Focused Passage

Exodus 16:22-36

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

22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much food—two omers per person—and all the leaders of the congregation came and reported this to Moses.

23 He told them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Then set aside whatever remains and keep it until morning.’”

24 So they set it aside until morning as Moses had commanded, and it did not smell or contain any maggots.

25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. Today you will not find anything in the field.

26 For six days you may gather, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, it will not be there.”

27 Yet on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they did not find anything.

28 Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and instructions?

29 Understand that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day He will give you bread for two days. On the seventh day, everyone must stay where he is; no one may leave his place.”

30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.

32 Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Keep an omer of manna for the generations to come, so that they may see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”

33 So Moses told Aaron, “Take a jar and fill it with an omer of manna. Then place it before the LORD to be preserved for the generations to come.”

34 And Aaron placed it in front of the Testimony, to be preserved just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

35 The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land where they could settle; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

36 (Now an omer is a tenth of an ephah.)

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 22

Original words

- וַיְהִ֣י׀ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular On the sixth הַשִּׁשִּׁ֗י H8345 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular they gathered לָֽקְט֥וּ H3950 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural twice מִשְׁנֶ֔ה H4932 Noun - masculine singular as much food לֶ֙חֶם֙ H3899 Noun - masculine singular construct two שְׁנֵ֥י H8147 Number - masculine dual construct omers הָעֹ֖מֶר H6016 Article | Noun - masculine singular per person לָאֶחָ֑ד H259 Preposition-l, Article | Number - masculine singular and all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the leaders נְשִׂיאֵ֣י H5387 Noun - masculine plural construct of the congregation הָֽעֵדָ֔ה H5712 Article | Noun - feminine singular came וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural and reported וַיַּגִּ֖ידוּ H5046 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural this to Moses לְמֹשֶֽׁה׃ H4872 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • 2 omers is approximately 4 dry quarts or 4.4 liters per person.
Verse 23

Original words

He told them וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֲלֵהֶ֗ם H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural This ה֚וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is what אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular has said דִּבֶּ֣ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Tomorrow מָחָ֑ר H4279 Adverb [is to be] a day of complete rest שַׁבָּת֧וֹן H7677 Noun - masculine singular a holy קֹ֛דֶשׁ H6944 Noun - masculine singular Sabbath שַׁבַּת־ H7676 Noun - common singular construct to the LORD לַֽיהוָ֖ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular So אֵ֣ת H853 Direct object marker bake תֹּאפ֞וּ H644 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural what אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative you want to bake אֵפ֗וּ H644 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural and וְאֵ֤ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker boil תְּבַשְּׁלוּ֙ H1310 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural what אֲשֶֽׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative you want to boil בַּשֵּׁ֔לוּ H1310 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural Then set aside הַנִּ֧יחוּ H5117 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural - וְאֵת֙ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker whatever כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct remains הָ֣עֹדֵ֔ף H5736 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular and keep it לְמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת H4931 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular until עַד־ H5704 Preposition morning הַבֹּֽקֶר׃ H1242 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

So they set it aside וַיַּנִּ֤יחוּ H5117 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֹתוֹ֙ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular until עַד־ H5704 Preposition morning הַבֹּ֔קֶר H1242 Article | Noun - masculine singular as כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative Moses מֹשֶׁ֑ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular had commanded צִוָּ֣ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular and it did not וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle smell הִבְאִ֔ישׁ H887 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular [or] לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle contain הָ֥יְתָה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular . . . בּֽוֹ׃ Preposition | third person masculine singular any maggots וְרִמָּ֖ה H7415 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 25

Original words

Eat it today אִכְלֻ֣הוּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | third person masculine singular . . . הַיּ֔וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular Moses מֹשֶׁה֙ H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular because כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction today הַיּ֖וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular is a Sabbath שַׁבָּ֥ת H7676 Noun - common singular to the LORD לַיהוָ֑ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Today הַיּ֕וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular you will not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle find anything תִמְצָאֻ֖הוּ H4672 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine singular in the field בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ H7704 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 26

Original words

For six שֵׁ֥שֶׁת H8337 Number - masculine singular construct days יָמִ֖ים H3117 Noun - masculine plural you may gather תִּלְקְטֻ֑הוּ H3950 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine singular but on the seventh הַשְּׁבִיעִ֛י H7637 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day וּבַיּ֧וֹם H3117 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular the Sabbath שַׁבָּ֖ת H7676 Noun - common singular it will not be [there] יִֽהְיֶה־ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . בּֽוֹ׃ Preposition | third person masculine singular . . . לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle
Verse 27

Original words

Yet וַֽיְהִי֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular on the seventh הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י H7637 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular some of מִן־ H4480 Preposition the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular went out יָצְא֥וּ H3318 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to gather לִלְקֹ֑ט H3950 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct but they did not וְלֹ֖א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle find anything מָצָֽאוּ׃ס H4672 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 28

Original words

Then the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֥אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֑ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular How long עַד־ H5704 Preposition . . . אָ֙נָה֙ H575 Adverb will you refuse מֵֽאַנְתֶּ֔ם H3985 Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine plural to keep לִשְׁמֹ֥ר H8104 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct My commandments מִצְוֺתַ֖י H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular and instructions וְתוֹרֹתָֽי׃ H8451 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Verse 29

Original words

Understand רְא֗וּ H7200 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural that כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָה֮ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular has given נָתַ֣ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular you לָכֶ֣ם Preposition | second person masculine plural the Sabbath הַשַּׁבָּת֒ H7676 Article | Noun - common singular that is why עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . כֵּ֠ן H3651 Adverb on the sixth הַשִּׁשִּׁ֖י H8345 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day בַּיּ֥וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular He ה֣וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular will give נֹתֵ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular you לָכֶ֛ם Preposition | second person masculine plural bread לֶ֣חֶם H3899 Noun - masculine singular construct for two days יוֹמָ֑יִם H3117 Noun - md On the seventh הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃ H7637 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day בַּיּ֥וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular everyone אִ֣ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular must stay שְׁב֣וּ׀ H3427 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural where he is תַּחְתָּ֗יו H8478 Preposition | third person masculine singular no אַל־ H408 Adverb one אִ֛ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular may leave יֵ֥צֵא H3318 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular his place מִמְּקֹמ֖וֹ H4725 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

So the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular rested וַיִּשְׁבְּת֥וּ H7673 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural on the seventh הַשְּׁבִעִֽי׃ H7637 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day בַּיּ֥וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 31

Original words

Now the house בֵֽית־ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker called [the bread] וַיִּקְרְא֧וּ H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural . . . שְׁמ֖וֹ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular manna מָ֑ן H4478 Noun - masculine singular It וְה֗וּא H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular was white לָבָ֔ן H3836 Adjective - masculine singular like coriander גַּד֙ H1407 Noun - masculine singular seed כְּזֶ֤רַע H2233 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct and tasted וְטַעְמ֖וֹ H2940 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular like wafers כְּצַפִּיחִ֥ת H6838 Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular made with honey בִּדְבָֽשׁ׃ H1706 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Manna sounds like the Hebrew for What is it? (see verse 15).
Verse 32

Original words

Moses מֹשֶׁ֗ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular This זֶ֤ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular . . . הַדָּבָר֙ H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular is what אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . מְלֹ֤א H4393 Noun - masculine singular construct has commanded צִוָּ֣ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Keep לְמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת H4931 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular an omer הָעֹ֙מֶר֙ H6016 Article | Noun - masculine singular of [manna] מִמֶּ֔נּוּ H4480 Preposition | third person masculine singular for the generations to come לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶ֑ם H1755 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural so that לְמַ֣עַן׀ H4616 Conjunction they may see יִרְא֣וּ H7200 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the bread הַלֶּ֗חֶם H3899 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative I fed הֶאֱכַ֤לְתִּי H398 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular - אֶתְכֶם֙ H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural you in the wilderness בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר H4057 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular when I brought you בְּהוֹצִיאִ֥י H3318 Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common singular - 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 33

Original words

So Moses מֹשֶׁ֜ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition told וַיֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Aaron אַהֲרֹ֗ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular Take קַ֚ח H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular a אַחַ֔ת H259 Number - feminine singular jar צִנְצֶ֣נֶת H6803 Noun - feminine singular construct and fill it וְתֶן־ H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular . . . שָׁ֥מָּה H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular . . . מְלֹֽא־ H4393 Noun - masculine singular construct with an omer הָעֹ֖מֶר H6016 Article | Noun - masculine singular of manna מָ֑ן H4478 Noun - masculine singular Then place וְהַנַּ֤ח H5117 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular it אֹתוֹ֙ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular to be preserved לְמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת H4931 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular for the generations to come לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ H1755 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 34

Original words

And Aaron אַהֲרֹ֛ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular placed it וַיַּנִּיחֵ֧הוּ H5117 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular in front of לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the Testimony הָעֵדֻ֖ת H5715 Article | Noun - feminine singular to be preserved לְמִשְׁמָֽרֶת׃ H4931 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition had commanded צִוָּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Moses מֹשֶׁ֑ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • The Testimony refers to the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments.
Verse 35

Original words

The Israelites וּבְנֵ֣י H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular ate אָֽכְל֤וּ H398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker manna הַמָּן֙ H4478 Article | Noun - masculine singular forty אַרְבָּעִ֣ים H705 Number - common plural years שָׁנָ֔ה H8141 Noun - feminine singular until עַד־ H5704 Preposition they came בֹּאָ֖ם H935 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker a land אֶ֣רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular where they could settle נוֹשָׁ֑בֶת H3427 Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular they ate אָֽכְל֔וּ H398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural manna הַמָּן֙ H4478 Article | Noun - masculine singular until עַד־ H5704 Preposition they reached בֹּאָ֕ם H935 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition the border קְצֵ֖ה H7097 Noun - masculine singular construct vvv אֶ֥רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct of Canaan כְּנָֽעַן׃ H3667 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 36

Original words

(Now an omer וְהָעֹ֕מֶר H6016 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular is a tenth עֲשִׂרִ֥ית H6224 Number - ordinal feminine singular construct of an ephah הָאֵיפָ֖ה H374 Article | Noun - feminine singular . . . הֽוּא׃פ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • An ephah was a dry measure having the capacity of about 20 dry quarts or 22 liters.

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.