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Exodus 16:18

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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.

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}.

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.

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.

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

Context

Exodus 16:18 is part of the narrative detailing God's miraculous provision of manna for the Israelites in the wilderness after their departure from Egypt. Having complained about lack of food, God promised to rain bread from heaven. The previous verses (Exodus 16:16-17) instruct each person to gather an omer per person daily, with a double portion on the sixth day for the Sabbath. This verse describes the astonishing outcome of their gathering, emphasizing divine oversight and the precision of God's care.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision and Sufficiency: The most striking theme is God's perfect and precise provision. Despite individual efforts—some gathering much, others little—everyone ended up with exactly what they needed for the day. This demonstrated God's ability to supply all needs, preventing both surplus and scarcity. It underscored that true sustenance comes from Him, not solely from human effort.
  • Equality and Equity: The verse highlights a principle of divine equity. The natural human tendency might be to gather more than necessary out of fear or greed, but God's system ensured that "he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack." This miraculous equal distribution fostered a sense of community and mutual dependence, reminding them that God's economy is one of sufficiency for all. This principle of sharing and mutual support is later echoed in the New Testament regarding the distribution of resources, as seen in Paul's discussion on giving in 2 Corinthians 8:15.
  • Trust and Dependence: This daily miracle taught the Israelites to trust God for their immediate needs, rather than relying on their own efforts to hoard. The manna would spoil if kept overnight (Exodus 16:19-20), reinforcing the lesson of daily dependence and obedience to God's instructions.

Linguistic Insights

The term "omer" (Hebrew: עֹ֫מֶר, 'omer) refers to a specific unit of dry measure, roughly equivalent to 2.2 liters or 2 quarts. It was established as the daily allowance per person. The phrase "did mete [it]" means they measured it. The crucial phrase "according to his eating" signifies that each person received precisely what was sufficient for their consumption, emphasizing the exactness and tailored nature of God's provision for every individual.

Practical Application

Exodus 16:18 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Provision: It encourages us to trust God for our daily needs, understanding that He knows what we require and will provide for us. This counters anxiety about the future and the temptation to hoard or accumulate beyond what is necessary, fostering a spirit of daily dependence.
  • Contentment and Generosity: The verse promotes contentment with what God provides and discourages greed. When we recognize that God ensures sufficiency for all, it fosters a spirit of generosity, knowing that our "surplus" can meet another's "lack," reflecting the principle of guarding against covetousness.
  • Community and Equity: It underscores the importance of community where resources are shared, and no one is left wanting. This divine principle can guide how we view and manage our resources within families, churches, and wider communities, promoting mutual care and support.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

Cross-References

  • 2 Corinthians 8:14 (7 votes)

    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 (7 votes)

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