Exodus 20:9 Meaning and Explanation

The commandment assumes and authorizes work for six days. This is not a prohibition on labor but an allocation: work has its place and time. The phrase 'do all thy work' indicates that these six days are sufficient for necessary labor—there is an implicit promise that God's design provides enough time for productivity if people cease on the seventh.

The rhythm of six days work and one day rest reflects a created order. Humans are made for both productivity and rest, both effort and cessation. The six days of work establish the context that makes the Sabbath rest meaningful—the contrast between labor and rest gives each its proper value.