The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of rest. God designed the world with a built-in rhythm of work and rest, and Scripture encourages us to find renewal in regular seasons of repose. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages that speak to the value of rest:
Genesis 2:1-3 – God Rested on the Seventh Day
After six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day. This passage provides the basis for the commandment to observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy (Exodus 20:8-11). God’s own pattern of work and rest affirms the goodness of rest.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Genesis 2:1-3 ESV)
Exodus 16:22-30 – Rest on the Sabbath
When providing manna for the Israelites in the wilderness, God commanded them to gather only enough for six days, resting from work on the seventh day. This reinforced the creation pattern of working for six days and resting on the seventh.
On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.” (Exodus 16:22-26 ESV)
Exodus 23:10-12 – Rest for the Land
God called for the land to be given rest every seventh year, lying fallow rather than being planted and harvested. This enforced reliance on God rather than human effort. It also allowed the poor to take freely from unharvested fields.
For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard. Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed. (Exodus 23:10-12 ESV)
Leviticus 25:1-7 – Sabbath Rest for the Land
Along with a Sabbath day every week, God commanded a Sabbath year every seventh year. As with the weekly Sabbath, God promised abundance through resting the land and relying fully on Him once per year.
The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap what grows of itself in your harvest, or gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land. The Sabbath of the land shall provide food for you, for yourself and for your male and female slaves and for your hired worker and the sojourner who lives with you, and for your cattle and for the wild animals that are in your land: all its yield shall be for food. (Leviticus 25:1-7 ESV)
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 – Observe the Sabbath
As part of the Ten Commandments, God directed His people to set apart the seventh day for rest and worship. God specifically tied this command to the deliverance from slavery in Egypt, when rest was scarce.
Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:12-15 ESV)
Psalm 23:1-3 – Rest in Green Pastures
This beloved psalm describes how God refreshes our souls. Using the metaphor of a shepherd, the psalmist finds rest and renewal under the Lord’s care and provision.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. (Psalm 23:1-3 ESV)
Psalm 46:10 – Be Still and Know God
In a psalm praising God’s power and protection, there is also an exhortation to stop striving and rest in God’s presence. Being still is both an act of trust and a means of restoration.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 – Find Satisfaction in Work and Rest
The teacher of Ecclesiastes observes that rest and enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures are gifts from God. We should find contentment in our work and then grateful rest without anxiety.
Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 ESV)
Isaiah 30:15 – Rest and Wait for the Lord
God invites His people to repent and find rest in waiting patiently for Him. Rather than relying on human plans and effort, repentance allows us to experience God’s grace and renewal.
For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15 ESV)
Jeremiah 6:16 – Rest in the Ancient Paths
God directed His people to walk in the protected ways He had provided long ago. Instead of forging their own routes, they were to find rest by relying on God’s established paths.
Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ (Jeremiah 6:16 ESV)
Matthew 11:28-30 – Rest for the Weary
Jesus invites all who are weighed down to come to Him for rest. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. This passage affirms that we find true soul rest in relationship with Christ.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)
Mark 6:30-32 – Rest from Ministry
After the disciples returned from being sent out two-by-two, Jesus called them to get away and rest. Time apart would provide physical and spiritual renewal for further ministry.
The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. (Mark 6:30-32 ESV)
Hebrews 4:1-11 – A Sabbath Rest Remains
The author explains that though Joshua led Israel into Canaan, God’s true rest remains available. We enter God’s rest by trusting and obeying Him. The Sabbath foreshadows the spiritual rest found in Christ.
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it…So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:1, 9-11 ESV)
The message resounds throughout Scripture that rest provides physical, mental, and spiritual renewal. God structured seasons of rest into His good design for the world. We honor Him through times of repose that restore our souls and turn our focus back to the Giver of rest. These passages give glimpses into the refreshment available as we follow God’s pattern of faithful work and gracious rest.