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The evidence from this study indicates that the weekly Sabbath is described with different language than the festival sabbaths. The weekly Sabbath seems to be of a very different character than the festival sabbaths.
We can see how the Bible describes various days by searching in the Hebrew bible for the word yom (יום – H3117), which means day, in combination with one of the following words that mean hallow, holiness or holy.
- qadash (קדשׁ – H6942) – verb – be set apart, consecrated
- qodesh (קדשׁ – H6944) – noun – apartness, sacredness
- qadosh (קדושׁ – H6918) – adjective – sacred, holy
You can examine the details of the study yourself using the following links to the Blue Letter Bible.
- Blue Letter Bible search: yom + qadash (day + verb H6942)
- Blue Letter Bible search: yom + qodesh (day + noun H6944)
- Blue Letter Bible search: yom + qadosh (day + adjective H6918)
Here are the results of the three searches. In each search result, all the matching verse references are listed, but in verses where a day is described as hallowed or as holy the entire verse is listed.
Verses About Hallowing a Day (Day + Verb)
Only the weekly Sabbath is sanctified or hallowed. The verb qadash (to hallow or consecrate) is never applied to any other day.
Gen 2:3; Exod 19:10; 20:8, 11; 29:36–37; Num 3:13; 6:11; 7:1; 8:17; Deut 5:12; 1 Sam 21:5; 1 Kgs 8:64; 9:3; 2 Chr 7:16; 29:17; Neh 12:47; 13:22; Job 1:5; Isa 65:5; Jer 6:4; 12:3; 17:22, 24, 27; Ezek 38:16; Zeph 1:7
Genesis 2:3 KJV – And God blessed the seventh day (יום – yom – H3117), and sanctified (ויקדשׁ – vayeqadesh – H6942) it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Exodus 20:8 KJV – Remember the sabbath day (יום – yom – H3117), to keep it holy (לקדשׁו – l'qadsho – H6942).
Exodus 20:11 KJV – For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day (יום – yom – H3117), and hallowed it (ויקדשׁהו – vayeqadshehu – H6942).
Deuteronomy 5:12 KJV – Keep the sabbath day (יום – yom – H3117) to sanctify (לקדשׁ – l'qadsho – H6942) it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.
Nehemiah 13:22 KJV – And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify (לקדשׁ – l'qadesh – H6942) the sabbath day (יום – yom – H3117). Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
Jeremiah 17:22 KJV – Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day (יום – yom – H3117), neither do ye any work, but hallow ye (וקדשׁתם – v'qidashtem – H6942) the sabbath day (יום – yom – H3117), as I commanded your fathers.
Jeremiah 17:24 KJV – And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day (יום – yom – H3117), but hallow (ולקדשׁ – ulqadesh – H6942) the sabbath day (יום – yom – H3117), to do no work therein;
Jeremiah 17:27 KJV – But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow (לקדשׁ – l'qadesh – H6942) the sabbath day (יום – yom – H3117), and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day (יום – yom – H3117); then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Verses About the Holiness of a Day (Day + Noun)
Only the noun qodesh— holy— is never used do describe a specific day other than the weekly Sabbath. There is one text, Nehemiah 10:31, were the term holy day (yom qodesh) is used in a manner where the identity of the day is not clearly specified— although it is mentioned together with the Sabbath.
Exod 12:16; 29:30, 37; 31:15; 35:2; Lev 12:4; 23:3, 7–8, 21, 27, 35–37; 27:23; Num 28:18, 25–26; 29:1, 12; 1 Sam 21:5–6; 1 Kgs 8:8; Neh 10:31; Ps 93:5; 110:3; Isa 27:13; 58:13; 63:11; Ezek 44:27; Joel 2:1; Amos 4:2; Zeph 3:11; Zech 14:20–21
Exodus 31:15 KJV – Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy (קדשׁ – qodesh – H6944) to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day (יום – yom – H3117), he shall surely be put to death.Verses About A Holy Day (Day + Adjective)
Exodus 35:2 KJV – Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day (יום – yom – H3117) there shall be to you an holy (קדשׁ – qodesh – H6944) day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
Nehemiah 10:31 KJV – And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy (קדשׁ – qodesh – H6944) day (יום – yom – H3117): and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
Isaiah 58:13 KJV – If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day (ביום קדשׁי – b'yom qadshi – H3117 H6944); and call the sabbath a delight, the holy (לקדושׁ – liqdosh – H6918) of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
The adjective qadosh (holy) is only used to describe a day in Nehemiah 8. The day happens to be the first day of the seventh month— Rosh Hashanah— but the context (Nehemiah 8:14-15) makes it clear that the people were unfamiliar with the "book of the law" since they only learned about the Feast of Booths on the second day of their reading. The text does not tell us on which day of the week any of these events occurred.
Num 6:5, 8; Neh 8:9–11; Isa 10:17, 20; 17:7; 58:13; Zech 14:5
Nehemiah 8:1 KJV – And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.... 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 9 KJV – And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day (יום – yom – H3117) is holy (קדשׁ – qadosh – H6918) unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 KJV – Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day (יום – yom – H3117) is holy (קדושׁ – qadosh – H6918) unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 11 KJV – So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day (יום – yom – H3117) is holy (קדשׁ – qadosh – H6918); neither be ye grieved.
The Feasts — a Holy Convocation
Following are all the texts that contain the word yom (day) together with qodesh (holy), but where it is a holy convocation (miqra qodesh) that is described rather than a holy day. The weekly Sabbath is also described as a holy convocation in Leviticus 23:3 where it is listed along with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Booths. There is also a difference in how the work is limited on these days; Leviticus 23:3 says that "ye shall do no work therein" on the weekly Sabbath, but for the other days mentioned in Leviticus 23, it says that "ye shall do no servile work therein."
Exodus 12:16 KJV – [Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread] And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944), and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944) to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
Leviticus 23:3 KJV – [Weekly Sabbath] Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944); ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
Leviticus 23:7 KJV – [Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread] In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944): ye shall do no servile work therein.
Leviticus 23:8 KJV – [Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread] But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944): ye shall do no servile work therein.
Leviticus 23:21 KJV – [Feast of Weeks] And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944) unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
Leviticus 23:27 KJV – [Day of Atonement] Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944) unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Leviticus 23:35 KJV – [Feast of Booths] On the first day shall be an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944): ye shall do no servile work therein. 36 KJV – Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944) unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
Levitcus 23:37 KJV – These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations (מקראי קדשׁ – miqrae qodesh – H4744 H6944), to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
Numbers 28:18 KJV – [Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread] In the first day shall be an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944); ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:
Numbers 28:25 KJV – [Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread] And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944); ye shall do no servile work.
Numbers 28:26 KJV – Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944); ye shall do no servile work:
Numbers 29:1 KJV – [Feast of Trumpets] And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944); ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.
Numbers 29:12 KJV – [Feast of Booths] And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation (מקרא־קדשׁ – miqra qodesh – H4744 H6944); ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:
Conclusion
The weekly Sabbath is described in Leviticus 23 as a holy convocation along with The Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Booths. But in other texts, the Sabbath is hallowed or sanctified or the people are commanded to "keep" it holy. The feast days are never described in this way.
The language of the Bible suggests that the weekly Sabbath is of a different character than the feast days. There are also other differences, which I will write about in a future post.
