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Based upon only the above cited passages, it is not immediately apparent that the cited 7th
Day (the Sabbath) might additionally have been based upon the lunar cycle. Certain other passages
of the Bible seem to more clearly indicate that the Sabbath might have been celebrated on each 7th
whole-day of the lunar cycle (rather than according to a cycle of 7 reoccurring days). Perhaps, the
most compelling evidence in substantiation of the 7th Day (or Sabbath) of the Bible as a lunar-
based cycle can be recited from certain biblical texts which show that both singular and plural
Sabbaths were once practiced. Essentially, certain biblical texts seem to confirm that the Jewish
Sabbath was once observed in association with a lunar-based system.
The early Jewish observance of Sabbath (in association with an older lunar-based system)
is perhaps most graphic from certain of the Septuagint texts. The Jewish observance of a lunar-
based Sabbath under the late Second-Temple is also rather graphic in some of the New Testament
references to the Sabbath cycle. The current analysis will therefore attempt to include each and all
of the New Testament references to the Sabbath-cycle.
It seems that the Greek Version of the New Testament uses six different words in associa-
tion to the Sabbath cycle: (1) Sabbasin; (2) Sabbatw; (3) Sabbaton; (4) Sabbatou; (5) Sabbatwn;
and: (6) Sabbata. Note that Greek and Hebrew words -- as frequently cited throughout this analy-
sis -- can be verified through the use of an exhaustive concordance (such as Strong's) or found in
Interlinear Greek and Interlinear Hebrew Bibles.
Easy to use, computerized, Bible text is now available to help bridge this -- seemingly dif-
ficult -- language barrier. Specifically, The Online Bible is currently available for PC DOS, for
Windows, and for Macintosh computers, and at a very modest cost. The Online Bible can even be
downloaded for no cost from the Internet. [There is a link to The Online Bible site on Hope of Is-
rael's website at http://hope-of-israel.org].
Based upon parsed New Testament text (put out by CCAT at the University of Pennsylva-
nia), the following singular and plural forms of the noun Sabbath (or Greek: Sabbaton) occur -- as
follows:
Plural Singular
__________ _________
1. Sabbasin Sabbatw
2. Sabbata Sabbaton
3. Sabbatwn Sabbatou
In deriving the early understood definition of the Sabbath cycle, it then seems significant
that throughout the New Testament, both a singular usage, and a plural usage (as well as different
forms) of the respective Greek noun "Sabbaton" can be found.
Specifically, the noun "Sabbaton" can be recited from the Greek New Testament in 70 total
instances -- as follows:
. A plural form "Sabbasin" is used 15 times.
. A plural form "Sabbata" is used 1 time.
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