What Day Is the Sabbath?
The week has a destination. Six days build toward something. The seventh day is not merely the end of a cycle but the crown of creation, blessed and set apart before any nation existed (Genesis 2:2-3). Scripture identifies this day as Saturday. The weekly cycle has never changed.
This answer may seem straightforward, yet it raises an obvious question: if the Bible identifies the seventh day as the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11), why do most Christians meet on Sunday, the first day of the week?
What Does the Bible Say?
Scripture consistently identifies the seventh day as the Sabbath from Genesis to Revelation.
"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."
Genesis 2:2-3The word "sabbath" comes from the Hebrew shabbat, meaning "to rest" or "to cease." God established this rest at Creation, before any nation existed. The Sabbath was made for all humanity:
"The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath."
Mark 2:27The Fourth Commandment explicitly identifies which day is the Sabbath:
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work... 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, and hallowed it."
Exodus 20:8-11How Do We Know It's Saturday?
Multiple independent witnesses confirm that the seventh day of the week is Saturday:
Scripture
Jesus rested in the tomb on the Sabbath and rose "the first day of the week" (Sunday).
Jewish Practice
Jews have kept the seventh-day Sabbath for over 3,000 years without losing track.
Calendar History
The Gregorian calendar reform (1582) changed dates but preserved the weekly cycle.
Languages
Over 100 languages call Saturday "Sabbath" or a variation of it.
The Gospel accounts confirm the sequence: Jesus died on Friday (preparation day), rested in the tomb on the Sabbath, and rose on "the first day of the week" (Luke 23:54-56; Luke 24:1). Christians celebrate Easter on Sunday because Jesus rose on the first day. This same sequence proves the Sabbath is Saturday.
The Language Witness
Over 100 languages around the world preserve the word "Sabbath" in their name for Saturday. This linguistic evidence spans cultures that had no contact with each other:
Languages Where Saturday Means "Sabbath"
These languages preserve ancient knowledge: Saturday is the Sabbath day. Explore the complete linguistic evidence in the Week Unchanged study.
When Does the Sabbath Begin?
According to biblical reckoning, days begin at sunset, not midnight. The Sabbath therefore begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday.
"From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath."
Leviticus 23:32Genesis establishes this pattern with "the evening and the morning" (Genesis 1:5). The Sabbath arrives as the sun sets on Friday, ushering in a day of rest that continues until sunset Saturday.
For practical guidance on keeping the Sabbath, see the Sabbath Basics study.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is the Sabbath according to the Bible?
The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, which corresponds to Saturday on the modern calendar. God blessed and sanctified this day at Creation (Genesis 2:2-3), and the Fourth Commandment identifies it as the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11).
Is the Sabbath on Saturday or Sunday?
The biblical Sabbath is Saturday. Sunday is the first day of the week. The sequence in the Gospels confirms this: Jesus died on Friday (preparation day), rested in the tomb on the Sabbath (Saturday), and rose on the first day of the week (Sunday).
Has the weekly cycle ever changed?
No. The Gregorian calendar reform of 1582 adjusted the date by dropping 10 days, but preserved the weekly sequence. Thursday October 4, 1582 was followed by Friday October 15, 1582. The days of the week remained in order. Saturday has always been the seventh day.
When does the Sabbath begin and end?
The Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday. Scripture says, "From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath" (Leviticus 23:32).
Go Deeper
Interactive Studies
- The Week Unchanged — Proof the weekly cycle has never changed
- Sabbath Basics — Practical guide to Sabbath-keeping
- Seal Calculator — The Creator's seal in the Fourth Commandment
Full Chapters
- Chapter 2: The Commandment They Changed
- Chapter 15: There Remaineth a Rest — Practical Sabbath-keeping