Quick Answer: How to Say Sabbath in Hebrew
Sabbath in Hebrew is:
Meaning: Sabbath, rest, cessation, stopping
How to Pronounce Shabbat
The Hebrew word שבת (shabbat) is pronounced sha-BAT.
Pronunciation Breakdown
- שַׁ (sha) - Sounds like "sha" (the "a" as in "father")
- בַּת (bat) - Sounds like "BAT" (the "a" as in "father", emphasis on this syllable)
Stress: The emphasis is on the final syllable: sha-BAT
Practice Saying Shabbat
Try saying it slowly: sha (pause) BAT
Then say it faster: sha-BAT
Tip: The "sh" sound is pronounced like the "sh" in "shoe." The double "b" (ב) is pronounced as a single "b" sound.
What Does Shabbat Mean?
While שבת (shabbat) is translated as "Sabbath," its meaning in Hebrew is more fundamental. Shabbat comes from the root ש.ב.ת (sh.b.t), which means "to cease, to rest, to stop." This root reveals that Shabbat is not just about taking a day off—it's about actively ceasing from work and entering into rest. Shabbat encompasses:
🛑 Cessation
Stopping from work and labor
😌 Rest
Physical and spiritual rest and refreshment
⏸️ Pause
Taking time to stop and reflect
🙏 Sanctification
A day set apart and made holy
Key Insight: The Hebrew concept of Shabbat (Sabbath) is not about doing nothing—it's about actively ceasing from ordinary work to enter into a different kind of activity: rest, worship, and relationship with God. The root ש.ב.ת (sh.b.t) means "to cease," showing that Shabbat requires intentional stopping. This is why God "rested" on the seventh day—not because He was tired, but because He ceased from His creative work and entered into the rest of enjoying what He had made.
How to Use Shabbat
Shabbat appears throughout the Hebrew Bible, from creation to the Ten Commandments. Here's how it's used:
1. The Sabbath at Creation
The first mention of Shabbat is when God rested on the seventh day:
Genesis 2:2-3:
וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה. וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ
vayechal Elohim bayom hashvi'i melakhto asher asah vayishbot bayom hashvi'i mikol melakhto asher asah. vayevarekh Elohim et yom hashvi'i vayekadesh oto ki vo shavat mikol melakhto
"And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work"
God established Shabbat (Sabbath) at creation by resting (shavat) on the seventh day and blessing it.
2. The Fourth Commandment
Shabbat is commanded in the Ten Commandments:
Exodus 20:8-11:
זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ. שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל מְלַאכְתֶּךָ. וְיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ
zakhor et yom hashabbat lekadsho. sheshet yamim ta'avod ve'asita kol melakhtekha. veyom hashvi'i shabbat la'Adonai Eloheikha
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God"
The fourth commandment establishes Shabbat as a holy day of rest for God's people.
3. Sabbath as a Sign
Shabbat serves as a sign of the covenant between God and His people:
Exodus 31:13:
אַךְ אֶת שַׁבְּתֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ כִּי אוֹת הִוא בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם
akh et shabtotai tishmoru ki ot hi beini uveineikhem
"You are to keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you"
Observing Shabbat is a sign of the covenant relationship between God and His people.
Biblical Significance of Shabbat
Shabbat is foundational to the biblical understanding of work, rest, and relationship with God. Here are key biblical concepts involving Shabbat:
Genesis 2:2-3 - God Rested
וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי
vayechal Elohim bayom hashvi'i melakhto asher asah vayishbot bayom hashvi'i
"And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day"
Shabbat was established at the very beginning of creation when God rested (shavat) from His work.
Exodus 20:11 - Remember the Sabbath
כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה יְהוָה אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ אֶת הַיָּם וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר בָּם וַיָּנַח בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי
ki sheshet yamim asah Adonai et hashamayim ve'et ha'aretz et hayam ve'et kol asher bam vayanach bayom hashvi'i
"For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day"
The Sabbath commandment is grounded in God's own pattern of work and rest at creation.
Isaiah 58:13-14 - Delight in the Sabbath
אִם תָּשִׁיב מִשַּׁבָּת רַגְלֶךָ עֲשׂוֹת חֲפָצֶיךָ בְּיוֹם קָדְשִׁי
im tashiv mishabbat raglekha asot chafatzeikha beyom kodshi
"If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day"
The prophet calls God's people to honor Shabbat by ceasing from their own pursuits and delighting in God.
Practical Tips for Understanding Shabbat
How to Approach Shabbat
- Practice pronunciation: Say "sha-BAT" slowly, emphasizing the final syllable
- Understand the root meaning: Remember that Shabbat means "to cease" or "to rest"—it's about actively stopping work
- See it as a gift: Shabbat is God's gift of rest, not a burden or restriction
- Follow God's pattern: Just as God worked six days and rested on the seventh, we are called to do the same
- Make it holy: Shabbat is a day set apart (made holy) for rest, worship, and relationship with God
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