The Meaning of Exodus 23:12 Explained

Exodus 23:12

KJV: Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

YLT: 'Six days thou dost do thy work, and on the seventh day thou dost rest, so that thine ox and thine ass doth rest, and the son of thine handmaid and the sojourner is refreshed;

Darby: Six days thou shalt do thy work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest; that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger may be refreshed.

ASV: Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest; that thine ox and thine ass may have rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the sojourner, may be refreshed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Six  days  thou shalt do  thy work,  and on the seventh  day  thou shalt rest:  that thine ox  and thine ass  may rest,  and the son  of thy handmaid,  and the stranger,  may be refreshed. 

What does Exodus 23:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God intended Sabbath observance to give His people and even their laboring animals needed rest ( Exodus 23:12).

Context Summary

Exodus 23:1-17 - Laws Of Conduct And Worship
We may apply these various precepts to our own hearts. Many of them breathe the very spirit of Christ. We must watch our speech, so that no man's character may suffer by our gossip or slander. We must dare to stand for the truth, though we stand absolutely alone. With all kindness and good will we must save our neighbor from damage, even though he has vented on us his spleen. It is never for us to take advantage of him; God will deal with him on our behalf, and in His own time and way. Let us not fret ourselves to do evil. David's example in refusing to injure Saul when his bitter enemy was within his reach is an inspiring example for us to follow. We must hold an even balance for just and honorable dealing with all men; and cultivate the Sabbath-keeping of the heart. In every life, also, there should be perpetual memory of Calvary, the Resurrection and Pentecost-the three feasts of the soul! [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 23

1  Of slander, false witness, and partiality
4  Of charitableness
6  Of justice in judgment
8  Of taking bribes
9  Of oppressing a stranger
10  Of the year of rest
12  Of the Sabbath
13  Of idolatry
14  Of the three feasts
18  Of the blood and the fat of the sacrifice
20  An angel is promised, with a blessing, if they obey him

What do the individual words in Exodus 23:12 mean?

Six days you shall do your work and on the day seventh you shall rest that may rest your ox and your donkey and may be refreshed the son of your maidservant and the stranger
שֵׁ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת לְמַ֣עַן יָנ֗וּחַ שֽׁוֹרְךָ֙ וַחֲמֹרֶ֔ךָ וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ בֶּן־ אֲמָתְךָ֖ וְהַגֵּֽר

שֵׁ֤שֶׁת  Six 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁשׁ  
Sense: six.
יָמִים֙  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה  you  shall  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ  your  work 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
וּבַיּ֥וֹם  and  on  the  day 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י  seventh 
Parse: Article, Number, ordinal masculine singular
Root: שְׁבִיעִי  
Sense: seventh.
תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת  you  shall  rest 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַת 
Sense: to cease, desist, rest.
לְמַ֣עַן  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
יָנ֗וּחַ  may  rest 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נוּחַ 
Sense: to rest.
שֽׁוֹרְךָ֙  your  ox 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֹׁור  
Sense: ox, bull, a head of cattle.
וַחֲמֹרֶ֔ךָ  and  your  donkey 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֲמֹור 
Sense: (he)ass.
וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ  and  may  be  refreshed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָפַשׁ  
Sense: (Niphal) to take breath, refresh oneself.
בֶּן־  the  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֲמָתְךָ֖  of  your  maidservant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמָה  
Sense: maid-servant, female slave, maid, handmaid, concubine.
וְהַגֵּֽר  and  the  stranger 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֵּר  
Sense: sojourner.