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 5:15KJV
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Deuteronomy 5:15 (KJV)

What 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.

Where else these words appear

“mighty” Hebrew H2389 · used in 54 verses

  • Exodus 3:19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
  • Deuteronomy 34:12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.
  • Isaiah 27:1 In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

“arm” Hebrew H2220 · used in 84 verses

  • Genesis 49:24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob;(from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
  • Job 40:9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
  • Isaiah 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

“sabbath” Hebrew H7676 · used in 89 verses

  • Exodus 16:23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
  • Leviticus 26:35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.
  • Nehemiah 13:22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.