Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20:8-11

Comparison of the Sabbath Commandment in Exodus and Deuteronomy

One of the more interesting jobs in the realm of theology is comparing the Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20:8-11 with the same requirement in Deuteronomy 5:12-15. The Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20:8-11 is well recognized in Christianity, particularly among Adventists. It is a crucial commandment in Judaism. Regardless of the scripture, multiple people have printed the same verse in various sorts of literature and catechisms. It appears in certain art paintings and is sometimes carved on plates made of various metals or stones.The study about the commandment of Sabbath seems to be growing research interest among many theological scholars, non-Adventist scholars, and theologians who may perhaps not be interested in observing the Sabbath. However, the majority of the lay Christians are not familiar with repetition of the same commandment about Sabbath in the book of Deuteronomy5:12-15(David 152).

Similarities between Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Much as the comparison between the two bible sections presents an intriguing augment, the similarities between the Decalogue in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 5 and Exodus chapter 20 are very impressive. On the other hand, a number of differences between the two sections may be puzzling to most of the readers and continue to raise serious questions. There was a real change between the teachings about Sabbath commandment in the book of Exodus 20 and those of Deuteronomy 5. For instance, in Deuteronomy 5 Sabbath speaks of redemption yet in Exodus 20 Sabbath speaks of creation. In this essay, I intend to discuss the differences and similarities between Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and Exodus 20:8-11.

To begin with, the following are the similar relationships that exist between the two bible sections. In Exodus 20:8, the bible says remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. In the same way, Deuteronomy 5:12 says; observe the Sabbath day and keeps it holy, as Yahweh God has commanded you. Deuteronomy 5:13 says that the six days you shall labour and do all your work and Exodus 20:9 also speaks the same statement. According to Exodus 20:10 the seventh day is a Sabbath day of God, he says; you shall not do any kind of work neither your son or your daughter, your female servant or male servant or your cattle and your sojourner in the gates. In the same way, Deuteronomy 5:12 says the same statement and adds the relevance of Sabbath as a resting day.

All the above similarities show that there is a higher degree of correspondence in the first three bible verses of both sections much as in the Deuteronomy section, the Sabbath commandment is more detailed than in Exodus. Whereas Exodus 20:8 begins with the word remember, Deuteronomy 5:12 starts with the word observe. The word “remember exists in Deuteronomy but in verse 15 only. The concept is the same much as the words look difference. Both books emphasize that Sabbath should be maintained holy.

Differences between Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15

To highlight the difference in both sections, both books present varying reasons for Sabbath. For instance, the book of Exodus 20:8-11 emphasizes the celebration of creation as a major purpose for Sabbath. It highlights the six days of creation and reserves the seventh day for resting. Whereas in the book of Deuteronomy 5:12-15, the major purpose for Sabbath is the celebration of redemption. The redemption celebration was to remember the enslavement as well as the liberation of Christians from it.

In addition, the book of Deuteronomy 5:12-15 presents the phrase ”as Yahweh your God has commanded you“ two times and this phrase does not exist in the book of Exodus 20:8-11. Thus, the Deuteronomy passage accounts for the frequency of the use of divine names. In Exodus 20:8-11 on the other hand, the phrase ”as Yahweh your God“ is used frequently. Therefore, the phrase ”as Yahweh, your god has commanded you“ is the Sabbath commandment in the book of Deuteronomy and forms an inclusion that points back to God giving the Ten Commandments on the Sinai maintain (David 156).

The act of keeping Sabbath holy is reflected once in the book of Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and Exodus 20:8-11 uses the same word ”holy“ two times. Much as the difference between those two books seems to be small, the charge of keeping Sabbath remains the same in both books. The major reason provided for Sabbath is to keep it holy. The book of Deuteronomy does not state the origin of Sabbath. Therefore, Sabbath is not instituted because of the movement from Egypt but because of creation. People are called upon to obey the Sabbath commandment because of salvation and creation as stated in the book of Exodus (David 151).

Source cited

Craigie David, ”The Sabbath day“ in the Ten Commandments for Jews, Christians, and others, ed. R. E. Van Harn Grand Rapids, mi: Eerdmans, 2007), the ”political-historical meaning of the Sabbath“ of Deuteronomy and the ”ontological meaning“ of the Sabbath in Exodus. 2009; 50-155