Is Passover a Sabbath in the Bible?

Is Passover a Sabbath in the Bible?

Yes, the Passover is one of the ceremonial sabbaths in the Bible.

When we read the Old Testament, it quickly becomes apparent that Israel’s calendar was marked out by several “Sabbaths”—times set apart for rest, worship, and remembrance.

However, not all Sabbaths are the same, and their significance has shifted in remarkable ways since the cross.

While the seventh-day Sabbath, instituted at creation and reiterated in the Ten Commandments, remains a perpetual and mandatory rest for God’s people, the festival Sabbaths—including those connected to Passover—pointed forward to Christ and found their fulfillment in Him.

Let’s explore the biblical foundation and discover what still remains for believers today.

Table of Contents

The Biblical Origins of Passover

Passover is first described in Exodus 12 as a memorial of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

It marked the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread—a seven-day festival immediately following Passover.

This period was central to Israel’s identity, commemorating the Lord’s mighty act of salvation.

The Concept of Sabbath in the Bible

The Bible describes multiple types of Sabbaths.

The weekly seventh-day Sabbath was set apart at creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and enshrined in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11) as a perpetual day of rest and worship.

Separately, there were annual Sabbaths tied to specific feasts in the Jewish calendar—these included special days of rest, or “holy convocations,” such as those linked with Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles, and others (see Leviticus 23).

However, the ceremonial sabbaths are not to be kept today anymore! They were nailed at the cross! (Colossians 2:14)

Passover and its Associated Sabbaths

During the week of Unleavened Bread (which begins with Passover), both the first and seventh days were to be observed as days of rest (Leviticus 23:7-8).

These are sometimes called “high Sabbaths” or “special Sabbaths,” distinct from the regular seventh-day Sabbath.

Passover itself, on the 14th day of the first month, was not always a Sabbath, but it was closely followed by these festival Sabbaths.

If Passover coincided with the weekly Sabbath, it made for an especially solemn day.

When is Passover a Sabbath?

In the Old Testament, the word “Sabbath” (shabbat) was used for both the weekly rest and certain special festival days.

But a careful reading shows a distinction: the seventh-day Sabbath was to be kept “throughout your generations, as a perpetual covenant” (Exodus 31:16), while the festival Sabbaths were ceremonial shadows, pointing forward to God’s greater plan (see Colossians 2:16-17).

Conclusion

While the ceremonial Sabbaths, including those associated with Passover, were of tremendous significance in Israel’s history, Scripture reveals that they were ultimately fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul teaches that these “were a shadow of things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:17).

When Jesus gave His life as our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), the need for these ceremonial shadows came to an end—they were “nailed to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).

However, the seventh-day Sabbath stands apart.

Instituted before sin entered the world, rooted in creation itself, and written by the very finger of God, the weekly Sabbath continues as a perpetual sign of God’s covenant (Exodus 31:17; Hebrews 4:9).

In summary:

The annual Sabbaths tied to Passover and other feasts pointed forward to Jesus and found their end at the cross.
The seventh-day Sabbath remains, reminding us of God’s creative powers, and our redemption in Christ.

My Letter To A Sunday Keeper – Sabbath Documentary