Exodus 16:14

And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness [there lay] a small round thing, [as] small as the hoar frost on the ground.

And when the dew {H2919} that lay {H7902} was gone up {H5927}, behold, upon the face {H6440} of the wilderness {H4057} there lay a small {H1851} round thing {H2636}, as small {H1851} as the hoar frost {H3713} on the ground {H776}.

When the dew had evaporated, there on the surface of the desert was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground.

When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground.

And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness a small round thing, small as the hoar-frost on the ground.

Commentary

Exodus 16:14 marks a pivotal moment in the Israelites' wilderness journey: the miraculous first appearance of manna, the divine provision that sustained them for forty years. This verse describes the physical characteristics of this mysterious food, emphasizing its small, delicate, and widespread nature.

Context

Following their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites found themselves in the Wilderness of Sin. Despite God's incredible acts on their behalf, they quickly began to grumble against Moses and Aaron, lamenting their lack of food and wishing they had remained in Egypt. In response to their complaints and desperate need, God promised to "rain bread from heaven" upon them (see Exodus 16:4). This verse details the discovery of that promised sustenance, appearing after the morning dew had evaporated.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision and Faithfulness: The appearance of the "small round thing" is a powerful testament to God's direct and unwavering faithfulness to His people. He heard their cries and provided for their most basic need in a desolate land, demonstrating His ability to sustain life even in the most barren circumstances.
  • Daily Dependence: The manna appeared daily, teaching the Israelites a profound lesson in trusting God for their sustenance day by day. It fostered a posture of reliance on God's consistent provision rather than on their own efforts or ability to hoard.
  • Miraculous and Unassuming: Described as "small as the hoar frost on the ground," the manna was not grand or overwhelming in size. Its unassuming appearance highlights the miraculous nature of God's workโ€”it was a humble, yet perfectly suited and consistently provided, supernatural gift.

Linguistic Insights

While the word "manna" itself isn't in this specific verse, the subsequent verses (Exodus 16:15) show the Israelites asking, "What is it?" (Hebrew: ืžึธืŸ ื”ื•ึผื, man hu), which became the origin of the name *manna*. The phrase "hoar frost" (Hebrew: ืงึถืจึทื—, qerach) suggests a delicate, crystalline, and widespread covering, indicating how pervasive this divine provision was across the wilderness floor.

Related Scriptures

The consistent nature and further description of manna are elaborated upon in Numbers 11:7-8. Ultimately, the manna served as a profound foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who declared Himself the true "bread of life" (see John 6:35), providing spiritual sustenance far greater than physical food.

Practical Application

Exodus 16:14 serves as a timeless reminder that God is our ultimate provider. In times of need, doubt, or despair, we can look to Him for daily sustenanceโ€”not just physical, but also spiritual and emotional. This verse encourages us to cultivate a posture of daily dependence on God, trusting that He will meet our needs and guide us, just as He did for the Israelites in the wilderness. It challenges us to recognize and appreciate His provision even in seemingly small or unexpected ways, fostering gratitude and deeper faith.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 11:7

    And the manna [was] as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.

  • Numbers 11:9

    And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

  • Deuteronomy 8:3

    And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

  • Psalms 78:24

    And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.

  • Psalms 105:40

    [The people] asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

  • Nehemiah 9:15

    And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.

  • Psalms 147:16

    He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
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