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Exodus 31:14

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Exodus 31:14

Verse 14 of 18

Scripture focus

Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it [is] holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth [any] work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Exodus 31:14 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Exodus 31:14

Theological / Devotional

Defileth it. More exactly, “profanes it.” The Sabbath is holy (Gen. 2:1-3); therefore it is a sin to bring into its sacred hours that which is common (see on Ex. 12:16; 16:23). The Sabbath is defiled when any unnecessary work is done upon it. Acts of mercy, of necessity, or of religious observance are not forbidden on that day (Matt. 12:1—13; Mark 2:23—28).

Put to death. This severe penalty was a constant reminder that Sabbath violation severed the covenant relation between the Lord and the people. The Sabbath was the distinctive sign of loyalty to God, and its violation was therefore an offense of the gravest character, an act of treason against the divine government (see Ex. 35:2; Num. 15:32-36).

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