This verse brings together again the words for seventh and sabbath. For their meaning and distinction, see the comment at 16.23a and 16.26. The seventh day does not specify our Saturday but is the day following the six working days. Contemporary English Version has “the seventh day of each week.” A sabbath to the LORD is the same as in 16.23a (but without the word “holy”). It may mean “a sabbath of the LORD” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible) or “a sabbath for Yahweh” (New Jerusalem Bible). Translator’s Old Testament even has “belongs to the LORD” (so also Contemporary English Version). Good News Translation uses the first person, since Yahweh is speaking: “a day of rest dedicated to me.” The LORD your God is “Yahweh your [singular] ʾelohim.” Good News Translation omits the phrase, and Contemporary English Version simplifies it to “belongs to me, your God.” (See verse 2.)

In it is not in the Hebrew, but most translations have words to that effect, since it is clear that the prohibition against work refers only to “on that day” (Good News Translation). Even King James Version and American Standard Version have in it, using italics to indicate they have been added. New Revised Standard Version has now followed New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh in omitting them. You shall not do any work is the same prohibitive form (“you shall not”) used throughout these verses. The singular you is used, and then repeated again in the expressions you, or your son, or your daughter, and so on.

The text is specific in listing seven to whom the command applies, including your cattle. The word for cattle means “animals” in general (Good News Translation), or “livestock” (New Revised Standard Version). (See the comment on cattle at 9.2-3.) The Hebrew has separate words for all of these, but in languages where they can be grouped together, one may follow Good News Translation: “your children,” and “your slaves.” The intention is to include all the people and animals for whom each Israelite is responsible. (The wife is noticeably not listed.)

The sojourner who is within your gates is literally “your foreigner who [is] in your gates.” (For sojourner see the comment at 2.22 and 12.19.) The word for gates refers basically to the city gates, but the meaning here may be extended to “your town” (Translator’s Old Testament), “your settlements” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “your community” (An American Translation), or “your country” (Good News Translation). New Jerusalem Bible simply has “living with you” (similarly Revised English Bible and New American Bible).

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 .