The timing of the Sabbath, from Friday evening at sundown to...

The timing of the Sabbath, from Friday evening at sundown to Saturday evening at sundown, is derived from several passages in the Bible that describe how days are counted and observed. This timing is confirmed by the phrase “evening to evening” and is central to how the Sabbath is observed.
Here are some key passages that establish this timing:
1. Genesis 1:5 and the Creation Account

The Bible describes the creation days with the formula “evening and morning,” signifying that a biblical day begins at evening. For example, Genesis 1:5 states:
“And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”
Each of the six creation days follows this pattern, indicating that in YHWH's reckoning, a day starts at evening, at sundown, and ends the next evening. This establishes the principle that a day in biblical terms runs from sundown to sundown.
2. Leviticus 23:32 – Observing the Day from Evening to Evening

In discussing the Day of Atonement (another holy day that required rest similar to the Sabbath), the Bible clearly specifies the timing as being from evening to evening:
“It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your Sabbath.”
This verse provides specific instruction on how to observe a Sabbath day “from evening to evening.” While it directly references the Day of Atonement, the principle applies to all Sabbaths, including the weekly Sabbath, reinforcing the biblical timing.
3. Nehemiah 13:19 – Closing the Gates at Sundown Before Sabbath

In Nehemiah 13:19, Nehemiah commands that the gates of Jerusalem be closed as the Sabbath approaches, specifically “when the shadows began to fall” (or “as it began to be dark”, indicating that the Sabbath began at sundown:
“As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath.”
This shows that the Sabbath observance began in the evening as the sun was setting on Friday.
4. Mark 1:32 – Sabbath Ending at Sundown

The New Testament also reinforces the concept of the Sabbath ending at sundown. In Mark 1:32, people waited until after sundown to bring their sick to Yeshua because they observed the Sabbath until sunset:
“That evening, at sundown, they brought to Him all who were sick or oppressed by demons.”
This shows that the Sabbath was observed until sundown on Saturday, and only afterward did people resume activities that would have been restricted during the Sabbath.
Summary

From these passages, it is clear that the Sabbath, according to biblical timing, begins on Friday evening at sundown and ends on Saturday evening at sundown. This pattern of “evening to evening” is consistent throughout Scripture, affirming the timing for the Sabbath.