Exodus 31:13

Speak thou also And thou (emph.), speak thou(Exodus 27:20).

Verily cf. on Exodus 12:15 (-surely").

ye shall keep my Sabbaths the sabbaths sacred to me. Note exactly the same words in H, Leviticus 19:3; Leviticus 19:30; Leviticus 26:2: -my sabbaths," also, often in Ezek. (Ezekiel 20:12-13; Ezekiel 20:16; Ezekiel 20:20-21; Ezekiel 20:24; Ezekiel 22:8; Ezekiel 22:26; Ezekiel 23:38; Ezekiel 44:24); only besides in Isaiah 56:4 †.

a sign, &c. The sabbath, as a day observed weekly in honour of Jehovah, and kept sacred to Him, is a constantly recurring memorial of Israel's dedication to Him, and of the covenant-relation subsisting between them. Comp. Ezekiel 20:12 (cited below).

throughout your generations See on Exodus 12:14. So v.16.

that men may know(Heb. simply to know: so Psalms 67:2 Heb.) &c. that all the world may recognize, by means of the sabbath, that it is Jehovah who -sanctifies" Israel, or provides it with the means of becoming a holy people. -I am Jehovah which sanctify [better, -which sancti fieth"] you (him, them)" is one of the dominant thoughts of H (Leviticus 20:8; Leviticus 21:15 (cf. v.8), Leviticus 21:23; Leviticus 22:9; Leviticus 22:16; Leviticus 22:32). Comp. Ezekiel 20:12 -I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me andthem, that menmight know[Heb. to know that I am Jehovah, which sanctifieththem" (similarly v.20); also, for the last clause, Ezekiel 37:12.