The fourth commandment uniquely begins with "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy," distinguishing it from the other commandments. God charges His people to remember the Sabbath, emphasizing that remembrance must lead to observing the day as holy. The Hebrew word zākar, meaning to remember, think of, or commemorate, blends mental activity with external action, implying that a proper understanding of the Sabbath compels reverence and observance. God's remembrance often ties to covenantal promises, as seen when He remembered Noah during the Flood and acted to ensure survival by sending a wind to dry the earth. Similarly, He remembers covenants with Abraham, Israel, and others, acting to fulfill His promises. In this light, "Remember the Sabbath day" in the fourth commandment reflects a covenantal duty. God reinforces this in Exodus 31:16, declaring the Sabbath a perpetual covenant within the larger covenant, a sign between Him and His people that they may know He is the Lord who sanctifies them. Keeping the Sabbath holy ensures sanctification, setting God's people apart and providing a day to meet with Him in holy convocation to grow in holiness and righteousness. Failing to observe His day risks losing understanding of godliness and slipping back into the world. As God's chosen, remembering and observing the Sabbath is a solemn responsibility under the covenant made with Him, vital to attaining the hope of the Kingdom of God.

One of Israel's greatest failings was their inability to remember God Himself, a point emphasized repeatedly in Ezekiel 20. God placed the children of Israel into slavery because they profaned His holy Sabbaths, forgot His statutes and laws, and particularly despised the fourth commandment, which begins with the imperative to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Despite having been instructed about the Sabbath, in their prosperity they forgot it and suffered greatly for their neglect. Modern Israel, too, often fails to recognize the importance of the Sabbath, with many unaware of its significance. God warns of a future time when He will plead His case with them face to face, purging the rebels and bringing them into the bond of the covenant, leading some to remember their ways and repent. Similarly, in His messages to the churches, Christ urges them to remember from where they have fallen, to repent, and to hold fast to what they have received and heard, lest they face severe consequences.