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14 So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it[a] must surely be put to death; indeed,[b] if anyone does[c] any[d] work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his[e] people. 15 Six days[f] work may be done,[g] but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest,[h] holy to the Lord; anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death. 16 The Israelites must keep the Sabbath by observing the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 31:14 tn This clause is all from one word, a Piel plural participle with a third, feminine suffix: מְחַלְלֶיהָ (mekhaleleha, “defilers of it”). This form serves as the subject of the sentence. The word חָלַל (khalal) is the antonym of קָדַשׁ (qadash, “to be holy”). It means “common, profane,” and in the Piel stem “make common, profane” or “defile.” Treating the Sabbath like an ordinary day would profane it, make it common.
  2. Exodus 31:14 tn This is the asseverative use of כִּי (ki) meaning “surely, indeed,” for it restates the point just made (see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 73, §449).
  3. Exodus 31:14 tn Heb “the one who does.”
  4. Exodus 31:14 tn “any” has been supplied.
  5. Exodus 31:14 tn Literally “her” (a feminine pronoun agreeing with “soul/life,” which is grammatically feminine).
  6. Exodus 31:15 tn This is an adverbial accusative of time, indicating that work may be done for six days out of the week.
  7. Exodus 31:15 tn The form is a Niphal imperfect; it has the nuance of permission in this sentence, for the sentence is simply saying that the six days are work days—that is when work may be done.
  8. Exodus 31:15 tn The expression is שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן (shabbat shabbaton), “a Sabbath of entire rest,” or better, “a sabbath of complete desisting” (U. Cassuto, Exodus, 404). The second noun, the modifying genitive, is an abstract noun. The repetition provides the superlative idea that complete rest is the order of the day.

14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death;(A) those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work(B) is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest,(C) holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath,(D) celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant.

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