity’, and ‘sacred time’.
From the opening verses of Bereshit, where “there was evening and there was morning, one day,” we learn that time itself begins in darkness and unfolds toward light. The Sabbath, beginning at sundown, mirrors this divine pattern, a weekly return to the primordial cadence of creation. On the seventh day, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) ceased from all His work, blessed the day, and sanctified it, not because He was weary, but to establish a model of holy rest, reflection, and renewal!
As the Torah unfolds, Shabbat emerges not only as a memorial to creation but as a sign of the eternal covenant between יְהוָה - the LORD and Israel. In Shemot and Devarim, we are commanded to “remember” and to “guard” the Sabbath, linking it both to the order and to the redemptive memory of our liberation from Egypt. Thus, Shabbat becomes a sanctuary in time, where we affirm our “freedom”, our “identity”, and our relationship with the Divine!
The prophets, too, elevate the Sabbath as a barometer of covenantal faithfulness. Yechezkel warns of the consequences of its desecration, while Yeshayahu envisions a future where “from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me, says יְהוָה - the LORD.” In these visions, Shabbat is not merely a ritual observance but a spiritual compass, it is guiding individuals and communities toward ‘justice’, ‘holiness’, and ‘Shalom - peace’.
This study gathers foundational texts from Torah and Nevi’im to explore the theological, historical, and communal dimensions of the Sabbath. Each passage invites us to consider not only what Shabbat is, but what it calls us to become: a people attuned to sacred time, committed to rest on the Sabbath, that restores us, and remain faithful to the covenant that sanctifies!
The seventh-day Sabbath was instituted by אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim (God) at creation. This is a day sanctified by יְהוָה, blessed be his Sanctified Name, for rest. The Sabbath has been seen as being legalistic, however this day of rest given to us is certainly not legalism. Blessed be He, this is a day of freedom from the worries and work of the week, and a day to focus on אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, and resting our minds and our bodies from the week, and spend time to thank and worship Him for all our blessings, etc.
All throughout the Tanakh, the Sabbath is spoken of from its institution at the creation, all the way to the millennium.
We are told in the Torah how we are supposed to celebrate the Sabbath and the blessings that are obviously connected with it! It should be our joy by obeying the commandments of אֱלֹהִים, and that we are consistently showing Him that we love Him and that we value all His words!
Scriptures regarding the Sabbath:
Below is a seven part list related to our beloved Shabbas.
First there it is in Ivrit - Hebrew verses, followed by the English translation:
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1. Bereshit - Genesis 1: 5 - Why the Sabbath starts at night.
וַיִּקְרָא
אֱלֹהִים
לָאוֹר יוֹם,
וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ
קָרָא
לָיְלָה;
וַיְהִי-עֶרֶב
וַיְהִי-בֹקֶר,
יוֹם אֶחָד
“And אֱלֹהִים - Elohim called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day”.
2. Bereshit -
Genesis 2: 1-3 - אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God)
rested on the sixth day after creating the world.
וַיְכֻלּוּ
הַשָּׁמַיִם
וְהָאָרֶץ,
וְכָל-צְבָאָם
וַיְכַל
אֱלֹהִים
בַּיּוֹם
הַשְּׁבִיעִי,
מְלַאכְתּוֹ
אֲשֶׁר
עָשָׂה;
וַיִּשְׁבֹּת
בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי,
מִכָּל-מְלַאכְתּוֹ
אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה
וַיְבָרֶךְ
אֱלֹהִים
אֶת-יוֹם
הַשְּׁבִיעִי,
וַיְקַדֵּשׁ
אֹתוֹ: כִּי
בוֹ שָׁבַת
מִכָּל-מְלַאכְתּוֹ,
אֲשֶׁר-בָּרָא
אֱלֹהִים
לַעֲשׂוֹת
“And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day אֱלֹהִים finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And אֱלֹהִים blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which אֱלֹהִים in creating had made”.
3. Shemot - Exodus
20: 7-10 - Keeping
the Sabbath is the fourth commandment.
זָכוֹר
אֶת-יוֹם
הַשַּׁבָּת,
לְקַדְּשׁוֹ
שֵׁשֶׁת
יָמִים
תַּעֲבֹד,
וְעָשִׂיתָ
כָּל-מְלַאכְתֶּךָ
וְיוֹם,
הַשְּׁבִיעִי-שַׁבָּת,
לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ:
לֹא-תַעֲשֶׂה
כָל-מְלָאכָה
אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ
וּבִתֶּךָ,
עַבְדְּךָ
וַאֲמָתְךָ וּבְהֶמְתֶּךָ,
וְגֵרְךָ,
אֲשֶׁר
בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ
כִּי
שֵׁשֶׁת-יָמִים
עָשָׂה
יְהוָה
אֶת-הַשָּׁמַיִם
וְאֶת-הָאָרֶץ,
אֶת-הַיָּם
וְאֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-בָּם,
וַיָּנַח,
בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי;
עַל-כֵּן,
בֵּרַךְ
יְהוָה אֶת-יוֹם
הַשַּׁבָּת-וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days יְהוָה - the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore יְהוָה blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it”.
4. Shemot - Exodus
31: 12-14 - Sabbath a
sign throughout our generations.
וַיֹּאמֶר
יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה
לֵּאמֹר
וְאַתָּה
דַּבֵּר
אֶל-בְּנֵי
יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵאמֹר,
אַךְ
אֶת-שַׁבְּתֹתַי,
תִּשְׁמֹרוּ:
כִּי אוֹת
הִוא בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם,
לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת,
כִּי אֲנִי
יְהוָה
מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם,
אֶת-הַשַּׁבָּת,
כִּי קֹדֶשׁ
הִוא, לָכֶם;
מְחַלְלֶיהָ, מוֹת
יוּמָת-כִּי
כָּל-הָעֹשֶׂה
בָהּ מְלָאכָה,
וְנִכְרְתָה
הַנֶּפֶשׁ
הַהִוא
מִקֶּרֶב
עַמֶּיהָ
“And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying: Verily ye shall keep My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am יְהוָה - the LORD who sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you; every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people”.
5. Vayikra -
Leviticus 23: 3 - The
Sabbath is the first appointed time of יְהוָה - the LORD,
blessed be His Name.
שֵׁשֶׁת
יָמִים,
תֵּעָשֶׂה
מְלָאכָה,
וּבַיּוֹם
הַשְּׁבִיעִי
שַׁבַּת
שַׁבָּתוֹן
מִקְרָא-קֹדֶשׁ,
כָּל-מְלָאכָה
לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ:
שַׁבָּת הִוא
לַיהוָה,
בְּכֹל
מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם
“Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of work; it is a Sabbath unto יְהוָה - the LORD in all your dwellings”.
6. Vayikra -
Leviticus 26: 2 -
Blessings that we receive by guarding the commandments of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
אֶת-שַׁבְּתֹתַי
תִּשְׁמֹרוּ,
וּמִקְדָּשִׁי
תִּירָאוּ:
אֲנִי, יְהוָה
“Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and reverence My Sanctuary: I am יְהוָה - the LORD”.
7. Davarim - Deuteronomy 5: 11-14 -
Command to keep the Sabbath.
שָׁמוֹר
אֶת-יוֹם
הַשַּׁבָּת,
לְקַדְּשׁוֹ, כַּאֲשֶׁר
צִוְּךָ,
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ
שֵׁשֶׁת
יָמִים
תַּעֲבֹד,
וְעָשִׂיתָ
כָּל-מְלַאכְתֶּךָ
וְיוֹם,
הַשְּׁבִיעִי-שַׁבָּת,
לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ:
לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה
כָל-מְלָאכָה
אַתָּה
וּבִנְךָ-וּבִתֶּךָ
וְעַבְדְּךָ-וַאֲמָתֶךָ
וְשׁוֹרְךָ
וַחֲמֹרְךָ
וְכָל-בְּהֶמְתֶּךָ,
וְגֵרְךָ
אֲשֶׁר
בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ-לְמַעַן
יָנוּחַ
עַבְדְּךָ
וַאֲמָתְךָ,
כָּמוֹךָ
וְזָכַרְתָּ,
כִּי עֶבֶד
הָיִיתָ
בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם,
וַיֹּצִאֲךָ
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ
מִשָּׁם, בְּיָד
חֲזָקָה
וּבִזְרֹעַ
נְטוּיָה;
עַל-כֵּן,
צִוְּךָ
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ,
לַעֲשׂוֹת,
אֶת-יוֹם
הַשַּׁבָּת
“Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha commanded thee. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou. And thou shalt remember that thou was a servant in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy Elohim brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day”.
Having read the above verses regarding our blessed Sabbath, I will now provide two clear statements from the prophets as follows:
However, it would be good, if you, yourself look them up in your Tanakh, be it a JPS-1917 online which is excellent, or the Tanakh you have at home.
1.Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20 - Sabbath is a sign between אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, and us.
2.Yeshayahu - Isaiah 66 - From Sabbath to Sabbath.
In
conclusion:
It is my prayer that this study, based on the Word of our beloved יְהוָה - Elohim, blessed be He, will not only enlighten you, but also have assisted you to better uphold our wonderful Sabbath and have a true Torah based Shabbas from now on!
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Please Note:
“hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!
In Conclusion, a
Question to Deepen the Conversation:
Which part of the Tanakh study, or possibly a particular line or
statement within it has touched you the most? And how do you feel
about spending more time studying our beloved Tanakh? I pray that you are doing
well as a faithful Hebrew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are upholding as many of our
blessed Mitzvoth’s?
Dear reader, please remember this, pray for peace and
solitude in your life, and then work on keeping as calm as possible and learn
to improve your life, for אֱלֹהִים - בָּרוּךְ
אֱלֹהִים - Bless Elohim, He is
always there and ready to help and guide you!
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PLEASE NOTE: If you need assistance in some way, just ask, I can email you special items to help you with whatever you may need, etc! Just email me (using the link further below) and I will send it to your email, without any follow up whatsoever, or any requests from me! The email is just down this page.
This site was originally for those who needed
to return to our blessed and wonderful faith, thus be wise and work on your
faith and pray at least two or of possible three times a day and always seek אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance!
But as you may have discovered it has become very much a teaching site!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following, via a
number of our prophets...
“Return unto Me,
and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat
Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
(the LORD your Eloheichem);
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - YaHVaH your Elo’hei’chem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”.
For our Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the ‘מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your
daily תְּפִלָּה - Te’fee’lah’s (Prayers) and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and
drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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