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

22On 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.

23He 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.’”

24So 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.

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

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

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

29Understand 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.”

30So the people rested on the seventh day.

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

32Moses 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.’”

33So 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.”

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

35The 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׀H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularOn the sixthהַשִּׁשִּׁ֗יH8345Article | Number - ordinal masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularthey gatheredלָֽקְט֥וּH3950Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluraltwiceמִשְׁנֶ֔הH4932Noun - masculine singularas much foodלֶ֙חֶם֙H3899Noun - masculine singular constructtwoשְׁנֵ֥יH8147Number - masculine dual constructomersהָעֹ֖מֶרH6016Article | Noun - masculine singularper personלָאֶחָ֑דH259Preposition-l, Article | Number - masculine singularand allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe leadersנְשִׂיאֵ֣יH5387Noun - masculine plural constructof the congregationהָֽעֵדָ֔הH5712Article | Noun - feminine singularcameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙H935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluraland reportedוַיַּגִּ֖ידוּH5046Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthis to Mosesלְמֹשֶֽׁה׃H4872Preposition-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 themוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֲלֵהֶ֗םH413Preposition | third person masculine pluralThisה֚וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularis whatאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas saidדִּבֶּ֣רH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularTomorrowמָחָ֑רH4279Adverb[is to be] a day of complete restשַׁבָּת֧וֹןH7677Noun - masculine singulara holyקֹ֛דֶשׁH6944Noun - masculine singularSabbathשַׁבַּת־H7676Noun - common singular constructto the LORDלַֽיהוָ֖הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularSoאֵ֣תH853Direct object markerbakeתֹּאפ֞וּH644Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralwhatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeyou want to bakeאֵפ֗וּH644Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralandוְאֵ֤תH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerboilתְּבַשְּׁלוּ֙H1310Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralwhatאֲשֶֽׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeyou want to boilבַּשֵּׁ֔לוּH1310Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine pluralThen set asideהַנִּ֧יחוּH5117Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural-וְאֵת֙H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerwhateverכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructremainsהָ֣עֹדֵ֔ףH5736Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularand keep itלְמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶתH4931Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularuntilעַד־H5704Prepositionmorningהַבֹּֽקֶר׃H1242Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

So they set it asideוַיַּנִּ֤יחוּH5117Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֹתוֹ֙H853Direct object marker | third person masculine singularuntilעַד־H5704Prepositionmorningהַבֹּ֔קֶרH1242Article | Noun - masculine singularasכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeMosesמֹשֶׁ֑הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularhad commandedצִוָּ֣הH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularand it did notוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlesmellהִבְאִ֔ישׁH887Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular[or]לֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlecontainהָ֥יְתָהH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular. . .בּֽוֹ׃Preposition | third person masculine singularany maggotsוְרִמָּ֖הH7415Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 25

Original words

Eat it todayאִכְלֻ֣הוּH398Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | third person masculine singular. . .הַיּ֔וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularMosesמֹשֶׁה֙H4872Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularbecauseכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctiontodayהַיּ֖וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularis a Sabbathשַׁבָּ֥תH7676Noun - common singularto the LORDלַיהוָ֑הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularTodayהַיּ֕וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularyou will notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlefind anythingתִמְצָאֻ֖הוּH4672Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine singularin the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃H7704Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 26

Original words

For sixשֵׁ֥שֶׁתH8337Number - masculine singular constructdaysיָמִ֖יםH3117Noun - masculine pluralyou may gatherתִּלְקְטֻ֑הוּH3950Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine singularbut on the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֛יH7637Article | Number - ordinal masculine singulardayוּבַיּ֧וֹםH3117Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularthe Sabbathשַׁבָּ֖תH7676Noun - common singularit will not be [there]יִֽהְיֶה־H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .בּֽוֹ׃Preposition | third person masculine singular. . .לֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particle
Verse 27

Original words

Yetוַֽיְהִי֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularon the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֔יH7637Article | Number - ordinal masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularsome ofמִן־H4480Prepositionthe peopleהָעָ֖םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularwent outיָצְא֥וּH3318Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralto gatherלִלְקֹ֑טH3950Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructbut they did notוְלֹ֖אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlefind anythingמָצָֽאוּ׃סH4672Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 28

Original words

Then the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֑הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularHow longעַד־H5704Preposition. . .אָ֙נָה֙H575Adverbwill you refuseמֵֽאַנְתֶּ֔םH3985Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine pluralto keepלִשְׁמֹ֥רH8104Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructMy commandmentsמִצְוֺתַ֖יH4687Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singularand instructionsוְתוֹרֹתָֽי׃H8451Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Verse 29

Original words

Understandרְא֗וּH7200Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralthatכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָה֮H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas givenנָתַ֣ןH5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularyouלָכֶ֣םPreposition | second person masculine pluralthe Sabbathהַשַּׁבָּת֒H7676Article | Noun - common singularthat is whyעַל־H5921Preposition. . .כֵּ֠ןH3651Adverbon the sixthהַשִּׁשִּׁ֖יH8345Article | Number - ordinal masculine singulardayבַּיּ֥וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularHeה֣וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularwill giveנֹתֵ֥ןH5414Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularyouלָכֶ֛םPreposition | second person masculine pluralbreadלֶ֣חֶםH3899Noun - masculine singular constructfor two daysיוֹמָ֑יִםH3117Noun - mdOn the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃H7637Article | Number - ordinal masculine singulardayבַּיּ֥וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singulareveryoneאִ֣ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularmust stayשְׁב֣וּ׀H3427Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralwhere he isתַּחְתָּ֗יוH8478Preposition | third person masculine singularnoאַל־H408Adverboneאִ֛ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularmay leaveיֵ֥צֵאH3318Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhis placeמִמְּקֹמ֖וֹH4725Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

So the peopleהָעָ֖םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularrestedוַיִּשְׁבְּת֥וּH7673Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralon the seventhהַשְּׁבִעִֽי׃H7637Article | Number - ordinal masculine singulardayבַּיּ֥וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 31

Original words

Now the houseבֵֽית־H1004Noun - masculine singular constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markercalled [the bread]וַיִּקְרְא֧וּH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural. . .שְׁמ֖וֹH8034Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularmannaמָ֑ןH4478Noun - masculine singularItוְה֗וּאH1931Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singularwas whiteלָבָ֔ןH3836Adjective - masculine singularlike corianderגַּד֙H1407Noun - masculine singularseedכְּזֶ֤רַעH2233Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructand tastedוְטַעְמ֖וֹH2940Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularlike wafersכְּצַפִּיחִ֥תH6838Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singularmade with honeyבִּדְבָֽשׁ׃H1706Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

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

Original words

Mosesמֹשֶׁ֗הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularThisזֶ֤הH2088Pronoun - masculine singular. . .הַדָּבָר֙H1697Article | Noun - masculine singularis whatאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .מְלֹ֤אH4393Noun - masculine singular constructhas commandedצִוָּ֣הH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularKeepלְמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶתH4931Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularan omerהָעֹ֙מֶר֙H6016Article | Noun - masculine singularof [manna]מִמֶּ֔נּוּH4480Preposition | third person masculine singularfor the generations to comeלְדֹרֹתֵיכֶ֑םH1755Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralso thatלְמַ֣עַן׀H4616Conjunctionthey may seeיִרְא֣וּH7200Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe breadהַלֶּ֗חֶםH3899Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativeI fedהֶאֱכַ֤לְתִּיH398Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular-אֶתְכֶם֙H853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralyou in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֔רH4057Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularwhen I brought youבְּהוֹצִיאִ֥יH3318Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common singular-אֶתְכֶ֖םH853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralout of the landמֵאֶ֥רֶץH776Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃H4714Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 33

Original words

So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .אֶֽל־H413Prepositiontoldוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAaronאַהֲרֹ֗ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularTakeקַ֚חH3947Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularaאַחַ֔תH259Number - feminine singularjarצִנְצֶ֣נֶתH6803Noun - feminine singular constructand fill itוְתֶן־H5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular. . .שָׁ֥מָּהH8033Adverb | third person feminine singular. . .מְלֹֽא־H4393Noun - masculine singular constructwith an omerהָעֹ֖מֶרH6016Article | Noun - masculine singularof mannaמָ֑ןH4478Noun - masculine singularThen placeוְהַנַּ֤חH5117Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularitאֹתוֹ֙H853Direct object marker | third person masculine singularbeforeלִפְנֵ֣יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularto be preservedלְמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶתH4931Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularfor the generations to comeלְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃H1755Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 34

Original words

And Aaronאַהֲרֹ֛ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularplaced itוַיַּנִּיחֵ֧הוּH5117Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularin front ofלִפְנֵ֥יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe Testimonyהָעֵדֻ֖תH5715Article | Noun - feminine singularto be preservedלְמִשְׁמָֽרֶת׃H4931Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularjust asכַּאֲשֶׁ֛רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionhad commandedצִוָּ֥הH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularMosesמֹשֶׁ֑הH4872Noun - 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 Israelitesוּבְנֵ֣יH1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularateאָֽכְל֤וּH398Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markermannaהַמָּן֙H4478Article | Noun - masculine singularfortyאַרְבָּעִ֣יםH705Number - common pluralyearsשָׁנָ֔הH8141Noun - feminine singularuntilעַד־H5704Prepositionthey cameבֹּאָ֖םH935Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Preposition-אֶת־H853Direct object markera landאֶ֣רֶץH776Noun - feminine singularwhere they could settleנוֹשָׁ֑בֶתH3427Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularthey ateאָֽכְל֔וּH398Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralmannaהַמָּן֙H4478Article | Noun - masculine singularuntilעַד־H5704Prepositionthey reachedבֹּאָ֕םH935Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionthe borderקְצֵ֖הH7097Noun - masculine singular constructvvvאֶ֥רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof Canaanכְּנָֽעַן׃H3667Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 36

Original words

(Now an omerוְהָעֹ֕מֶרH6016Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularis a tenthעֲשִׂרִ֥יתH6224Number - ordinal feminine singular constructof an ephahהָאֵיפָ֖הH374Article | Noun - feminine singular. . .הֽוּא׃פH1931Pronoun - 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.