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

1 On 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.

2 And 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!”

4 Then 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.

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

6 So 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,

7 and 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?”

8 And 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.”

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

10 And 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.

11 Then 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 fifteenth בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה H2568 Preposition-b, Article | Number - masculine singular . . . עָשָׂ֥ר H6240 Number - masculine singular day יוֹם֙ H3117 Noun - masculine singular of the second הַשֵּׁנִ֔י H8145 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular month לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ H2320 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular after they had left לְצֵאתָ֖ם H3318 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural the land מֵאֶ֥רֶץ H776 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular the whole כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct congregation עֲדַ֤ת H5712 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . בְּנֵֽי־ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular set out וַיִּסְעוּ֙ H5265 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural from Elim מֵֽאֵילִ֔ם H362 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular and came וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Desert מִדְבַּר־ H4057 Noun - masculine singular construct of Sin סִ֔ין H5512 Noun - proper - feminine singular which אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative is between בֵּין־ H996 Preposition Elim אֵילִ֖ם H362 Noun - proper - feminine singular . . . וּבֵ֣ין H996 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and Sinai סִינָ֑י H5514 Noun - 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 desert בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ H4057 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular the whole כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct congregation עֲדַ֧ת H5712 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . בְּנֵי־ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular grumbled וַיִּלִּינוּ H3885 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural against עַל־ H5921 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֥ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . וְעַֽל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and Aaron אַהֲרֹ֖ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 3

Original words

If only מִֽי־ H4310 Interjection . . . יִתֵּ֨ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular we had died מוּתֵ֤נוּ H4191 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common plural by the LORD’s יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular hand בְיַד־ H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct in the land בְּאֶ֣רֶץ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרַ֔יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular [they said] בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural . . . אֲלֵהֶ֜ם H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural There we sat בְּשִׁבְתֵּ֙נוּ֙ H3427 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common plural by עַל־ H5921 Preposition pots סִ֣יר H5518 Noun - common singular construct of meat הַבָּשָׂ֔ר H1320 Article | Noun - masculine singular and ate בְּאָכְלֵ֥נוּ H398 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common plural our fill לָשֹׂ֑בַע H7648 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular of bread לֶ֖חֶם H3899 Noun - masculine singular but כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction you have brought הוֹצֵאתֶ֤ם H3318 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural us אֹתָ֙נוּ֙ H853 Direct object marker | first person common plural into אֶל־ H413 Preposition this הַזֶּ֔ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular desert הַמִּדְבָּ֣ר H4057 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker to starve בָּרָעָֽב׃ס H7458 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular this הַזֶּ֖ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular whole כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct assembly הַקָּהָ֥ל H6951 Article | Noun - masculine singular to death לְהָמִ֛ית H4191 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Verse 4

Original words

Then the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular Behold הִנְנִ֨י H2005 Interjection | first person common singular I will rain down מַמְטִ֥יר H4305 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular bread לֶ֖חֶם H3899 Noun - masculine singular from מִן־ H4480 Preposition heaven הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural for you לָכֶ֛ם Preposition | second person masculine plural Each day י֣וֹם H3117 Noun - masculine singular . . . בְּיוֹמ֔וֹ H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular the people הָעָ֤ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular are to go out וְיָצָ֨א H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular and gather וְלָֽקְטוּ֙ H3950 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural enough for that day דְּבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct In this way לְמַ֧עַן H4616 Conjunction I will test אֲנַסֶּ֛נּוּ H5254 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular whether אִם־ H518 Conjunction or not לֹֽא׃ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle they will follow הֲיֵלֵ֥ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular My instructions בְּתוֹרָתִ֖י H8451 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 5

Original words

Then וְהָיָה֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular on the sixth הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔י H8345 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular when they prepare וְהֵכִ֖ינוּ H3559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural - אֵ֣ת H853 Direct object marker what אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative they bring in יָבִ֑יאוּ H935 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural it will be וְהָיָ֣ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular twice מִשְׁנֶ֔ה H4932 Noun - masculine singular as עַ֥ל H5921 Preposition much אֲשֶֽׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative as they gather יִלְקְט֖וּ H3950 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural on the other days י֥וֹם׀ H3117 Noun - masculine singular . . . יֽוֹם׃ס H3117 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

So Moses מֹשֶׁה֙ H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Aaron וְאַהֲרֹ֔ן H175 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the Israelites בְּנֵ֖י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular This evening עֶ֕רֶב H6153 Noun - masculine singular you will know וִֽידַעְתֶּ֕ם H3045 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural that כִּ֧י H3588 Conjunction it was the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular who brought הוֹצִ֥יא H3318 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular you אֶתְכֶ֖ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural out of the land מֵאֶ֥רֶץ H776 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 7

Original words

and in the morning וּבֹ֗קֶר H1242 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular you will see וּרְאִיתֶם֙ H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the LORD’s יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular glory כְּב֣וֹד H3519 Noun - masculine singular construct because He has heard בְּשָׁמְע֥וֹ H8085 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker your grumbling תְּלֻנֹּתֵיכֶ֖ם H8519 Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural against עַל־ H5921 Preposition Him יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular For who מָ֔ה H4100 Interrogative [are] we וְנַ֣חְנוּ H5168 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common plural that כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction you should grumble תַלּוֹנוּ H3885 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural against us עָלֵֽינוּ׃ H5921 Preposition | first person common plural
Verse 8

Original words

And Moses מֹשֶׁ֗ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular added וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular The LORD יְהוָה֩ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular will give בְּתֵ֣ת H5414 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct you לָכֶ֨ם Preposition | second person masculine plural meat בָּשָׂ֣ר H1320 Noun - masculine singular to eat לֶאֱכֹ֗ל H398 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct this evening בָּעֶ֜רֶב H6153 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and bread וְלֶ֤חֶם H3899 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular to fill you לִשְׂבֹּ֔עַ H7646 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct in the morning בַּבֹּ֙קֶר֙ H1242 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular for He יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker has heard בִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ H8085 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct your grumbling תְּלֻנֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם H8519 Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative - אַתֶּ֥ם H859 Pronoun - second person masculine plural against Him עָלָ֑יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular Who מָ֔ה H4100 Interrogative are we וְנַ֣חְנוּ H5168 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common plural Your grumblings מַלִּינִ֖ם H8519 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural are not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle against us עָלֵ֥ינוּ H5921 Preposition | first person common plural . . . תְלֻנֹּתֵיכֶ֖ם H8519 Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural but כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction against עַל־ H5921 Preposition the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Then Moses מֹשֶׁה֙ H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular said to וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition Aaron אַהֲרֹ֔ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular Tell אֱמֹ֗ר H559 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular . . . אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition the whole כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct congregation עֲדַת֙ H5712 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular Come קִרְב֖וּ H7126 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction He has heard שָׁמַ֔ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֵ֖ת H853 Direct object marker your grumbling תְּלֻנֹּתֵיכֶֽם׃ H8519 Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 10

Original words

And as וַיְהִ֗י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Aaron אַהֲרֹן֙ H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular was speaking כְּדַבֵּ֤ר H1696 Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the whole כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct congregation עֲדַ֣ת H5712 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . בְּנֵֽי־ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular they looked וַיִּפְנ֖וּ H6437 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural toward אֶל־ H413 Preposition the desert הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר H4057 Article | Noun - masculine singular and there וְהִנֵּה֙ H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection in a cloud בֶּעָנָֽן׃פ H6051 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular the glory כְּב֣וֹד H3519 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular appeared נִרְאָ֖ה H7200 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Then the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר H1696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֥ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . לֵּאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 12

Original words

I have heard שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the grumbling תְּלוּנֹּת֮ H8519 Noun - feminine plural construct vvv בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of the Israelites יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular Tell them דַּבֵּ֨ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular . . . אֲלֵהֶ֜ם H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural . . . לֵאמֹ֗ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct At בֵּ֤ין H996 Preposition twilight הָֽעַרְבַּ֙יִם֙ H6153 Article | Noun - md you will eat תֹּאכְל֣וּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural meat בָשָׂ֔ר H1320 Noun - masculine singular and in the morning וּבַבֹּ֖קֶר H1242 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular you {will} be filled תִּשְׂבְּעוּ־ H7646 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural with bread לָ֑חֶם H3899 Noun - masculine singular Then you will know וִֽידַעְתֶּ֕ם H3045 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural that כִּ֛י H3588 Conjunction I אֲנִ֥י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular am the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ H430 Noun - 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.