This is the first of the two positive commands in the decalogue. (The other one, the command to honor parents, is in verse 12.) Remember is a very strong positive command suggesting that the Israelites had already been observing the sabbath. The idea is “See that you remember to observe.” Good News Translation simply has “Observe.” The sabbath day is literally “the day of the sabbath.” (See the comment on “sabbath” at 16.23a.) To keep it holy means to consecrate it, or to set it apart as holy. So it may be expressed as “dedicated to me” or “belonging to me” (similarly Contemporary English Version). The way to do this is then explained in the following verses. Another way to express the first part of this verse is “Keep on observing the day of rest and dedicate it to me.”

Six days you shall labor, literally “you [singular] will work,” is more a statement than a command. So New American Bible has “Six days you may labor,” Revised English Bible has “You have six days to labour,” and Contemporary English Version has “You have six days when you can do your work.” (See also Good News Translation.) And do all your work, literally “and you will do all your work,” is also a statement. The word for work refers to work by which one makes a living or earns one’s food, such as daily business or occupation. Durham has “customary labor.” (The same word is used in 12.16.)

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .