44:24 “‘In a controversy they will act as judges; 9 they will judge according to my ordinances. They will keep my laws and my statutes regarding all my appointed festivals and will observe 10 my Sabbaths.
1 tn The expression again forms an adverbial accusative of time.
2 sn The word “rest” essentially means “to cease, stop.” So describing God as “resting” on the seventh day does not indicate that he was tired – he simply finished creation and then ceased or stopped. But in this verse is a very bold anthropomorphism in the form of the verb וַיִּנָּפַשׁ (vayyinnafash), a Niphal preterite from the root נָפַשׁ (nafash), the word that is related to “life, soul” or more specifically “breath, throat.” The verb is usually translated here as “he was refreshed,” offering a very human picture. It could also be rendered “he took breath” (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 345). Elsewhere the verb is used of people and animals. The anthropomorphism is clearly intended to teach people to stop and refresh themselves physically, spiritually, and emotionally on this day of rest.
3 tn Heb “by the hand of.”
4 sn Ezekiel’s contemporary, Jeremiah, also stressed the importance of obedience to the Sabbath law (Jer 17).
5 tn Heb “to become a sign between me and them.”
6 tn Or “set them apart.” The last phrase of verse 12 appears to be a citation of Exod 31:13.
7 tn Or “set apart my Sabbaths.”
8 tn Heb “and they will become a sign between me and you.”
9 sn For a historical illustration of the priest carrying out this function, see 2 Chr 19:9-11.
10 tn Heb “sanctify, set apart.”