Exodus 16:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’"

NIV: This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’ "

NASB: This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone gather as much as he will eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.’?'

CSB: This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each person needs to eat. You may take two quarts per individual, according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.’"

NLT: These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.'

KJV: This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.

NKJV: This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’ ”

Israel was concerned about food as they traveled into the wilderness (Exodus 16:1–3). The Lord promised to provide (Exodus 16:6–7, 12). He has begun to bring a strange, white, fine, flaky substance to them each morning (Exodus 16:14; Deuteronomy 8:3). The people respond by saying, "what is that?" and eventually call the material this: using the Hebrew questioning word mān to name the substance "manna" (Exodus 16:31).

The people are instructed to collect a set amount of manna for each person. This is defined using a measure which only appears in this chapter. The omer was probably about one-half gallon, or two liters. It is later defined as a tenth of an ephah (Exodus 16:36). When collection is done, and the portions are measured out (Exodus 16:22), each household has precisely the right amount to take home (Exodus 16:17–18). However, they are not to stockpile it (Exodus 16:19). Keeping manna in reserve is impossible (Exodus 16:20). Instead, the people are to depend on God to provide every day.

Exodus 16:13–30 explains the miraculous provision of meat and bread during Israel's journey through the wilderness. Quail—small birds—arrive at night. In the morning, the ground is covered in a strange substance. This becomes a bread-like food for Israel, later called "manna" (Exodus 16:31). It also symbolizes their daily dependence on God—it could not be kept longer than instructed, so the people had to continually trust the Lord to provide more. To further prove this, God instructs the people to rest on the seventh day of the week.

As the recently-rescued Israelites (Exodus 14:21–31) journey on, they complain about food. God provides them with manna: a grain-like substance which miraculously appears each morning. The people are given instructions about how to gather and use manna. Only on the sixth day of the week can they collect more and keep leftovers for the following day. That seventh day is to be a time of rest, called a "sabbath."

Israel has celebrated (Exodus 15:1) their miraculous escape through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–28). They have survived their first hardship (Exodus 15:23–25). God now provides manna in response to their complaints about food. He also begins to establish the concept of the seventh-day Sabbath. Soon, the Lord will send another miracle regarding water (Exodus 17:1–7) and the people will have their first military battle (Exodus 17:8–16). Shortly after this, Moses' father-in-law will arrive and offer some helpful advice (Exodus 18).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.