Single lesson
The Sabbath as a Sign
Exodus 31:12–17; Exodus 35:1–3
These verses repeat the Sabbath command in Exodus and show why it mattered. The passage links the Sabbath with holiness, covenant, creation, and a clear command for Israel’s daily life.
Before you teach
In Exodus 31, Yahweh tells Moses to speak to the children of Israel about keeping his Sabbaths. In Exodus 35, Moses gathers all the congregation and repeats Yahweh’s command, including the pattern of six workdays and one holy day of rest.
Explain the central teaching of The Sabbath as a Sign, using two details from the reading. In this passage, the Sabbath is presented as a holy sign between Yahweh and the children of Israel, marked by rest and careful obedience.
Welcome: The Sabbath as a Sign
5 minIntroduce “The Sabbath as a Sign” and locate Exodus 31:12–17; Exodus 35:1–3. In this passage, the Sabbath is presented as a holy sign between Yahweh and the children of Israel, marked by rest and careful obedience. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Exodus 31:12, Exodus 31:16, Exodus 35:3
Read and explain the passage
12 minYahweh tells Moses that Israel must keep his Sabbaths. The Sabbath is called a sign between Yahweh and his people through their generations. The stated purpose is that they may know Yahweh is the one who sanctifies them. A sign points to relationship and to Yahweh’s work in making his people holy.
The children of Israel are to keep the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. The passage again calls it a sign between Yahweh and the children of Israel forever. The reason given reaches back to creation: Yahweh made heaven and earth in six days, then rested on the seventh day.
Later, Moses assembles all the congregation and repeats the words Yahweh commanded. He restates the six days for work and the seventh day as a holy day, a Sabbath of solemn rest. He also adds a specific command: no fire is to be kindled throughout their habitations on the Sabbath day.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “The Sabbath as a Sign”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Exodus 31:12, Exodus 31:13, Exodus 31:16, Exodus 31:17, Exodus 35:1, Exodus 35:2, Exodus 35:3
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “According to these verses, what does the Sabbath show about Yahweh and Israel?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. In this passage, the Sabbath is presented as a holy sign between Yahweh and the children of Israel, marked by rest and careful obedience. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Exodus 31:13, Exodus 31:17, Exodus 31:15, Exodus 35:2, Exodus 35:3
Make and respond: Instruction and context chart
12 minWork on “The Sabbath as a Sign: Instruction and context chart”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “The Sabbath as a Sign” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Exodus 31:12, Exodus 31:16, Exodus 35:3
Closing: return to The Sabbath as a Sign
3 minRevisit Exodus 31:12–17; Exodus 35:1–3. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Sabbath as a Sign and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Exodus 31:12, Exodus 31:16, Exodus 35:3
Questions to explore
According to these verses, what does the Sabbath show about Yahweh and Israel?
Look for the repeated word "sign" and the purpose statement about knowing that Yahweh sanctifies his people.
Exodus 31:13, Exodus 31:17
How does the passage describe the seventh day differently from the other six days?
Notice the contrast between work on six days and the seventh day as holy and a solemn rest.
Exodus 31:15, Exodus 35:2
What extra detail appears when Moses repeats the command in Exodus 35?
Compare the repeated Sabbath rule with the added instruction about what must not be kindled in their habitations.
Exodus 35:2, Exodus 35:3
Make, think or respond
The Sabbath as a Sign: Instruction and context chart
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Who is addressed?”, “What is required?”, “What reason or purpose is given?”.
- Read Exodus 31:12–17; Exodus 35:1–3. Use “The Sabbath as a Sign” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Under the chart, distinguish instructions in their original setting from an application you could discuss today.
The finished sheet keeps the details of The Sabbath as a Sign connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “The Sabbath as a Sign” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Exodus 31:12–17; Exodus 35:1–3. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Exodus 31:12–17; Exodus 35:1–3. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Exodus 31
12 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.
14 You shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
15 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death.
16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’ ”
Exodus 35
1 Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which Yahweh has commanded, that you should do them.
2 ‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to Yahweh: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death.
3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’ ”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.