"pr. cessation from labor, rest; the Jewish sabbath, both in the sg. and pl., Mt. 12:2, 5, 8; 28:1; Lk. 4:16; a week, sg. and pl., Mt. 28:1; Mk. 16:9; pl. sabbaths, or times of sacred rest, Col. 2:16"
Definition and meaning
pr. cessation from labor, rest; the Jewish sabbath, both in the sg. and pl., Mt. 12:2, 5, 8; 28:1; Lk. 4:16; a week, sg. and pl., Mt. 28:1; Mk. 16:9; pl. sabbaths, or times of sacred rest, Col. 2:16
In the original Greek the word is written: σάββατον
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of sabbaton (G4521) across the King James Bible.
At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
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Common questions
Strong's G4521 (sabbaton) is a Greek word that means: pr. cessation from labor, rest; the Jewish sabbath, both in the sg. and pl., Mt. 12:2, 5, 8; 28:1; Lk. 4:16; a week, sg. and pl., Mt. 28:1; Mk. 16:9; pl. sabbaths, or times of sacred rest, Col. 2:16 It appears 62 times in the King James Bible.
The word sabbaton (G4521) appears 62 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4521 is sabbaton, a Greek word defined as: pr. cessation from labor, rest; the Jewish sabbath, both in the sg. and pl., Mt. 12:2, 5, 8; 28:1; Lk. 4:16; a week, sg. and pl., Mt. 28:1; Mk. 16:9; . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
sabbaton is a Greek word found in the New Testament.