Exodus 16:18

KJV

And 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when they did mete {H4058} it with an omer {H6016}, he that gathered much {H7235} had nothing over {H5736}, and he that gathered little {H4591} had no lack {H2637}; they gathered {H3950} every man {H376} according {H6310} to his eating {H400}.

Complete Jewish Bible

but when they put it in an 'omer-measure, whoever had gathered much had no excess; and whoever had gathered little had no shortage; nevertheless each person had gathered according to his appetite.

Berean Standard Bible

When they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall. Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat.

American Standard Version

And when they measured 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 16:18 vividly portrays the miraculous precision of God's provision of manna in the wilderness. Despite the Israelites' varying efforts in gathering—some collecting an abundance, others very little—each individual miraculously found they possessed exactly one omer, the precise amount needed for daily sustenance. This divine orchestration ensured a perfect equilibrium, where no one had a surplus to hoard, nor did anyone suffer from lack, powerfully demonstrating God's meticulous care, His commitment to communal equity, and His desire to cultivate radical dependence on His unfailing faithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader narrative of God's miraculous provision of manna and quail, which immediately follows the Israelites' journey from the Red Sea and their subsequent grumbling about hunger in the wilderness of Sin, as detailed in [Exodus 16:1-3](/exodus/16-1-3 "Exodus 16:1-3 - Israel's Grumbling for Food"). The preceding verses, specifically [Exodus 16:16-17](/exodus/16-16-17 "Exodus 16:16-17 - Instructions for Gathering Manna"), establish the divine instructions for gathering the manna: an omer per person, to be collected daily, with a double portion on the sixth day in preparation for the Sabbath. Exodus 16:18 serves as the astonishing confirmation of the divine promise and the meticulous execution of God's plan, highlighting a supernatural adjustment that transcended human effort. The subsequent verses, [Exodus 16:19-20](/exodus/16-19-20 "Exodus 16:19-20 - Manna Spoils if Hoarded"), further reinforce the lesson of daily dependence by illustrating the futility of hoarding manna, as it would spoil if kept overnight, underscoring the immediate and continuous nature of God's care.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites, a newly liberated people, had endured centuries of slavery in Egypt, a society characterized by forced labor, scarcity imposed by oppressors, and a rigid social hierarchy. Their sudden transition into the vast, arid wilderness presented an immediate and existential crisis regarding sustenance for an estimated two million people. In this context, the daily provision of manna was far more than a logistical solution; it was a profound theological and sociological lesson. It aimed to dismantle the ingrained mindset of scarcity, hoarding, and self-reliance cultivated under Egyptian bondage, replacing it with a radical, moment-by-moment dependence on God's faithfulness. This miraculous provision fostered a communal identity, where individual greed was divinely thwarted, and shared sufficiency became the norm, starkly contrasting with the exploitative systems they had left behind.
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 16:18 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Exodus and the Pentateuch. It highlights the theme of **Divine Provision**, showcasing God as the faithful and all-sufficient sustainer of His people, even in the most desolate circumstances. It also underscores the theme of **Obedience and Trust**, as the Israelites were required to follow specific instructions for gathering, learning to trust God's daily care rather than their own anxieties or efforts to hoard. The miraculous equalization of manna further develops the theme of **Communal Equity and Justice**, demonstrating God's desire for His people to live in a society where basic needs are met for all, and neither excess nor lack prevails. This divine design points towards a deeper theological truth about God's character as one who cares for the vulnerable and ensures the well-being of His entire covenant community, a principle echoed in later wisdom literature like [Proverbs 30:8-9](/proverbs/30-8-9 "Proverbs 30:8-9 - The Prayer for Sufficiency").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Mete (Hebrew, _mâdad'_):** From H4058, a primitive root meaning "properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended." In this context, "mete" refers to the act of measuring the gathered manna. The fact that they "did mete it" signifies an assessment of their individual collections, which then miraculously conformed to the divine standard, highlighting the supernatural adjustment that took place.
* **Lack (Hebrew, _châçêr'_):** From H2637, a primitive root meaning "to lack; by implication, to fail, want, lessen; be abated, bereave, decrease, (cause to) fail, (have) lack, make lower, want." This word describes the absence of what is needed. The declaration that "he that gathered little had no lack" emphasizes God's compassionate intervention, ensuring that even the weakest or least efficient gatherer received their full, necessary portion, demonstrating His commitment to prevent any deficiency among His people.
* **Eating (Hebrew, _ʼôkel'_):** From H400, meaning "food; eating, food, meal(-time), meat, prey, victuals." The phrase "according to his eating" signifies that the amount each person received was precisely what was needed for their consumption. This highlights God's intimate knowledge of individual needs and His ability to meet them with exactitude, preventing both waste and want, and ensuring perfect sufficiency for the day.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when they did mete [it] with an omer":** This clause sets the scene, describing the process of measuring the collected manna. It implies that individuals initially gathered varying amounts, and the "omer" (a specific dry measure) served as the standard unit against which these collections were assessed, preparing the reader for the miraculous outcome.
* **"he that gathered much had nothing over":** This remarkable outcome defies natural expectation and human logic. Those who exerted more effort or found a larger quantity of manna, anticipating a surplus, found their excess miraculously diminished or redistributed. This prevented hoarding, discouraged greed, and underscored the futility of attempting to accumulate beyond God's appointed measure for the day.
* **"and he that gathered little had no lack":** Conversely, those who gathered less, perhaps due to physical weakness, illness, or less efficient searching, discovered their meager collection was miraculously augmented to meet their full daily need. This powerfully demonstrates God's compassion for the vulnerable and His unwavering commitment to ensure that none among His people would suffer want or deprivation.
* **"they gathered every man according to his eating":** This concluding phrase encapsulates the profound reality of divine intervention. Despite the initial disparities in individual gathering efforts, God's supernatural provision ensured that the final distribution was perfectly equitable, with each person receiving precisely what was necessary for their sustenance. It emphatically underscores that the ultimate supply came from God's hand, not from human labor or capacity alone, fostering a deep reliance on His daily faithfulness.

#### Literary Devices
The passage masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its theological message. **Paradox** is central to the verse, as it presents a counter-intuitive outcome where "he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack." This defies natural economic principles and highlights the supernatural nature of God's provision, emphasizing His ability to transcend human limitations. The entire manna account, including this verse, functions as a **Didactic Narrative**, serving as a profound lesson for the Israelites (and for future generations) about divine trust, obedience, and dependence on God's daily care. The consistent, daily provision of manna also operates as **Symbolism**, representing God's intimate care, His power to sustain, and His desire for His people to live in contentment rather than anxiety or greed. Furthermore, the daily nature of the miracle and the consistent outcome embody **Repetition**, reinforcing the lesson of daily dependence and the futility of hoarding.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 16:18 profoundly illustrates God's character as a sovereign, benevolent, and perfectly just provider. It reveals that His divine economy operates on principles of sufficiency and equity, rather than scarcity or surplus for a privileged few. This miraculous provision was not merely about physical sustenance but was a spiritual discipline designed to cultivate radical trust in God's daily faithfulness, weaning the Israelites off self-reliance and the oppressive mindset of Egyptian slavery. It underscores that true security and well-being come from God's hand, not from accumulated wealth or human effort alone, thereby fostering a communal spirit where each person's need is met, and the temptation to hoard is negated by divine design. This principle of divine sufficiency and communal sharing finds echoes throughout Scripture.

* [2 Corinthians 8:15](/2_corinthians/8-15 "2 Corinthians 8:15 - Paul's Application of Manna Principle to Giving")
* [Matthew 6:34](/matthew/6-34 "Matthew 6:34 - Do Not Worry About Tomorrow")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 16:18 offers timeless wisdom for believers navigating the complexities of modern life. In a world often driven by accumulation, competition, and anxiety about the future, this verse calls us to embrace a radical trust in God's daily provision. It challenges the pervasive notion that our security lies in how much we gather or hoard, instead inviting us to find contentment in God's perfect sufficiency. This principle encourages profound generosity and communal responsibility, reminding us that when God ensures "no lack" for the one who gathered little, He also ensures "nothing over" for the one who gathered much, creating an inherent call to share resources and ensure the well-being of the entire community. It fosters a mindset of daily dependence on our Heavenly Father, liberating us from the burdens of excessive worry and the relentless pursuit of more, and instead anchoring our hope in His unfailing faithfulness and His perfect timing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the principle of "no lack" and "nothing over" challenge your personal approach to financial security and material possessions in a consumer-driven society?**
* **In what specific areas of your life are you tempted to "hoard" resources or rely solely on your own efforts rather than trusting God for daily provision?**
* **How can the church community more effectively embody the equitable distribution seen with the manna, ensuring that those with "much" share with those who have "little" among them?**
* **What anxieties about tomorrow, whether financial, relational, or spiritual, can you intentionally release to God, trusting in His promise of daily sufficiency?**

### FAQ
**Why did God provide manna daily, and why did it spoil if hoarded?**

Answer: God provided manna daily to teach the Israelites radical dependence and obedience. The daily provision ensured that they would look to Him each morning for their sustenance, rather than relying on their own foresight or accumulated resources. The spoiling of hoarded manna (except for the double portion for the Sabbath) reinforced this lesson, preventing greed, fostering trust, and demonstrating that God's economy is one of sufficiency, not surplus for hoarding. It was a spiritual discipline designed to cultivate a relationship of daily reliance, as highlighted in [Exodus 16:19-20](/exodus/16-19-20 "Exodus 16:19-20 - Manna Spoils if Hoarded").

**Does Exodus 16:18 promote a specific economic system like communism or socialism?**

Answer: While Exodus 16:18 demonstrates a miraculous, divinely orchestrated distribution that resulted in perfect equity, it does not explicitly endorse a specific human economic system. It's a unique miracle, a testament to God's supernatural power and His ideal for His people, not a blueprint for governmental policy. The principle it teaches is divine sufficiency and communal care, where God ensures everyone's needs are met. It highlights God's ideal of preventing both excessive wealth accumulation and abject poverty within His covenant community. Later, in the New Testament, the early church voluntarily practiced a sharing of resources, where "distribution was made to each as any had need," as seen in [Acts 4:34-35](/acts/4-34-35 "Acts 4:34-35 - Early Church Sharing"), echoing the spirit of mutual care, though without the miraculous daily intervention seen with the manna.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The manna in Exodus 16:18 serves as a profound Old Testament type, a tangible shadow pointing to the ultimate, perfect provision found in Jesus Christ. Just as the manna was literal bread from heaven that sustained physical life in the wilderness, Jesus declares Himself the "true bread from heaven" and the [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life") who gives eternal life to the world ([John 6:32-35](/john/6-32-35 "John 6:32-35 - Jesus, the True Bread from Heaven")). The manna met the Israelites' daily physical hunger, but Jesus satisfies the deepest spiritual hunger of humanity, offering a sustenance that never spoils and provides eternal life. The lesson of daily dependence on manna points to our constant need to abide in Christ, drawing spiritual nourishment from Him. He is the one who ensures that those who come to Him will "never hunger" and "never thirst" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus Satisfies Spiritual Hunger")), fulfilling the promise of perfect sufficiency and "no lack" not just for a day, but for all eternity. He is the ultimate provision, the very Word of God by whom man truly lives ([Matthew 4:4](/matthew/4-4 "Matthew 4:4 - Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone")), offering Himself as the complete and enduring sustenance for both body and soul.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Corinthians 8:14

But by an equality, [that] now at this time your abundance [may be a supply] for their want, that their abundance also may be [a supply] for your want: that there may be equality:

2 Corinthians 8:15

As it is written, He that [had gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [had gathered] little had no lack.