Exodus 31:17

It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Moses on Mount Sinai immediately before delivering the stone tablets, following the command to observe the Sabbath as a permanent covenant. He declares the Sabbath's purpose at the conclusion of His direct speech.

The words — א֥וֹת ('ot) translates literally to "sign," designating the Sabbath as a visible marker. לְ/עֹלָ֑ם (le./'o.Lam) means "forever," establishing the observance as an unending covenant.

The thread — The verse links to Genesis 2:2, which records God's rest on the seventh day, and echoes Exodus 31:13, which frames the Sabbath as a generational sign between God and His people.

Why it lands — The text states that the Sabbath marks a permanent boundary between God and Israel and grounds that boundary in the factual sequence of creation and rest. It requires readers to align their weekly rhythm with that documented divine pattern.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Cross-references

Exodus 31:13 “Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
Genesis 1:31 And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Genesis 2:2 And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work.
Ezekiel 20:12 I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
Hebrews 4:10 For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.
Ezekiel 20:20 Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
Hebrews 4:3 Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: “So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.
Psalms 104:31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in His works.
Jeremiah 32:41 Yes, I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.
Job 38:7 while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?