Eating for the Sake of Shabbos

בפסוק אכלוהו היום כי שבת היום לה'.

“Regarding the verse: ‘Eat it today, for today is Shabbat to the Lord.’”

The Sefat Emet begins by focusing on the Torah’s command that the manna be eaten on the same day—because it is Shabbat and therefore sanctified for God.

וקשה בלא"ה היו אוכלין בו ביומו כדכ' אל יותר ממנו כו'.

“But it is difficult, for in any case they were required to eat it on that day, as it is written: ‘Let none of it remain until morning,’ etc.”

The question arises: why does the verse need to emphasize ‘Eat it today’ if the manna had to be eaten the same day regardless?

ויש לומר הרמז שאכילת שבת צריך להיות לשמו ית' לשם עונג שבת.

“One may say that the hint is that Shabbat eating must be for His sake, for the sake of the delight of Shabbat.”

The Sefat Emet answers that the verse hints at intention: Shabbat eating is not merely functional but meant to be sacred—directed toward God and the spiritual delight of Shabbat.

וז"ש אכלוהו היום.

“And this is what Scripture means by ‘Eat it today.’”

The command is interpreted as a directive to eat with a specific mindset—Shabbat-oriented consciousness.

מטעם כי שבת היום.

“For the reason: ‘Because today is Shabbat.’”

The rationale emphasizes that the sanctity of the day shapes and elevates the act of eating.

על כוונה זו תהי' האכילה כנ"ל.

“With this intention shall the eating be, as stated above.”

He concludes that one’s Shabbat eating must be consciously aligned with this purpose—elevating the physical act into spiritual delight for God’s sake.

Summary: The Sefat Emet explains that the command to eat the manna “today” on Shabbat is not redundant; it teaches that Shabbat eating must be performed with intention—directed toward God and the spiritual joy of Shabbat.