Exodus 16:16
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.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights a crucial aspect of God's provision: it's designed for daily sustenance, not hoarding. The instruction to gather "as much as he can eat" and "an omer for every person" emphasizes receiving just enough for the day, teaching dependence on God's ongoing supply rather than earthly security.
After complaining about a lack of food and God's judgment, the Israelites receive manna from heaven as a daily provision. This verse gives them the specific instructions on how to gather it: each person should collect an amount equal to what they and their household will eat that day, measured out to be about an omer per person. This daily provision, directly commanded by God, was to be gathered fresh each morning, reinforcing their dependence on His ongoing care.
God's provision isn't a free-for-all. There's a specific instruction here about how much to gather, and it reveals something deep about His care.
In Exodus 16:16, God gives the Israelites precise instructions for collecting the manna: '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.'
A Measure of Care
This wasn't a command to hoard or a free-for-all. It was a divinely appointed measure for daily sustenance. Each person was to take an omer – a specific amount – for each person in their household.
No Lack, No Excess
What’s remarkable is how this worked out: '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.' (Exodus 16:18). God ensured that the amount collected perfectly met the needs of each family, regardless of their diligence in gathering. This highlights God's intimate knowledge and precise provision for His people.
The specific measure God commanded for the manna, the 'omer,' wasn't just about quantity. It represented something deeper about their relationship with Him.
The instruction to gather 'an omer' for each person is significant. This unit of measure, unique to this context in the Hebrew Bible, symbolized God’s direct involvement in their daily lives.
A Daily Gift
Each morning, the manna appeared with the dew (Exodus 16:13-14). The people had to go out and gather it, but the supply was always precisely enough for that day. This daily gathering taught them a crucial lesson: their survival depended not on their own labor or foresight, but on God’s faithfulness each morning.
Not for Hoarding
Interestingly, any manna gathered beyond the daily need would spoil (Exodus 16:20). This reinforced the lesson of dependence. Hoarding was not only discouraged; it was futile. Their focus had to be on God's provision for , trusting Him for tomorrow.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name of the one true God of Israel, revealing His covenant relationship, holiness, and eternal existence. He is the self-existent "I AM" who redeems His people.
omer · Hebrew Noun
A unit of dry measure used in the ancient Near East, historically estimated to be about two liters or 1/10th of an ephah. It represents a specific, divinely mandated portion for daily sustenance.
This instruction for gathering manna highlights God's direct provision in a barren land, establishing a daily rhythm of dependence and obedience for the Israelites, even as it subtly introduces the concept of the Sabbath rest.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
After centuries of slavery and God's mighty deliverance through Moses, the Israelites begin their journey into the Sinai wilderness.
c. 1446 BC
Murmurings in the Wilderness of Sin
Lacking food and facing hardship, the Israelites begin to grumble against Moses and Aaron, questioning God's deliverance.
c. 1446 BC
God Promises Food
The LORD hears their complaints and promises to provide bread from heaven in the morning and meat in the evening.
c. 1446 BC
Quails and Dew Appear
In the evening, quail descend upon the camp, and in the morning, a layer of dew covers the ground.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
This passage directly quotes Exodus 16:16 when Jesus speaks of the manna as a sign of God's provision, highlighting its significance as a foretaste of spiritual sustenance.
1 Corinthians 10:3Paul explicitly connects the manna, including the rule of gathering an omer per person, to Christ, showing how this Old Testament event foreshadows Jesus as the true spiritual food.
2 Corinthians 8:15This verse uses the manna gathering principle as an analogy for Christian generosity, where those who have abundance supply those who have less, mirroring the equitable distribution commanded in Exodus.
Psalm 78:24This psalm recounts the giving of manna, referring to it as 'grain of heaven' and 'bread of the mighty,' emphasizing God's miraculous provision and care for His people.
calvinExodus 16:9-18: "And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings."
I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall he filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God.
Audivi murmurationes filiorum Israel: alloquere eos, dicendo, Inter vesperas comedetis carnem, et mane saturabimini pane…
cambridgeExodus 16:16: "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."
16 . This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded ] so v. 32. One of P’s standing formulae: Exodus 35:4 , Leviticus 8:5 ; Leviticus 9:6 ; Leviticus 17:2 , Numbers 30:2 ; Numbers 36:6 †. according to his eating ] as Exodus 12:4 . So vv. 18, 21. This, the rest of the ver…
This verse highlights a crucial aspect of God's provision: it's designed for daily sustenance, not hoarding. The instruction to gather "as much as he can eat" and "an omer for every person" emphasizes receiving just enough for the day, teaching dependence on God's ongoing supply rather than earthly security.
After complaining about a lack of food and God's judgment, the Israelites receive manna from heaven as a daily provision. This verse gives them the specific instructions on how to gather it: each person should collect an amount equal to what they and their household will eat that day, measured out to be about an omer per person. This daily provision, directly commanded by God, was to be gathered fresh each morning, reinforcing their dependence on His ongoing care.
After complaining about a lack of food and God's judgment, the Israelites receive manna from heaven as a daily provision. This verse gives them the specific instructions on how to gather it: each person should collect an amount equal to what they and their household will eat that day, measured out to be about an omer per person. This daily provision, directly commanded by God, was to be gathered fresh each morning, reinforcing their dependence on His ongoing care.
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The command to gather included a beautiful, often overlooked, aspect of community care. Who was included in the gathering, and why does it matter?
Exodus 16:16 says, 'You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.' This wasn't just for the able-bodied.
Responsibility for All
The phrase 'persons that each of you has in his tent' implies responsibility for everyone within the household, including the sick, the elderly, or young children who couldn't gather for themselves. It was a collective effort, with the heads of households ensuring everyone received their portion.
A Picture of Community
This provision modeled a principle of community care. God’s provision wasn't solely individualistic; it extended to the well-being of the entire community, ensuring no one was left behind. Even in the wilderness, under direct divine provision, the importance of looking out for one another was paramount.
The Manna Appears
As the dew evaporates, a fine, white, flaky substance is found on the ground, which the Israelites call 'manna'.
c. 1446 BC
Instruction for Gathering Manna
Moses gives the command to gather the manna, specifying the amount each person should collect daily based on their household size.
c. 1446 BC
Sabbath Commandment Introduced
The Israelites are also instructed about the Sabbath day, with a double portion of manna to be gathered on the sixth day.
"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.’”" — This verse highlights a crucial aspect of God's provision: it's designed for daily sustenance, not hoarding. The instruction to gather "as much as he can eat" and "an omer for every person" emphasize…
