Old Testament Verses

Creation & Foundations

• Genesis 2:2–3 – God rested on the seventh day, blessing and sanctifying it.

Sabbath Command in the Torah

• Exodus 16:23, 25–30 – First explicit Sabbath instruction with manna.

• Exodus 20:8–11 – Fourth Commandment: remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

• Exodus 23:12 – Rest for servants and animals.

• Exodus 31:13–17 – Sabbath as covenant sign between God and Israel.

• Exodus 34:21 – Rest even during plowing and harvest.

• Exodus 35:2–3 – Penalty for working on Sabbath; no fire kindled.

• Leviticus 19:3, 30 – Reverence for Sabbaths.

• Leviticus 23:3, 11, 15, 16, 32, 38 – Sabbath rest and holy convocations.

• Leviticus 24:8 – Showbread set in order every Sabbath.

• Leviticus 25:2–6, 8 – Sabbath year for land, Jubilee cycle.

• Leviticus 26:2, 34–35, 43 – Land’s Sabbaths during exile.

• Numbers 15:32–36 – Man stoned for gathering sticks on Sabbath.

• Numbers 28:9–10 – Additional Sabbath offerings.

• Deuteronomy 5:12–15 – Sabbath command tied to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.

Historical Books

• 2 Kings 4:23 – Shunammite woman’s husband notes visiting prophets on Sabbath.

• 2 Kings 11:5, 7, 9 – Guard duty rotations on the Sabbath.

• 2 Kings 16:18 – King Ahaz removed Sabbath canopy.

• 1 Chronicles 9:32 – Some Levites oversaw showbread on Sabbaths.

• 1 Chronicles 23:31 – Offerings on Sabbaths, new moons, feasts.

• 2 Chronicles 2:4 – Solomon mentions Sabbaths as worship times.

• 2 Chronicles 8:13 – Solomon’s regular offerings on Sabbaths.

• 2 Chronicles 23:4, 8, 31 – Sabbath guard arrangements.

• 2 Chronicles 31:3 – Hezekiah’s provision for Sabbath offerings.

• 2 Chronicles 36:21 – Exile fulfilled land’s missed Sabbaths.

Prophets

• Nehemiah 9:14 – God made known His holy Sabbath at Sinai.

• Nehemiah 10:31, 33 – Promises about Sabbath and offerings.

• Nehemiah 13:15–22 – Nehemiah reforms Sabbath observance.

• Isaiah 1:13 – God rejects empty Sabbath observances.

• Isaiah 56:2, 4, 6 – Blessing for Gentiles and eunuchs who keep Sabbath.

• Isaiah 58:13–14 – Call to delight in the Sabbath.

• Isaiah 66:23 – All flesh will worship God “from Sabbath to Sabbath.”

• Jeremiah 17:21–27 – Keep the Sabbath, no burdens through gates.

• Lamentations 1:7, 10, 15 – Enemies scoff at Sabbaths; they are profaned.

• Ezekiel 20:12–24 – Sabbaths as covenant sign, but Israel profaned them.

• Ezekiel 22:8, 26 – Priests profaned Sabbaths.

• Ezekiel 23:38 – Sabbath profaned with idolatry.

• Ezekiel 44:24 – Priests to hallow Sabbaths.

• Ezekiel 45:17 – Offerings on Sabbaths.

• Ezekiel 46:1–4, 12 – Gates open on Sabbaths, special offerings.

• Hosea 2:11 – God will end Israel’s Sabbaths.

• Amos 8:5 – Merchants impatient for Sabbath to end.

New Testament Verses

Gospels

• Matthew 12:1–12 – Jesus’ disciples pluck grain; Jesus heals on Sabbath.

• Matthew 24:20 – Jesus mentions fleeing not on Sabbath.

• Mark 1:21 – Jesus teaches in synagogue on Sabbath.

• Mark 2:23–28 – Disciples pluck grain; Jesus is “Lord of the Sabbath.”

• Mark 3:2–4 – Healing on Sabbath debated.

• Mark 6:2 – Jesus teaches on Sabbath.

• Mark 15:42 – Day of Preparation before Sabbath.

• Mark 16:1 – After Sabbath, women buy spices.

• Luke 4:16, 31 – Jesus’ custom to teach on Sabbath.

• Luke 6:1–9 – Grain plucking and healing.

• Luke 13:10–16 – Woman healed on Sabbath.

• Luke 14:1–5 – Healing a man with dropsy on Sabbath.

• Luke 23:54–56 – Jesus’ body laid in tomb; women rested on Sabbath.

• John 5:9–18 – Healing of lame man; controversy.

• John 7:22–23 – Circumcision on Sabbath allowed.

• John 9:14–16 – Healing blind man on Sabbath.

• John 19:31 – High Sabbath noted.

• John 20:1, 19 – First day of week after Sabbath (Resurrection).

Acts

• Acts 1:12 – Sabbath day’s journey.

• Acts 13:14, 27, 42, 44 – Paul preaches in synagogue on Sabbaths.

• Acts 15:21 – Moses read every Sabbath in synagogues.

• Acts 16:13 – Paul goes to prayer by river on Sabbath.

• Acts 17:2 – Paul reasons three Sabbaths.

• Acts 18:4 – Paul reasons every Sabbath.

Epistles

• Colossians 2:16–17 – Don’t let anyone judge regarding Sabbaths.

• Hebrews 4:4, 9 – Sabbath rest remains for God’s people.

That’s every Sabbath reference in the Bible — from Genesis to Revelation (though Revelation uses “Lord’s Day” instead of “Sabbath”).

One Last Thought

These verses don’t just refer to the 7^th day weekly Sabbath.

The weekly Sabbath itself is the first and foundational Feast of the Lord, and several of the other Feasts of the Lord are also referred to as "high Sabbaths" or annual Sabbaths because they are also days of complete rest with no work. 

These Sabbaths are: 

1. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (the 1st and 7th days)

2. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)

3. The Feast of Trumpets

4. The Day of Atonement

5. The Feast of Tabernacles (the 1st and 8th days)