(Hebrew ‘rest’) Seventh day of the Jewish week, on which the people were to rest from work (kept from Friday evening to Saturday evening). Also used of the ChristianChristian Name originally given to disciples of Jesus by outsiders and gradually adopted by the Early Church to designate all members of the church. day of rest on SundaySunday Observed by Christians as a day of rest and worship. Traditionally regarded as the first day of the week, the day on which Christ's Resurrection is believed to have taken place. For this reason it replaced the Jewish Sabbath in Christian practice.