G4521 It was a Sabbath 9c68
Although this page discusses Mia {mee’-ah} (G3391), it only resolves the variants for Sabbaton {sab’-bat-on} (G4521).
Mia {mee’-ah} (G3391) Sabbaton {sab’-bat-on} (G4521).
Acts 20:7
7And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
This verse is often used to prove that the disciples in the First Century were meeting on Sunday as opposed to the Seventh Day Sabbath. It has become the definitive scripture for justifying the change from a Seventh Day Sabbath to a Sunday Sabbath for many Protestants. For many, this is all the proof they need. However, this introduces doctrine based on a single verse, while disregarding the numerous verses that support the Seventh Day Sabbath. In addition, it ignores the Law of First Mention. Catholics do not use this verse as their authority for the change, their authority is based on church doctrine.
In the King James Translation of Acts 20:7, day is in italics. That means, it was not in the original Greek. The Greek words for the phrase “first of the week” is mia {mee’-ah} (G3391) sabbaton {sab’-bat-on} (G4521).
Sabbaton {sab’-bat-on} (G4521) is in the Bible 68 times. It is translated sabbath 59 and week 9 times. Interestingly enough, sabbaton {sab’-bat-on} (G4521) is derived from the Hebrew word shabbath {shab-bawth’} (H7676). It is found in the Bible 108 times. It is translated sabbath 107 times and another one time. It is never translated week.
There is another Hebrew word shabbathown {shab-baw-thone’} (H7677). It is in the Bible 11 times. It is translated rest eight times and sabbath three times. It is used to refer to Hebrew Sabbaths that are unique to the Festivals. It is never translated week.
Shabbath {shab-bawth’} (H7676) is from another Hebrew word shabat {shaw-bat’} (H7673). Shabat {shaw-bat’} (H7673) is translated sabbath one time. Shabat {shaw-bat’} (H7673) is never translated week.
Another Hebrew word mishbath {mish-bawth’} (H4868) is in the Bible one time. It is translated Sabbath.
The Hebrew word for week is shabuwa` {shaw-boo’-ah} (H7620). It is in the Bible 20 times. 19 times it is translated week and one time seven. It is never translated sabbath. When shabuwa` {shaw-boo’-ah} (H7620) is translated seven it is referring to a week of days, Ezekiel 45:21. This would be proper use of the Hebrew word.
21 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.
This brings up an interesting point. Why is it that in the Hebrew, the words for Sabbath are never used for week and the word for week is never used for Sabbath. Yet in the Greek, the word that is derived from the Hebrew word Sabbath is translated week. Honestly, this does not seem to be an arbitrary translation.
Sabbaton {sab’-bat-on} (G4521) prior to the resurrection is always translated sabbath. It seems the translators were inserting doctrine into the translation. Acts 20:7 should have been translated:
7And upon the first (or certain) sabbath, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
The disciples met on a sabbath day.
The combination Mia {mee’-ah} (G3391) Sabbaton {sab’-bat-on} (G4521) is also found in Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, 16:9, Luke 24:1, John 20:1, 20:19 and 1 Corinthians 16:2. These verses are listed starting from the back of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 16:2.
2Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
John 20:19
19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Yeshua and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
John 20:1
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Luke 24:1
1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Mark 16:9
9Now when Yeshua was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Mark 16:2
2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
And finally, Matthew 28:1
1In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
According to the translators, every time the combination Mia {mee’-ah} (G3391) Sabbaton {sab’-bat-on} (G4521) is used either First Century believers are meeting on a Sunday or the resurrection occurs on a Sunday as opposed to the Sabbath. The question is why would this occur? Was this a deliberate mistranslation to misguide? Or possibly, they just did not know any better. More than likely, it was a predisposition after almost 1200 years that resulted in these translations. The truth is the First Century disciples observed the Seventh Day Sabbath.
I want to take a closer look at Matthew 28:1. Although translated:
1In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
It should have been translated:
1In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
The question is, how is this possible, one sabbath into another? This concept of sequential sabbaths has been misunderstood by non-Jewish Christians for years, Leviticus 23:5-7.
5In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is Yehovah’s passover. 6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto Yehovah: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
The 14th of Aviv is Passover. The 15th of Aviv starts the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The 15th of Aviv is known as a high day, John 19:31.
31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
The high day is not a Seventh Day Sabbath, yet it is considered a Sabbath. Matthew 28 is referring to sequential Sabbaths, two Sabbaths in a row. All the Gospels have the same pattern. Matthew is most evident. During the week of Yeshua’s death, burial and resurrection, the first Sabbath was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the second Sabbath was the seventh day Sabbath. The Gospels are consistent on this issue. As they are on all issues. As such, these should have been translated:
1 Corinthians 16:2
2Upon first (or certain) sabbath let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
John 20:19
19Then the same day at evening, being first (or certain) sabbath, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Yeshua and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
John 20:1
1 The first (or certain) sabbath cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Luke 24:1
1Now upon first (or certain) sabbath, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Mark 16:9
9Now when Yeshua was risen early first (or certain) sabbath, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Mark 16:2
2And very early in the morning first (or certain) sabbath, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
Matthew 28:1
1In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward first (or certain) sabbath, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
First Sabbath would be a proper translation, since the first of all Sabbaths is the seventh day Sabbath.
There is one final place that Sabbaton {sab’-bat-on} (G4521) is translated week, Luke 18:12.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luke 18:12 should be translated:
12 I fast twice in the sabbath, I give tithes of all that I possess.
It may seem odd to fast twice in a day; however, several things should be kept in mind concerning this verse. First of all, it is part of a parable and not a literal occurrence. Secondly, the Greek word for twice is dis (G1364). Dis (G1364) is in the Bible 6 times. It is translated twice 4 times and again 2 times. More than likely, it should have been translated again. This would render Luke 18:12 as:
12 I fast again in the sabbath, I give tithes of all that I possess.
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