Focused Passage

Exodus 16:1-12

Manna, Quail, and the Testing of Daily Dependence

Israel grumbles from hunger, the LORD promises bread from heaven as a test of obedience, quail and manna are given, the people learn daily gathering, Sabbath provision is established, and a jar of manna is preserved as testimony for future generations.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt, the whole congregation of Israel set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai.

2And there in the desert the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron.

3“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”

4Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.

5Then on the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

6So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt,

7and in the morning you will see the LORD’s glory, because He has heard your grumbling against Him. For who are we, that you should grumble against us?”

8And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.”

9Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole congregation of Israel, ‘Come before the LORD, for He has heard your grumbling.’”

10And as Aaron was speaking to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the desert, and there in a cloud the glory of the LORD appeared.

11Then the LORD said to Moses,

12“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

On the fifteenthבַּחֲמִשָּׁ֨הH2568Preposition-b, Article | Number - masculine singular. . .עָשָׂ֥רH6240Number - masculine singulardayיוֹם֙H3117Noun - masculine singularof the secondהַשֵּׁנִ֔יH8145Article | Number - ordinal masculine singularmonthלַחֹ֣דֶשׁH2320Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularafter they had leftלְצֵאתָ֖םH3318Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluralthe landמֵאֶ֥רֶץH776Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃H4714Noun - proper - feminine singularthe wholeכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcongregationעֲדַ֤תH5712Noun - feminine singular construct. . .בְּנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙H3478Noun - proper - masculine singularset outוַיִּסְעוּ֙H5265Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralfrom Elimמֵֽאֵילִ֔םH362Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singularand cameוַיָּבֹ֜אוּH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe Desertמִדְבַּר־H4057Noun - masculine singular constructof Sinסִ֔יןH5512Noun - proper - feminine singularwhichאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeis betweenבֵּין־H996PrepositionElimאֵילִ֖םH362Noun - proper - feminine singular. . .וּבֵ֣יןH996Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand Sinaiסִינָ֑יH5514Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • The geographical name Sin is related to Sinai and should not be mistaken for the English word sin.
Verse 2

Original words

[And there] in the desertבַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃H4057Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularthe wholeכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcongregationעֲדַ֧תH5712Noun - feminine singular construct. . .בְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singulargrumbledוַיִּלִּינוּH3885Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralagainstעַל־H5921PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֥הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וְעַֽל־H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand Aaronאַהֲרֹ֖ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 3

Original words

If onlyמִֽי־H4310Interjection. . .יִתֵּ֨ןH5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularwe had diedמוּתֵ֤נוּH4191Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common pluralby the LORD’sיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhandבְיַד־H3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructin the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץH776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםH4714Noun - proper - feminine singular[they said]בְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וַיֹּאמְר֨וּH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural. . .אֲלֵהֶ֜םH413Preposition | third person masculine pluralThere we satבְּשִׁבְתֵּ֙נוּ֙H3427Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common pluralbyעַל־H5921Prepositionpotsסִ֣ירH5518Noun - common singular constructof meatהַבָּשָׂ֔רH1320Article | Noun - masculine singularand ateבְּאָכְלֵ֥נוּH398Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common pluralour fillלָשֹׂ֑בַעH7648Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularof breadלֶ֖חֶםH3899Noun - masculine singularbutכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionyou have broughtהוֹצֵאתֶ֤םH3318Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine pluralusאֹתָ֙נוּ֙H853Direct object marker | first person common pluralintoאֶל־H413Prepositionthisהַזֶּ֔הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singulardesertהַמִּדְבָּ֣רH4057Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerto starveבָּרָעָֽב׃סH7458Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularthisהַזֶּ֖הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularwholeכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructassemblyהַקָּהָ֥לH6951Article | Noun - masculine singularto deathלְהָמִ֛יתH4191Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Verse 4

Original words

Then the LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularBeholdהִנְנִ֨יH2005Interjection | first person common singularI will rain downמַמְטִ֥ירH4305Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularbreadלֶ֖חֶםH3899Noun - masculine singularfromמִן־H4480Prepositionheavenהַשָּׁמָ֑יִםH8064Article | Noun - masculine pluralfor youלָכֶ֛םPreposition | second person masculine pluralEach dayי֣וֹםH3117Noun - masculine singular. . .בְּיוֹמ֔וֹH3117Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularthe peopleהָעָ֤םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularare to go outוְיָצָ֨אH3318Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularand gatherוְלָֽקְטוּ֙H3950Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralenough for that dayדְּבַר־H1697Noun - masculine singular constructIn this wayלְמַ֧עַןH4616ConjunctionI will testאֲנַסֶּ֛נּוּH5254Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularwhetherאִם־H518Conjunctionor notלֹֽא׃H3808Adverb - Negative particlethey will followהֲיֵלֵ֥ךְH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularMy instructionsבְּתוֹרָתִ֖יH8451Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 5

Original words

Thenוְהָיָה֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularon the sixthהַשִּׁשִּׁ֔יH8345Article | Number - ordinal masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularwhen they prepareוְהֵכִ֖ינוּH3559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural-אֵ֣תH853Direct object markerwhatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativethey bring inיָבִ֑יאוּH935Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralit will beוְהָיָ֣הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singulartwiceמִשְׁנֶ֔הH4932Noun - masculine singularasעַ֥לH5921Prepositionmuchאֲשֶֽׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeas they gatherיִלְקְט֖וּH3950Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralon the other daysי֥וֹם׀H3117Noun - masculine singular. . .יֽוֹם׃סH3117Noun - masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

So Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙H4872Noun - proper - masculine singularand Aaronוְאַהֲרֹ֔ןH175Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶֽל־H413Prepositionallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe Israelitesבְּנֵ֖יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularThis eveningעֶ֕רֶבH6153Noun - masculine singularyou will knowוִֽידַעְתֶּ֕םH3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralthatכִּ֧יH3588Conjunctionit was the LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwho broughtהוֹצִ֥יאH3318Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularyouאֶתְכֶ֖םH853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralout of the landמֵאֶ֥רֶץH776Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃H4714Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 7

Original words

and in the morningוּבֹ֗קֶרH1242Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularyou will seeוּרְאִיתֶם֙H7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe LORD’sיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singulargloryכְּב֣וֹדH3519Noun - masculine singular constructbecause He has heardבְּשָׁמְע֥וֹH8085Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour grumblingתְּלֻנֹּתֵיכֶ֖םH8519Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine pluralagainstעַל־H5921PrepositionHimיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularFor whoמָ֔הH4100Interrogative[are] weוְנַ֣חְנוּH5168Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common pluralthatכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionyou should grumbleתַלּוֹנוּH3885Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralagainst usעָלֵֽינוּ׃H5921Preposition | first person common plural
Verse 8

Original words

And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֗הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularaddedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularThe LORDיְהוָה֩H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwill giveבְּתֵ֣תH5414Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructyouלָכֶ֨םPreposition | second person masculine pluralmeatבָּשָׂ֣רH1320Noun - masculine singularto eatלֶאֱכֹ֗לH398Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructthis eveningבָּעֶ֜רֶבH6153Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularand breadוְלֶ֤חֶםH3899Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularto fill youלִשְׂבֹּ֔עַH7646Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructin the morningבַּבֹּ֙קֶר֙H1242Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularfor Heיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhas heardבִּשְׁמֹ֤עַH8085Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructyour grumblingתְּלֻנֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔םH8519Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relative-אַתֶּ֥םH859Pronoun - second person masculine pluralagainst Himעָלָ֑יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularWhoמָ֔הH4100Interrogativeare weוְנַ֣חְנוּH5168Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common pluralYour grumblingsמַלִּינִ֖םH8519Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine pluralare notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleagainst usעָלֵ֥ינוּH5921Preposition | first person common plural. . .תְלֻנֹּתֵיכֶ֖םH8519Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine pluralbutכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionagainstעַל־H5921Prepositionthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Then Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙H4872Noun - proper - masculine singularsaid toוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֶֽל־H413PrepositionAaronאַהֲרֹ֔ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularTellאֱמֹ֗רH559Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular. . .אֶֽל־H413Prepositionthe wholeכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcongregationעֲדַת֙H5712Noun - feminine singular construct. . .בְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularComeקִרְב֖וּH7126Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralbeforeלִפְנֵ֣יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularforכִּ֣יH3588ConjunctionHe has heardשָׁמַ֔עH8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֵ֖תH853Direct object markeryour grumblingתְּלֻנֹּתֵיכֶֽם׃H8519Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 10

Original words

And asוַיְהִ֗יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAaronאַהֲרֹן֙H175Noun - proper - masculine singularwas speakingכְּדַבֵּ֤רH1696Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructtoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe wholeכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcongregationעֲדַ֣תH5712Noun - feminine singular construct. . .בְּנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularthey lookedוַיִּפְנ֖וּH6437Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluraltowardאֶל־H413Prepositionthe desertהַמִּדְבָּ֑רH4057Article | Noun - masculine singularand thereוְהִנֵּה֙H2009Conjunctive waw | Interjectionin a cloudבֶּעָנָֽן׃פH6051Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularthe gloryכְּב֣וֹדH3519Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularappearedנִרְאָ֖הH7200Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Then the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיְדַבֵּ֥רH1696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֥הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .לֵּאמֹֽר׃H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 12

Original words

I have heardשָׁמַ֗עְתִּיH8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe grumblingתְּלוּנֹּת֮H8519Noun - feminine plural constructvvvבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructof the Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵל֒H3478Noun - proper - masculine singularTell themדַּבֵּ֨רH1696Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular. . .אֲלֵהֶ֜םH413Preposition | third person masculine plural. . .לֵאמֹ֗רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructAtבֵּ֤יןH996Prepositiontwilightהָֽעַרְבַּ֙יִם֙H6153Article | Noun - mdyou will eatתֹּאכְל֣וּH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralmeatבָשָׂ֔רH1320Noun - masculine singularand in the morningוּבַבֹּ֖קֶרH1242Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularyou {will} be filledתִּשְׂבְּעוּ־H7646Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralwith breadלָ֑חֶםH3899Noun - masculine singularThen you will knowוִֽידַעְתֶּ֕םH3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralthatכִּ֛יH3588ConjunctionIאֲנִ֥יH589Pronoun - first person common singularam the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃H430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Hebrew Between the two evenings

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.