Exodus 16:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none."

NIV: Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any."

NASB: Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.'

CSB: For six days you will gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none."

NLT: You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day.'

KJV: Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

NKJV: Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”

As God reveals more of His covenant with Israel, the "Sabbath" will become a central concept (Exodus 20:8–11; 31:12–17; 35:1–3). The Sabbath is a period of rest which Israel is to observe on the seventh day of the week (Exodus 16:23). To make this simpler to obey, God provided a double portion of food on the sixth day (Exodus 16:22). This would last until after the Sabbath (Exodus 16:23–24). Manna (Exodus 16:31) collected any other day would spoil by morning (Exodus 16:19–20).

Because the seventh day was intended for rest, the Lord would not provide this miraculous "bread" (Exodus 16:14–15) on that morning. Despite this instruction, some of the people will attempt to collect on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:27). This provokes an angry response from God (Exodus 16:28–29).

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.

Accessed 6/30/2025 6:10:55 PM