Exodus 16:25

To day is a sabbath. Or, “Today is the Lord’s sabbath.” Although the definite article “the” does not appear in the Hebrew text, the grammatical construction permits such a translation. The same Hebrew word form, “a sabbath,” appears also in the fourth commandment, where the KJV renders it, appropriately, “the sabbath” (Ex. 20:10). In both instances, however, a strict translation would require that it be rendered “a sabbath.” At the same time “the sabbath” would be entirely permissible.

There is nothing either in this text or in its context to indicate that the Sabbath was now given to the Israelites for the first time, as some have supposed. In fact, it is implied that they already knew of the Sabbath, but had grown careless in its observance (ch. 16:4). The Sabbath command was therefore renewed and its observance as a holy day reinforced (see on vs. 27, 28).

The Hebrew expression shabbath, “rest,” here correctly rendered “a sabbath,” is translated in vs. 23 and 26 and in ch. 20:10 as “the sabbath.” However, in v. 29 and ch. 20:8 the Hebrew text reads hashshabbath, which is correctly translated “the sabbath.”

The expression “a sabbath” — “a rest” — describes how the seventh day is distinguished from the preceding six as regards labor. “The sabbath” — “the rest” — describes the distinctive character of the seventh-day rest; namely, a rest memorializing the rest of God on the seventh day of creation week, and thus a holy rest day.