Numbers 11:7-8
Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While the text describes the manna's appearance as coriander seed and the color of bdellium, the real insight is how this mundane description is woven into a narrative of profound dissatisfaction. It highlights the Israelites' surprising lack of awe for this miraculous, heavenly provision, making their craving for common Egyptian food even more starkly ungrateful.
The Israelites have just left Mount Sinai, and though they are physically provided for with manna, they are deeply dissatisfied, grumbling and complaining about their lack of variety in food. This discontent leads to a fiery divine judgment and then to an even greater craving for meat, causing Moses significant distress. The description of the manna's appearance serves to highlight just how unreasonable and ungrateful the people were to despise such a unique provision from God.
Imagine looking at your daily bread and finding it... ordinary. That's what the Israelites saw with manna, yet God had a profound purpose.
The verse describes manna using familiar earthly items: "coriander seed" and "bdellium."
Resemblance to Coriander
The Color of Bdellium
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The Israelites complained about the manna, calling it 'dried up.' How could they despise such a gift, and what does that say about us?
The context of Numbers 11 reveals a deep spiritual issue behind the grumbling about the manna. This seemingly simple description of its appearance is set against a backdrop of profound discontent.
The Problem of Perception
A Spiritual Analogy
Understand the original words
bedolach · Hebrew Noun
A precious, fragrant resin or gum, likely translucent or gold in color, used in scripture to describe things of great value or beauty.
The description of manna here, small like coriander seed and pearly white, emphasizes the miraculous and sufficient provision God made for the Israelites, highlighting the ingratitude and foolishness of their complaints and longing for Egypt.
c. 1440 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave Egypt after centuries of slavery, beginning their journey toward the Promised Land.
c. 1440-1400 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
Following their exodus, the Israelites spend 40 years in the Sinai desert, during which they receive manna as their daily sustenance.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Israelites Grumble and Lust for Meat
The people complain about the manna and crave the foods of Egypt, leading to God's judgment and the establishment of the seventy elders.
c. 1400 BC
Quail Provision and Judgment
God sends a massive flock of quail to satisfy their craving for meat, but many die from overindulgence and greed.
c. 1400 BC
Taberah and Kibroth-Hattaavah
The places where God's judgment fell are named, serving as perpetual reminders of the people's discontent and God's response.
This passage describes the manna that fell to the Israelites in the wilderness, providing a direct parallel to the description of its appearance and quantity.
Psalm 78:24This Psalm recounts the Israelites' experience in the wilderness, calling the manna 'bread of the angels' and 'corn of heaven,' highlighting its divine provision in contrast to their later complaints.
1 Corinthians 10:6Paul directly references the Israelites' experiences in the wilderness, including their discontent with the manna, as an example ('types') for believers to learn from, urging them not to crave evil things.
Nehemiah 9:20This prayer recalls God's provision of 'good understanding' (interpreted by some as manna) and His refusal to withhold 'bread from their mouth,' emphasizing God's consistent sustenance despite human unfaithfulness.
Revelation 2:17This verse speaks of a 'white stone' given to the overcomer, which is often interpreted symbolically as a reference to the manna, representing hidden nourishment and a new name from God.
ellicottNumbers 11:7: "And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium."
(7) And the manna was . . . — The design of the description of the manna in this place (comp. Exodus 16:14 ; Exodus 16:31 , and Notes in loc.; also Article M anna, in “Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible”) was probably to exhibit in its just light the sinfulness of the Israelites in repining at the merciful provision which God had made for the supply of their wants. The dissatisfaction of the Isra…
pulpitNumbers 11:7: "And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium."
Verse 7. - The manna was as coriander seed. On the name and the nature of the manna see Exodus 16:31. It is commonly supposed that the brief description here inserted was intended to show the unreasonableness of the popular complaints. There is no trace whatever of any such purpose. So far as the description conveys fresh information, it was simply suggested by the occurrence of the word "mann…
While the text describes the manna's appearance as coriander seed and the color of bdellium, the real insight is how this mundane description is woven into a narrative of profound dissatisfaction. It highlights the Israelites' surprising lack of awe for this miraculous, heavenly provision, making their craving for common Egyptian food even more starkly ungrateful.
The Israelites have just left Mount Sinai, and though they are physically provided for with manna, they are deeply dissatisfied, grumbling and complaining about their lack of variety in food. This discontent leads to a fiery divine judgment and then to an even greater craving for meat, causing Moses significant distress. The description of the manna's appearance serves to highlight just how unreasonable and ungrateful the people were to despise such a unique provision from God.
The Israelites have just left Mount Sinai, and though they are physically provided for with manna, they are deeply dissatisfied, grumbling and complaining about their lack of variety in food. This discontent leads to a fiery divine judgment and then to an even greater craving for meat, causing Moses significant distress. The description of the manna's appearance serves to highlight just how unreasonable and ungrateful the people were to despise such a unique provision from God.
"Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was lik…" — While the text describes the manna's appearance as coriander seed and the color of bdellium, the real insight is how this mundane description is woven into a narrative of profound dissatisfaction. It…
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