Exodus 16:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day."

NIV: Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out."

NASB: See, the Lord has given you the Sabbath; for that reason He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain, everyone, in his place; no one is to leave his place on the seventh day.'

CSB: Understand that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he will give you two days’ worth of bread. Each of you stay where you are; no one is to leave his place on the seventh day."

NLT: They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.'

KJV: See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

NKJV: See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.”

This continues God's irritated response to Israelite disobedience (Exodus 16:26–28). The people were provided with manna every morning (Exodus 16:14–16, 21). None could be kept overnight (Exodus 16:19–20). On the sixth day, however, the Lord would provide a double portion (Exodus 16:22). This was to be kept for use on the seventh day, when the people were to rest instead of working (Exodus 16:23–25). Some ignored this and tried to collect more manna on the Sabbath, only to find there was none.

God is clear here that He has "given" the Sabbath—it is a gift. The nation has endured four centuries (Exodus 12:40–41) of brutal slavery (Exodus 1:11–14). Now they are provided with enough food on the sixth day of each week to last through until the first day of the next week. This is a blessing, not a problem. Jesus would emphasize this idea that "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).

"Rest" in this context means setting aside work and travel. The people were not to be motionless for the entire day. Over time, God's commands about the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8–11; 31:12–17; 35:1–3) would inspire Jewish traditions. Many of these missed the point of a seventh-day rest out of misplaced piety (Mark 2:23–26; John 9:15–16).

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.