Exodus 31:16
New International Version
The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant.

New Living Translation
The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time.

English Standard Version
Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever.

Berean Standard Bible
The Israelites must keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a permanent covenant for the generations to come.

King James Bible
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

New King James Version
Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

New American Standard Bible
So the sons of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a permanent covenant.’

NASB 1995
‘So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’

NASB 1977
‘So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’

Legacy Standard Bible
So the sons of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant.’

Amplified Bible
So the Israelites shall observe the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’

Christian Standard Bible
The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a permanent covenant.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

American Standard Version
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Six days you will do works and on the seventh day is the Sabbath rest; it is holiness to LORD JEHOVAH; everyone who will do work on the day of the Sabbath certainly shall be killed.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the children of Israel shall keep the sabbaths, to observe them throughout their generations.

Contemporary English Version
Every generation of Israelites must respect the Sabbath.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let the children of Israel keep the sabbath, and celebrate it in their generations. It is an everlasting covenant

English Revised Version
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Israelites must observe this day of worship, celebrating it for generations to come as a permanent reminder of my promise.

Good News Translation
The people of Israel are to keep this day as a sign of the covenant.

International Standard Version
The Israelis are to keep the Sabbath to make the Sabbath observance a perpetual covenant from generation to generation.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Literal Standard Version
and the sons of Israel have observed the Sabbath; to keep the Sabbath throughout their generations [is] a perpetual covenant—

Majority Standard Bible
The Israelites must keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a permanent covenant for the generations to come.

New American Bible
So shall the Israelites observe the sabbath, keeping it throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant.

NET Bible
The Israelites must keep the Sabbath by observing the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore the Israelites shall keep the sabbath, observing the sabbath throughout their generations, as a perpetual covenant.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

World English Bible
Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Young's Literal Translation
and the sons of Israel have observed the sabbath; to keep the sabbath to their generations is a covenant age-during,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sign of the Sabbath
15For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death. 16The Israelites must keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a permanent covenant for the generations to come. 17It 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.’ ”…

Cross References
Exodus 31:15
For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.

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.'"

Isaiah 58:13
If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD's holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words,


Treasury of Scripture

Why the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

a perpetual covenant

Genesis 9:13
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

Genesis 17:11
And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

Jeremiah 50:5
They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

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Age-During Agreement Celebrate Celebrating Children Covenant Eternal Everlasting Generation Generations Holy Israel Israelites Lasting Observe Observed Observing Perpetual Sabbath Throughout Wherefore
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Age-During Agreement Celebrate Celebrating Children Covenant Eternal Everlasting Generation Generations Holy Israel Israelites Lasting Observe Observed Observing Perpetual Sabbath Throughout Wherefore
Exodus 31
1. Bezaleel and Aholiah are appointed for the work of the tabernacle
12. The observation of the Sabbath is again commanded
18. Moses receives the two tablets














Verse 16. - For a perpetual covenant. The sabbath is itself a covenant - i.e., a part of the covenant between God and Israel (Exodus 24:4) - and it is, also, a sign of covenant - i.e., a perceptible indication that the nation has entered into a special agreement with God, and undertaken the observance of special laws.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The Israelites
בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

must observe
וְשָׁמְר֥וּ (wə·šā·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

the Sabbath,
הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת (haš·šab·bāṯ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

celebrating
לַעֲשׂ֧וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

it
הַשַּׁבָּ֛ת (haš·šab·bāṯ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

as a lasting
עוֹלָֽם׃ (‘ō·w·lām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

covenant
בְּרִ֥ית (bə·rîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1285: A covenant

for the generations to come.
לְדֹרֹתָ֖ם (lə·ḏō·rō·ṯām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1755: A revolution of time, an age, generation, a dwelling


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OT Law: Exodus 31:16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 31:15
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