Bible Dictionary
DAY BEFORE THE SABBATH
The day before the Sabbath was the day of preparation. People prepared food, completed necessary work, cleansed themselves, arranged their homes, and made ready for the Sabbath or a festival Sabbath.
Biblical Usage
The preparation day appears in the Gospel accounts before the Sabbath and before a feast Sabbath. It included work that could not be performed on the Sabbath but needed to be completed beforehand.