Exodus 16:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.

NIV: And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

NASB: When they measured it by the omer, the one who had gathered much did not have too much, and the one who had gathered little did not have too little; everyone gathered as much as he would eat.

CSB: When they measured it by quarts, the person who gathered a lot had no surplus, and the person who gathered a little had no shortage. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat.

NLT: But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.

KJV: And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

NKJV: So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.

To keep Israel fed during their time in the wilderness, the Lord has provided "bread" from heaven. This comes in the form of a new (Deuteronomy 8:3), flaked, thin substance which the people later call "manna" (Exodus 16:31; Numbers 11:7–8). God intends the people to trust Him, however (Exodus 16:12). So, the manna cannot be stockpiled; it must be collected over and over (Exodus 16:19–20).

God emphasizes His provision in several ways. One is by ensuring that each person obtains exactly their ration of manna each day. The people gather it as instructed (Exodus 16:16–17), with some collecting more than others. But when it is measured, everyone has their precise amount.

The text suggests that the people collected manna into a single location, then portioned it out. When measured, there was always exactly the right amount for each person's ration. The people collect a double portion on the sixth day, and only then is it explained to them (Exodus 16:5) that this will last through the seventh day Sabbath (Exodus 16:22–23). This makes more sense if the people didn't know how much they'd gathered until it was all weighed.

Whatever the specific logistics of the gathering, God demonstrates His ability to provide exactly according to our need.

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.