Most English translations define the Sabbath as holy. From a Greek-English perspective, the word ‘holy’ can have a very different meaning than the underlying Hebrew. For example, we would not define a male prostitute as holy, but in the Hebrew, the underlying word for ‘male prostitute’ and ‘holy’ are related. Both words use the same consonants and are in the same entry as demonstrated in the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible written by Jeff A. Benner.
2700) Sdq% (Sdq% QDSh) ac: Set apart co: Prostitute ab: Special: Set apart from the rest for a special function. [from: dh - separating and joining to something]
V) Sdq% (Sdq% Q-DSh) - Set apart: To set someone or something apart for a special purpose. [freq. 172] (vf: Paal, Niphal, Hiphil, Hitpael, Pual, Piel) |kjv: sanctify, hallow, dedicate, holy, prepare, consecrate, appoint, bid, purify| {str: 6942}
Nm) Sdq% (Sdq% Q-DSh) - Prostitute: A male prostitute set aside for a special purpose. [freq. 6] |kjv: sodomite, unclean| {str: 6945}
Strong’s #6942 is translated as “set-apart” in the following passage quoted from the Scriptures version:
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:8-11 “Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. “Six days you labour, and shall do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath1 of יהוה your Elohim. You do not do any work – you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. Footnote: 1There are other Sabbaths, but this is the weekly Sabbath. “For in six days יהוה made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore יהוה blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart.
Strong’s #6945 is translated as “cult prostitute” in the following passage quoted from the Scriptures version:
Debarim (Deuteronomy) 23:17 “None of the daughters of Yisra’ĕl is to be a cult prostitute, nor any of the sons of Yisra’ĕl be a cult prostitute.
The word “set-apart” does not have the same meaning as “holy” in the English language. In the Hebrew, ‘set-apart’ is related to action or function. In order to understand the action of being ‘set-apart’ we must know how to set it apart. In the English, ‘holy’ is a descriptive term or a state of being and not an action. Cult prostitutes are set-apart for a specific purpose and YHWH does not want His people to be set-apart in this fashion as declared in Debarim (Deuteronomy). The Shabbat on the seventh day is also set-apart for a specific purpose which YHWH declares in His Word. He tells us that no work is to be performed on Shabbat by anyone in our households or within our communities. The seventh day is to be different… distinct from the other six days of the week.
Some belief systems claim that every day is the Sabbath for them. From an English perspective, every day can be holy, clean and pure. But from a Hebrew perspective, every day cannot be set-apart. If every day is the same, then there is no distinction between them. They are all alike and none are truly set-apart. The seventh day is no different than the first or the third day from this perspective. This example demonstrates the importance of understanding the commandments of YHWH from a Hebrew perspective. Mosheh (Moses) was a Hebrew who spoke Hebrew, thought like a Hebrew and lived like a Hebrew. He wrote these words in Hebrew from a Hebrew perspective to a group of Hebrew people. Yeshua and his disciples were also Hebrews who share the same perspective as Mosheh (Moses). Our concept of ‘holy’ in the English language does not exist as a descriptive term for Shabbat in the Torah or the words of our Messiah. Shabbat on the seventh day is to be set-apart for a special purpose clearly designated by our Creator. Following is a list of actions in the Word of the Most High that make Shabbat distinct from the first six days of the week.
Shabbat on the seventh day is to be remembered (Exodus 20:8, Deuteronomy 5:15).
Shabbat is set-apart from the other six days of the week (Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 31:)
The Shabbat is a blessing, a gift (Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 16:29).
No work is to be done on Shabbat by anyone in our households and our communities. Work is to be done on the first six days (Exodus 20:10, 31:15, 35:2, Leviticus 23:3, Deuteronomy 5:13-14, Jeremiah 17:21-27, Nehemiah 13:15-21).
The house of Israel, the eunuch and the stranger who sojourns with Israel are to keep or guard the Shabbat. (Exodus 31:13-14, Isaiah 56:2-8)
The house of Israel and the stranger who sojourns with Israel are to observe Shabbat on the seventh day forever (Exodus 31:16-17).
Observance of Shabbat is to be a sign between YHWH and the house of Israel forever (Exodus 31:13 and 17).
The house of Israel and the strangers who sojourn with Israel are commanded to rest on Shabbat (Exodus 16:23, 20:11, 31:15, 35:2).
Everyone is to stay in their own place on Shabbat (Exodus 16:29).
The house of Israel and the strangers who sojourn with Israel gather and prepare food on the first six days and eat what is left over on the seventh day Shabbat (Exodus 16:26, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54-56, John 19:31).
The house of Israel and the strangers who sojourn with Israel are not to kindle a fire in their dwellings on Shabbat (Exodus 35:3).
The house of Israel and the strangers who sojourn with Israel are to have a set-apart meeting on Shabbat (Leviticus 23:3, Mark 1:21, 6:2, Luke 4:16, Acts 13:13-15, 13:44-45, 15:21, 17:2,18:4).
The priests are to make the showbread prior to Shabbat and replace it on the table of showbread (Leviticus 24:1-9).
Shabbat is on the 7th day of every week (Leviticus 23:3), the 15th and 21st of the first month (Leviticus 23:7-8), the 50th day after the Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:21), the 1st, 10th, 15th and 22nd of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:23-43).
The land is to rest every 7th year, a Shabbat to YHWH (Leviticus 25:2-7).
Every 50th year is to be a Shabbat of Shabbats, the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-13).
Do not treat Shabbat on the 7th day as spoiled and no longer of value (Numbers 15:30-36).
There is to be a burnt offering on Shabbat in addition to the daily burnt offerings (Numbers 28:9-10).
The Shabbat is to be honored and YHWH is to be honored (Isaiah 58:13, 66:23, Luke 4:31).
The house of Israel and the strangers who sojourn with Israel are not to seek their own pleasure on Shabbat (Isaiah 56:2-8 and 58:13).
The house of Israel and the strangers who sojourn with Israel are to do good on Shabbat (Isaiah 58, Matthew 12:9-16, Mark 3:2-4, Luke 6:6-9, 13:10-17, 14:1-6, John 5:1-16, 7:21-24, 9:1-14).
This is how YHWH wants His people to set-apart all of His Shabbats. We have only presented the list from an English perspective. Greater insight can be attained by examining the underlying Hebrew. However, we can see that YHWH does not provide specific details about how we choose to honor the Shabbat meal on Fridays or how we carry out our set-apart meetings. We can choose to light candles before Shabbat begins. We can choose to use special dishes and speak blessings upon our friends and family this night. We can make challah bread for our Shabbat meals. The Shabbat service established by the Rabbis has some very special features that could be done to observe Shabbat if that is how we choose to set-apart Shabbat in our homes. YHWH made each of us unique with different talents and skills. Prayers and blessings we speak over our children may be different than the ones another family may speak over their children. Some families or congregations may choose to read the Torah over three years, some may choose to read the Torah over a year and some may just choose to read and study random passages incorporating teachings from Messiah Yeshua. The important thing to remember is to make Shabbat different or distinct from the other six days of the week. YHWH has given us a foundation on which to build but He has left us space to express ourselves toward Him, our families and our communities. Let us remember the words of Shaul (Paul) as we fellowship with one another.
Colossians 2:16-17 Let no one therefore judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths – which are a shadow of what is to come – but the Body of the Messiah.
YHWH has given us the foundation for our fellowship with Him and with each other. The correction we give one another can only be based on what is written in the Torah because it is YHWH who is the Judge and He is the Author of the Torah. For example, YHWH spoke the following words:
Debarim (Deuteronomy) 12:32 “All the words I am commanding you, guard to do it – do not add to it nor take away from it.1 Footnote: 1See also 4:2, Prov. 30:6, Rev. 22:18-19.
We cannot require anyone to do more or less than what has been specified by His Word. Let us not condemn one another for our differences that blossom from our desire to honor the Shabbat of YHWH, but let us rejoice because our brothers and sisters have chosen to set-apart the 7th day Shabbat of YHWH Elohim!
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