Deuteronomy 5:15 · Bible study
Deuteronomy 5:15 Commentary: Sabbath Rooted in Redemption
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Deuteronomy link Sabbath to deliverance from Egypt rather than creation? Discover the social, theological, and pastoral meaning of this shift.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Sabbath is commanded as a memorial of redemption from slavery, not merely of creation, and as a call to extend rest to the powerless.
- Key words: Remember (zāḵar, Qal perfect), servant/slave (‘eḇeḏ), mighty hand (yad ḥăzāqāh), outstretched arm (zərōa‘ nəṭūyāh), Sabbath (šabbāt).
- Main debate: Whether the reason in Deuteronomy supplements or replaces the creation reason in Exodus, and how that affects Christian observance.
- Theological theme: Liberation ethics, God’s redemptive action creates a new community that treats others as God treated them.
- Best use: A key text for preaching on social justice, rest, and the connection between grace and obedience.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
WEB World English Bible 2000
You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore Yahweh your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
KJV King James Version 1769
And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah thy God brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: therefore Jehovah thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and thou hast remembered that a servant thou hast been in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah thy God is bringing thee out thence by a strong hand, and by a stretched-out arm; therefore hath Jehovah thy God commanded thee to keep the day of the sabbath.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and that Jehovah thy God brought thee out thence with a powerful hand and with a stretched-out arm; therefore Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee to observe the sabbath day.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Remember that thou also didst serve in Egypt, and the Lord thy God brought thee out from thence with a strong hand, and a stretched out arm. Therefore hath he commanded thee that thou shouldst observe the sabbath day.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y acuérdate que fuiste siervo en tierra de Egipto, y que Jehová tu Dios te sacó de allá con mano fuerte y brazo extendido: por lo cual Jehová tu Dios te ha mandado que guardes el día del reposo.
E lembra-te que foste servo em terra do Egito, e que o SENHOR teu Deus te tirou dali com mão forte e braço estendido: pelo qual o SENHOR teu Deus te mandou que guardes no dia do repouso.
Tu te souviendras que tu as été esclave au pays d’ Égypte, et que l’ Éternel, ton Dieu, t’ en a fait sortir à main forte et à bras étendu: c’ est pourquoi l’ Éternel, ton Dieu, t’ a ordonné d’ observer le jour du repos.
Denn du sollst gedenken, daß du auch Knecht in Ägyptenland warst und der HERR, dein Gott, dich von dort ausgeführt hat mit einer mächtigen Hand und mit ausgerecktem Arm. Darum hat dir der HERR, dein Gott, geboten, daß du den Sabbattag halten sollst.
Want gij zult gedenken, dat gij een dienstknecht in Egypteland geweest zijt, en dat de HEERE, uw God, u van daar heeft uitgeleid door een sterke hand en een uitgestrekten arm; daarom heeft u de HEERE, uw God, geboden, dat gij den sabbatdag houden zult.
E ricordati che sei stato schiavo nel paese d’Egitto, e che l’Eterno, l’Iddio tuo, ti tratto di là con mano potente e con braccio steso; perciò l’Eterno, il tuo Dio, ti ordina d’osservare il giorno del riposo.
A pamiętaj, żeś był niewolnikiem w ziemi Egipskiej, i wywiódł cię Pan, Bóg twój, stamtąd ręką możną, i ramieniem wyciągnionem; przetoż ci przykazał Pan, Bóg twój, abyś obchodził dzień sobotni.
и помни, что [ты] был рабом в земле Египетской, но Господь, Бог твой, вывел тебя оттуда рукою крепкою и мышцею высокою, потому и повелел тебе Господь, Бог твой, соблюдать день субботний [и свято хранить его].
你也要記念 你在埃及 地 作過 奴僕；耶和華─你 神 用大能 的手 和伸出來 的膀臂 將你從那裡 領出來。因 此，耶和華─你的 神 吩咐你 守 安息 日。
And keep in mind that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord your God took you out of that land by his strong hand and his stretched-out arm: for this reason the Lord has given you orders to keep the Sabbath day.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Deuteronomy 5:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators unanimously note a striking shift between the two versions of the Sabbath commandment. In Exodus 20:11 the reason is God’s rest at creation. Here in Deuteronomy 5:15 the reason is Israel’s redemption from Egyptian slavery. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges calls this a characteristic move of the Deuteronomist: the creation motive is replaced by a historical one tied to deliverance and the humanitarian treatment of slaves. Adam Clarke’s Commentary sees three ends: commemoration of creation, rest for man and beast, and spiritual rest with God, but the verse foregrounds the memory of servitude. Gill’s Exposition adds that remembering their own bondage should soften Israel’s heart toward their servants. In fact, this same phrase, remember you were a slave in Egypt, appears in Deuteronomy as the basis for laws on liberality to slaves, sharing feasts, and justice for the poor (15:15; 16:12; 24:18, 22). The repeated pattern grounds moral duty in God’s prior rescue, not in an abstract principle. The command to remember is itself a Hebrew perfect verb (zāḵartā) with a sense of ongoing, concrete recollection, not a mental note but a lived orientation.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Complementary reasons view: Exodus 20 gives a creation reason, Deuteronomy 5 gives a redemption reason; both are preserved in Scripture and inform Christian practice (e.g., Sunday as creation and resurrection day).
- Deuteronomistic emphasis view: Deuteronomy reworks older traditions to stress social justice and historical memory; the creation motive is set aside to focus on how deliverance shapes community ethics.
What is clear: Sabbath observance is commanded by God and rooted in His redemptive act of bringing Israel out of Egypt.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Reason for the Sabbath | The Sabbath is commanded by God and grounded in His act of deliverance from Egypt. | Some see this reason as complementary to the creation account in Exodus 20; others argue Deuteronomy intentionally replaces the creation motive to emphasize redemption. Both sides agree the text is authoritative. |
| Application for Christians | Christians are called to rest in God’s redemptive work and to care for the vulnerable. | Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions differ on whether the fourth commandment is fulfilled in Sunday worship or remains a Saturday obligation; some see it as a principle rather than a specific day. |
| The word 'servant' ('eved) | Israel’s identity as former slaves is central to the command’s moral force. | Whether this includes all forms of wage labor or only chattel slavery has been interpreted differently across eras; the humanitarian thrust is undisputed. |
| Change of day (Saturday vs. Sunday) | The verse specifies 'the Sabbath day' as the seventh day. | Many Christian traditions hold that the resurrection of Jesus shifted the primary day of worship to Sunday, while others (Seventh-day Adventists, some Messianic Jews) maintain Saturday observance. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Deuteronomy is Moses’ second law, preached on the plains of Moab just before Israel enters Canaan. This generation was born in the wilderness; they did not experience Egyptian slavery firsthand, yet they inherit the memory, and the obligations built upon it. Verse 15 stands inside the Ten Commandments as the expanded rationale for the fourth commandment. In Exodus the Sabbath is tied to creation and the rhythm of work and rest. Here, the focus is social and historical. The phrase “a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” appears earlier in Deuteronomy 4:34 as a description of God’s rescue; it becomes a refrain for deliverance. By rooting Sabbath in the Exodus, the text makes rest an act of solidarity. The same generation that was powerless now has power over servants and livestock, and the commandment forbids them from replicating Egypt’s cruelty. The Hebrew word for “servant” is ‘eḇeḏ, which means both slave and subject. Israel was ‘eḇeḏ to Pharaoh; now they are to serve Yahweh, reflecting His character by granting rest. The Sabbath becomes a weekly rehearsal of liberation, a small exodus every seventh day.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no variant readings in the Hebrew text of Deuteronomy 5:15. The verse is stable across manuscripts, with no significant textual disagreement affecting interpretation.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, this verse anchors the Sabbath in the Exodus narrative, recited weekly in the Kiddush blessing. The early church, reading through Christ, understood Israel’s deliverance as a type of salvation; Ellicott’s Commentary (1882) suggests substituting “the exodus of Christ, which He accomplished at Jerusalem” to find a reason for keeping the Lord’s Day. The Reformers, especially Calvin and Luther, emphasized the Sabbath as a sign of spiritual rest in Christ while also recognizing its social purpose. Medieval commentators like Thomas Aquinas saw both creation and redemption as complementary reasons. In modern social justice movements, the verse has been reclaimed as a mandate for worker rest and fair labor practices.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Remember where you came from. Israel had been slaves; God brought them out. Memory is the foundation of compassion.
- Rest is for everyone. The commandment specifically includes servants, strangers, and animals, those who have no claim to rest except God’s command.
- God’s action, not ours, defines the day. The Sabbath is not a human invention; it is a response to what God has done.
Five-point outline
- You were a servant. Israel’s identity as freed slaves shapes every moral command.
- Your God brought you out. Deliverance is the engine of obedience, not the other way around.
- By a mighty hand and outstretched arm. This vivid image appears repeatedly in Deuteronomy (4:34; 5:15; 7:19) to emphasize that no human power achieved this escape.
- Therefore. The logical hinge: because of God’s act, the fourth commandment is binding.
- Keep the Sabbath day. Observance becomes a memorial of redemption, not just creation.
Illustration hooks
- A person who has received a life-saving transplant often lives differently, grateful, careful with their health. The Sabbath is that sort of changed life, not a duty but a response.
- Think of a workplace where the boss remembers being an entry-level employee and therefore treats staff with dignity. The Sabbath law builds that kind of institutional memory.
- When a community observes a weekly day of rest while others work, it marks them as people who trust God’s provision enough to pause.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is Sunday the same as the Sabbath? How does this verse apply to Christians who worship on the first day?
- Does “keeping the Sabbath” mean I can’t do anything fun? What does rest actually look like?
- How can I truly “remember” the Exodus if I’m not Jewish? What is the equivalent act of redemption in my own life?
Leading a Discussion
This verse changes how you understand rest. Instead of a creation ordinance, the Sabbath is a rescue celebration, a sign that God’s people are no longer slaves. Read through the cross-references (Deuteronomy 15:15; 16:12; 24:18, 22) and notice the pattern: memory of slavery leads to commands about generosity and rest.
Discussion questions
- How does the reason for Sabbath in Deuteronomy 5:15 differ from the reason given in Exodus 20:11? Which one is more familiar to you?
- The verb “remember” is a command in Hebrew (zāḵartā). What kind of remembering is more than just recalling a fact? How does the text shape that memory?
- Why do you think the commandment specifies that servants, guests, and even livestock get to rest? What does that say about God’s character?
- In what ways might we treat others as Pharaoh treated Israel, denying them rest, dignity, or a day off? What would it look like to apply this verse in your workplace or home?
- If the Sabbath is based on redemption rather than creation, does that change how you think about Sunday worship? How do you see your weekly rhythm as a response to God’s deliverance?
- Deuteronomy repeats the phrase “you were a slave in Egypt” five times in ethical contexts. Why do you think God keeps linking moral commands to Israel’s past?
- What is one small change you could make this week to help someone else rest? How would that act be a form of remembering?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 4:34 | Or has God tried to go and take a nation for himself from among another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Yahweh your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? |
| Deuteronomy 4:37 | Because he loved your fathers, therefore he chose their offspring after them, and brought you out with his presence, with his great power, out of Egypt; |
| Deuteronomy 5:6 | “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. |
| Deuteronomy 15:15 | You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you. Therefore I command you this thing today. |
| Deuteronomy 16:12 | You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. You shall observe and do these statutes. |
| Deuteronomy 24:18 | but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you there. Therefore I command you to do this thing. |
| Deuteronomy 24:22 | You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt. Therefore I command you to do this thing. |
| Psalms 116:16 | Yahweh, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your servant girl. You have freed me from my chains. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that God appointed the Sabbath with three purposes: commemorating creation, providing rest for man and beast, and offering spiritual rest. Distinctively, he argues the day of observance shifted from Sunday to Saturday at the exodus, making the Sabbath a twofold memorial of both creation
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator points out that Deuteronomy grounds Sabbath observance not in God’s rest at creation, as Exodus does, but in Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This historical, humanitarian motive is characteristic of Deuteronomy, and it is considered the more original form of the commandment.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes ground the Sabbath command not in creation but in redemption: Israel must rest because they were once slaves and the Lord brought them out with power. The day of rest is a perpetual memorial of liberation from Egyptian bondage, and God's mighty deliverance is itself the reason for the command.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that the Sabbath command is rooted in the memory of slavery in Egypt. Recalling their hard bondage should move Israel to compassion, and remembering God's mighty deliverance places them under obligation to keep this day as a commemoration of rest from that oppression.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that the title Lord in this context emphasizes God's authority and dominion. God's right to give these commandments rests both on His natural claim as Creator and on His covenant relationship with Israel, giving Him sovereign power to govern His people.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that the covenant at Horeb was made directly with the living generation, not with the patriarchs. He sees this as a deliberate shift: the law now takes center stage as a national code, preparing Israel for its role in bringing salvation to all nations.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry reads the Ten Commandments here as a covenant of grace, not just a legal code. He stresses that God first identifies Himself as Israel's Redeemer before giving any commands. The Sabbath command in Deuteronomy, he notes, is uniquely tied to remembering their deliverance from Egyptian slavery.