By Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz

Exodus 31:14 – the strictest of the passages on the Sabbath.

A¹ You are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. 

B^1a Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death. 

B^1b For whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 

C For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord. 

B² Whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death.  

A² So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, 

CONCLUSION: Celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

“Everyone who profanes the Sabbath”

Profane – חָלַל Origin of the word: to pierce, such as to wound.
Used to mean pollute, defile, profane.
Used in word play because חָלַל (from which we get hallelujah) also means to praise or glorify. Word play is not in this clearly shown in this verse but is implied. At least it was to me. Instead of glorifying God, a person is polluting or defiling the Holy One by not observing the Sabbath.

“Whoever does any work on the Sabbath shall be cut off”

Cut off is from the people and does not mean death but excommunication from family, neighbors, and clan. That was a disastrous penalty in ancient Israel.

“Shall surely be put to death”

I disagree with the translation “put to death”. The Hebrew is a common doublet for emphasis (יוּמָת). The verb can either mean to die or to kill. If it were to be killed in this verse, that would require a passive verb (niphal), but יוּמָת literally means “to die he will die”, not be killed. How will he die? That is in God’s hands. When will he die? That is also in God’s hands. It could mean a slow living death.

How to read the verse in our time 

Cut off means cut off from “our relationship with God” which applies to of God’s people. 

Consequence – Slow death. If you do not maintain a relationship with God, then you will experience a slow death. Any relationship takes time. If not, the relationship will eventually die.

Spend time with God and family.

About relationships – Remember the Sabbath.

4^th commandment – Honor the Sabbath.

If you do not honor the Sabbath your relationship with God will die. 

Remember – honor God by remembering the Sabbath.

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