Exodus 12:16

12:16 On the first day there will be a holy convocation, ¹  and on the seventh day there will be a holy convocation for you. You must do no work of any kind ²  on them, only what every person will eat – that alone may be prepared for you.

Exodus 31:14

31:14 So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it ³  must surely be put to death; indeed, ⁴  if anyone does ⁵  any ⁶  work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his ⁷  people.

Exodus 35:35

35:35 He has filled them with skill ⁸  to do all kinds of work ⁹  as craftsmen, as designers, as embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and in fine linen, and as weavers. They are ¹⁰  craftsmen in all the work ¹¹  and artistic designers. ¹² 

[12:16]  ¹ sn This refers to an assembly of the people at the sanctuary for religious purposes. The word “convocation” implies that the people were called together, and Num 10:2 indicates they were called together by trumpets.

[12:16]  ² tn Heb “all/every work will not be done.” The word refers primarily to the work of one’s occupation. B. Jacob (Exodus, 322) explains that since this comes prior to the fuller description of laws for Sabbaths and festivals, the passage simply restricts all work except for the preparation of food. Once the laws are added, this qualification is no longer needed. Gesenius translates this as “no manner of work shall be done” (GKC 478-79 §152.b).

[31:14]  ³ tn This clause is all from one word, a Piel plural participle with a third, feminine suffix: מְחַלְלֶיהָ (mÿkhalleha, “defilers of it”). This form serves as the subject of the sentence. The word חָלַל (khalal) is the antonym of קָדַשׁ (qadash, “to be holy”). It means “common, profane,” and in the Piel stem “make common, profane” or “defile.” Treating the Sabbath like an ordinary day would profane it, make it common.

[31:14]  ⁴ tn This is the asseverative use of כִּי (ki) meaning “surely, indeed,” for it restates the point just made (see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 73, §449).

[31:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “the one who does.”

[31:14]  ⁶ tn “any” has been supplied.

[31:14]  ⁷ tn Literally “her” (a feminine pronoun agreeing with “soul/life,” which is grammatically feminine).

[35:35]  ⁵ tn The expression “wisdom of heart,” or “wisdom in heart,” means artistic skill. The decisions and plans they make are skilled. The expression forms a second accusative after the verb of filling.

[35:35]  ⁶ tn The expression “all the work” means “all kinds of work.”

[35:35]  ⁷ tn Here “They are” has been supplied.

[35:35]  ⁸ tn Heb “doers of all work.”

[35:35]  ⁹ tn Heb “designers of designs.”