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.
DEUTERONOMY 5:15KJVWhat does Deuteronomy 5:15 mean?
Deuteronomy 5:15 tells the Israelites to remember that they were once slaves in Egypt and that God brought them out with great power, which is why God commands them to keep the Sabbath day. The verse connects the practice of Sabbath rest to their history of being freed from slavery by God’s strong intervention.
Moses is speaking to the people of Israel as they prepare to enter the promised land, reminding them of their past in Egypt and God’s deliverance. The verse explains that the Sabbath is not just a rule to follow, but a sign of God’s care and a reminder of their freedom and new identity as God’s people.
The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 5:15
- "Remember" (זָכַר, zakar, H2142) means to actively recall or bring to mind. Here, it calls the Israelites to intentionally reflect on their past as slaves, not just to passively recall it.
- "Servant" (עֶבֶד, eved, H5650) is often translated as "slave" or "bondservant." This word emphasizes the harshness and lack of freedom the Israelites experienced in Egypt.
- "Brought" (יָצָא, yatsa, H3318) means to lead out or bring forth. It highlights God’s direct action in rescuing the people from Egypt.
- "Mighty" (חָזָק, chazaq, H2389) and "hand" (יָד, yad, H3027), along with "stretched out" (נָטָה, natah, H5186) and "arm" (זְרוֹעַ, zeroa, H2220), are vivid images describing God’s strength and active intervention. These phrases underline that their freedom was not by their own effort, but by God’s powerful work.
- "Sabbath" (שַׁבָּת, shabbat, H7676) refers to the day of rest. Here, it is tied directly to their liberation, showing that rest is a gift rooted in their story of redemption.
Why Deuteronomy 5:15 matters
- Deuteronomy 5:15 shows that keeping the Sabbath is not just about following a rule, but about remembering God’s rescue and valuing freedom, both for themselves and for others.
- The verse connects the Sabbath to social justice, reminding the Israelites that they once had no rest as slaves, so they should ensure rest for everyone in their community.
- By tying the Sabbath to the Exodus, Deuteronomy 5:15 gives a deeper reason for the command than just creation (as in Exodus 20), highlighting God’s compassion and the importance of remembering past hardship.