We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Israelites aren't just remembering food, they're recalling a time when these simple vegetables and fish were freely available, highlighting their yearning for the comforts of Egypt and a stark contrast to their current situation of miraculous but unfamiliar sustenance. This isn't simply a desire for flavor; it's a deep-seated longing for the familiar security and ease they associated with their past bondage.
We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Israelites are complaining about the lack of varied food, particularly the delicious and plentiful foods they remember from Egypt. They yearn for the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic they used to eat, feeling that their current diet of only manna is leading them to waste away. This discontent and longing for their former comforts triggers God's anger, setting off a series of events that highlight their ingratitude and lack of faith.
Have you ever found yourself reminiscing about a past time, only to realize you're conveniently forgetting the bad parts? The Israelites were masters at this.
The Israelites, deep in the wilderness, started to paint a rosy picture of their past in Egypt. They recalled specific foods – fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic – with such fondness that their present circumstances seemed unbearable.
Selective Memory
This wasn't just a casual craving; it was a deliberate distortion of reality. They remembered the taste of Egypt but conveniently forgot the bitterness of their slavery. The food they longed for was available because they were in bondage, subjected to harsh labor and oppression. The 'freely' they mention likely means cheaply or readily available because they were laborers, not because it was a gift.
A Heart of Discontent
This longing was more than just a dietary complaint. It was a symptom of a deeper discontent with God's leading. They were so focused on what they thought they had lost that they couldn't see or appreciate the miraculous provision God was making for them daily in the manna.
God's provision for the Israelites in the desert wasn't just about filling their stomachs; it was about shaping their hearts. The manna was a daily test of faith.
The Israelites' lament over the lost Egyptian delicacies highlights a critical misunderstanding of God's provision. They saw manna as insufficient, bland, and boring, especially compared to the diverse (and hard-won) foods of Egypt.
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A Divine Diet
But the manna was miraculous. It appeared daily, sustained them physically, and was a tangible sign of God's constant presence and care. It was 'bread from heaven,' a gift directly from God's hand. Its taste was even described as being like 'fresh oil' or like 'sweet cakes' when prepared properly.
The Test of Gratitude
The problem wasn't the manna itself, but the Israelites' hearts. Their grumbling revealed a lack of gratitude and a preference for the familiar, even if it was tied to their former oppression. Their 'soul is dried away' expresses a spiritual and emotional emptiness that no amount of earthly food could fill. They were spiritually famished because they rejected God's divinely appointed sustenance.
Understand the original words
Mitsrayim · Hebrew Proper Noun
A land representing the place of past slavery, oppression, and idolatry. In biblical typology, it frequently symbolizes the world and the former life of sin from which God has redeemed His people.
This verse captures a moment of deep spiritual and emotional crisis for the Israelites. Their longing for the familiar foods of Egypt, rather than the miraculous manna God provided, highlights their struggle to trust in His provision and remember His deliverance from slavery.
c. 1500-1250 BC
Israelites in Egyptian Bondage
The Israelites lived as enslaved people in Egypt, working in difficult conditions and subject to the Pharaoh's rule.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously led the Israelites out of Egypt under Moses' leadership, marking their liberation from slavery.
c. 1446-1406 BC— this verse
Wandering in the Wilderness
The Israelites journeyed through the Sinai desert for 40 years, facing challenges of sustenance and faith.
c. 1406 BC
Arrival on the Plains of Moab
The Israelites reached the border of the Promised Land, poised to enter after their long wilderness journey.
This passage highlights the Israelites' initial longing for the 'flesh pots' of Egypt, echoing the same sentiment of discontent and desire for their former diet as seen in Numbers 11:5.
Psalm 78:18This Psalm directly references the Israelites' 'testing God in their heart by asking for food according to their desire,' which is precisely what they do in Numbers 11:5 by craving specific foods from Egypt instead of trusting God's provision.
Psalm 106:14This verse speaks of the Israelites 'craving in the wilderness' and 'testing God,' directly paralleling the ungrateful desires for Egyptian food expressed in Numbers 11:5, which led to God's judgment.
1 Corinthians 10:6The Apostle Paul uses the event in Numbers 11 as a cautionary tale, warning believers not to 'crave evil things as they also craved,' linking their discontent to future judgment and highlighting the spiritual danger of misplaced desires.
Nehemiah 9:17This prayer recalls God's faithfulness even when the Israelites were in Egypt, acknowledging their rebellion and their desire for the 'food of Egypt,' underscoring the persistent ungratefulness that characterized their journey, as seen in Numbers 11:5.
jfbNumbers 11:5: "We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:"
- We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely—(See on [74]Ex 7:17). The people of Egypt are accustomed to an almost exclusive diet of fish, either fresh or sun-dried, during the hot season in April and May—the very season when the Israelites were travelling in this desert. Lower Egypt, where were the brick-kilns in which they were emp…
ellicottNumbers 11:5: "We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:"
(5) We remember the fish . . . — Classical writers and modern travellers agree in bearing testimony to the abundance of the fish in the Nile and in the neighbouring canals and reservoirs. The cucumbers in Egypt are of great size and finely flavoured. The watermelons serve to moderate the internal heat which the climate produces. (See The Land and…
The Israelites aren't just remembering food, they're recalling a time when these simple vegetables and fish were freely available, highlighting their yearning for the comforts of Egypt and a stark contrast to their current situation of miraculous but unfamiliar sustenance. This isn't simply a desire for flavor; it's a deep-seated longing for the familiar security and ease they associated with their past bondage.
The Israelites are complaining about the lack of varied food, particularly the delicious and plentiful foods they remember from Egypt. They yearn for the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic they used to eat, feeling that their current diet of only manna is leading them to waste away. This discontent and longing for their former comforts triggers God's anger, setting off a series of events that highlight their ingratitude and lack of faith.
The Israelites are complaining about the lack of varied food, particularly the delicious and plentiful foods they remember from Egypt. They yearn for the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic they used to eat, feeling that their current diet of only manna is leading them to waste away. This discontent and longing for their former comforts triggers God's anger, setting off a series of events that highlight their ingratitude and lack of faith.
"We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic." — The Israelites aren't just remembering food, they're recalling a time when these simple vegetables and fish were freely available, highlighting their yearning for the comforts of Egypt and a stark…
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Last reviewed October 2026