Sabbath facts for kids
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A sabbath is a day reserved for rest or prayer, usually each week. The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word Shabbat (שַׁבָּת). This word is built from the Hebrew root Sh-B-T, meaning rest.
In the Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, the root Sh-B-T is used to describe God resting on the seventh day. This is the day after He finished creating the universe. In the Bible, the idea of Shabbat, or Sabbath, as a holy day of rest starts there.
Remembering and keeping Sabbath is also one of the Ten Commandments. From that, the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) all have a tradition of a holy day of rest or prayer set aside every week. ((Friday (Muslim), Saturday (Jewish), and Sunday (Christian)). These days are now very different from each other. The days of rest and prayer include:
- Shabbat, or Shabbath in Judaism. Jews observe the Sabbath on Saturday.
- Sabbath in Christianity. Christians observe Sabbath on Sunday rather than Saturday.
- Jumu'ah in Islam. This is a communal or Sabbath prayer that Muslims hold every Friday, just after noon.
Similar ideas
In addition:
- Different rituals of people called witches have been called Witches' Sabbath.
- A sabbatical is a paid break or rest from work.
