שֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִים֮ תֵּעָשֶׂ֣ה מְלָאכָה֒ וּבַיֹּ֣ום הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֥ם קֹ֛דֶשׁ שַׁבַּ֥ת שַׁבָּתֹ֖ון לַיהוָ֑ה כָּל־הָעֹשֶׂ֥ה בֹ֛ו מְלָאכָ֖ה יוּמָֽת׃
Introduction to Exodus 35:2
Exodus 35:2 provides a command regarding the observance of the Sabbath, emphasizing the six days of work and the seventh day as a holy day of rest. A significant grammatical feature in this verse is the Niphal imperfect verb תֵּעָשֶׂ֣ה (tēʿāśeh), which affects the understanding of who is performing the action of work.
Understanding the Niphal Imperfect in תֵּעָשֶׂ֣ה
1. What is the Niphal Stem?
– The Niphal stem is one of the seven binyanim (verbal stems) in Biblical Hebrew.
– It typically conveys passive or reflexive action.
– In contrast to the Qal, which expresses an active verb, the Niphal often indicates that the action happens to the subject rather than the subject performing it.
2. תֵּעָשֶׂ֣ה (Tēʿāśeh) – “Shall be done”
– This verb comes from the root ע־שׂ־ה (ʿ-ś-h), meaning “to do” or “to make.”
– In the Niphal imperfect, it is passive, meaning “shall be done” rather than “you shall do.”
– This suggests that the work will be accomplished, but without specifying who does it.
The Function of the Niphal Imperfect in This Verse
1. Passivity and Divine Oversight
– The use of the Niphal in תֵּעָשֶׂ֣ה מְלָאכָה (“work shall be done”) shifts the focus from human effort to the inevitability of work being completed.
– Instead of a direct command “You shall do work,” the passive structure implies that work will naturally be done over six days.
2. Contrast with Active Commands
– Other commands in Hebrew often use the Qal imperative or imperfect, which explicitly orders people to perform an action.
– Here, the passive form suggests that work is not commanded, but rather assumed to take place before the Sabbath.
The Theological and Linguistic Significance
1. Emphasis on the Sabbath’s Uniqueness
– The passive verb תֵּעָשֶׂ֣ה contrasts with יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֥ם קֹ֛דֶשׁ (“shall be holy to you”), emphasizing that while work happens, holiness is an explicit state that must be observed.
2. Implication of a Broader Work Process
– The use of a passive verb might suggest that work is not always an individual effort—it occurs through a communal or even societal process.
– This aligns with other biblical concepts that provision and labor happen under divine guidance.
The Role of the Niphal Imperfect in Exodus 35:2
The verb תֵּעָשֶׂ֣ה in Exodus 35:2 is a Niphal imperfect, meaning that work is described as passively occurring rather than being commanded.
– The Niphal form emphasizes that work happens naturally over six days, rather than being an explicit order to work.
– The contrast with active verbs highlights the Sabbath as a divinely mandated rest period rather than a human-initiated cessation.
– This subtle grammatical feature reinforces the holiness of the Sabbath by showing that while work may be done, it is the rest itself that is truly commanded.
