TRV
See on the biblical-era map
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Exodus 16:13–21. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Now they begin to be provided for by the immediate hand of God.
I.He makes them a feast, at night, of delicate fowl, feathered fowl (Psa 78:27), therefore not locusts, as some think; quails, or pheasants, or some wild fowl, came up, and covered the camp, so tame that they might take up as many of them as they pleased. Note, God gives us of the good things of this life, not only for necessity, but for delight, that we may not only serve him, but serve him cheerfully.
II.Next morning he rained manna upon them, which was to be continued to them for their daily bread.
1.That which was provided for them was manna, which descended from the clouds, so that, in some sense, they might be said to live upon the air. It came down in dew that melted, and yet was itself of such a consistency as to serve for nourishing strengthening food, without any thing else. They called it manna, manhu, "What is this?" Either, "What a poor thing this is!" despising it: or, "What a strange thing this is!" admiring it: or, "It is a portion, no matter what it is; it is that which our God has allotted us, and we will take it and be thankful," Exo 16:14, Exo 16:15. It was pleasant food; the Jews say that it was palatable to all, however varied their tastes. It was wholesome food, light of digestion, and very necessary (Dr. Grew says) to cleanse them from disorders with which he thinks it probable that they were, in the time of their bondage, more or less infected, which disorders a luxurious diet would have made contagious. By this spare and plain diet we are all taught a lesson of temperance, and forbidden to desire dainties and varieties.
2.They were to gather it every morning (Exo 16:21), the portion of a day in his day, Exo 16:4. Thus they must live upon daily providence, as the fowls of the air, of which it is said, That which thou givest them they gather (Psa 104:28); not today for tomorrow: let the morrow take thought for the things of itself. To this daily raining and gathering of manna our Saviour seems to allude when he teaches us to pray, Give us this day our daily bread. We are hereby taught,
(1.)Prudence and diligence in providing food convenient for ourselves and our household. What God graciously gives we must industriously gather; with quietness working, and eating our own bread, not the bread either of idleness or deceit. God's bounty leaves room for man's duty; it did so even when manna was rained: they must not eat till they have gathered.
(2.)Contentment and satisfaction with a sufficiency. They must gather, every man according to his eating; enough is as good as a feast, and more than enough is as bad as a surfeit. Those that have most have, for themselves, but food, and raiment, and mirth; and those that have least generally have these: so that he who gathers much has nothing over, and he who gathers little has no lack. There is not so great a disproportion between one and another in the comforts and enjoyments of the things of this life as there is in the property and possession of the things themselves.
(3.)Dependence upon Providence: Let no man leave till morning (Exo 16:19), but let them learn to go to bed and sleep quietly, though they have not a bit of bread in their tent, nor in all their camp, trusting that God, with the following day, will bring them their daily bread." It was surer and safer in God's store-house than in their own, and would thence come to them sweeter and fresher. Read with this, Mat 6:25, Take no thought for your life, etc. See here the folly of hoarding. The manna that was laid up by some (who thought themselves wiser and better managers than their neighbours, and who would provide in case it should fail next day), putrefied, and bred worms, and became good for nothing. Note, That proves to be most wasted which is covetously and distrustfully spared. Those riches are corrupted, Jam 5:2, Jam 5:3. Let us set ourselves to think,
[1.]Of that great power of God which fed Israel in the wilderness, and made miracles their daily bread. What cannot this God do, who prepared a table in the wilderness, and furnished it richly even for those who questioned whether he could or no? Psa 78:19, Psa 78:20. Never was there such a market of provisions as this, where so many hundred thousand men were daily furnished, without money and without price. Never was there such an open house kept as God kept in the wilderness for forty years together, nor such free and plentiful entertainment given. The feast which Ahasuerus made, to show the riches of his kingdom, and the honour of his majesty, was nothing to this, Est 1:4. It is said (Exo 16:21), When the sun waxed hot, it melted; as if what was left were drawn up by the heat of the sun into the air to be the seed of the next day's harvest, and so from day to day.
[2.]Of that constant providence of God which gives food to all flesh, for his mercy endures for ever, Psa 136:25. He is a great house-keeper that provides for all the creatures. The same wisdom, power, and goodness that now brought food daily out of the clouds, are employed in the constant course of nature, bringing food yearly out of the earth, and giving us all things richly to enjoy.
Continue studying Exodus 16:21 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
Exodus 16:21 continues the narrative of God's miraculous provision of manna, detailing the daily routine of the Israelites gathering this divine sustenance. It highlights the precise nature of God's care, where each person collected exactly what was needed for the day, and underscores the perishable quality of the manna, which melted under the sun's heat. This verse profoundly emphasizes the Israelites' complete and constant dependence on God for their daily survival in the wilderness, fostering a profound lesson in trust and obedience.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is situated within the broader account of God's provision for Israel in the wilderness, following their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Having journeyed into the Wilderness of Sin, the Israelites began to grumble against Moses and Aaron, lamenting their lack of food and longing for the perceived abundance of Egypt, as recorded in Exodus 16:2-3. In response to their complaints, God promised to "rain bread from heaven" for them, a divine pledge found in Exodus 16:4. Prior to the appearance of the manna, God provided quail in the evening, as detailed in Exodus 16:13. The manna itself is first described as a "small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground" in Exodus 16:14. Specific instructions were given for its gathering: an omer per person, no hoarding overnight (which resulted in worms and stench, as seen in Exodus 16:20), and a double portion on the sixth day for the Sabbath, explained in Exodus 16:22-26. Exodus 16:21 reinforces the daily routine and the perishable nature of the manna, which was essential for enforcing God's instructions and teaching daily dependence.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Israelites, a vast multitude of perhaps two million people, had just been freed from centuries of brutal slavery in Egypt. Their entire lives had been dictated by their oppressors, and their sustenance was likely provided by their masters or through their own forced labor. Suddenly, they found themselves in a desolate, arid wilderness, a stark contrast to the fertile Nile Delta. This environment offered no natural means of sustaining such a large population, making their survival entirely dependent on divine intervention. The manna was not merely food; it was a profound pedagogical tool. In a culture where people typically stored provisions or relied on seasonal harvests, the daily, perishable nature of the manna was revolutionary. It prevented the Israelites from relying on their own foresight or accumulation, forcing them into a daily, tangible exercise of faith. This constant, immediate reliance on God for their most basic need — food — was designed to cultivate a deep and abiding trust in His faithfulness, preparing them for a life of covenant obedience in the promised land, as later reflected in Deuteronomy 8:3.
Key Themes
This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of Divine Provision and Faithfulness, demonstrating God's consistent commitment to sustaining His covenant people even in impossible circumstances. The daily appearance of manna underscores His Sovereignty and Control over all creation, including the elements and the very means of human sustenance. The melting of the manna under the sun's heat highlights the theme of Human Dependence and Obedience, teaching the Israelites that their well-being was directly tied to their daily trust in God's instructions and not their own efforts to hoard or control. This daily discipline was a foundational lesson in Trust and Contentment, preparing them for a life of walking by faith rather than by sight, a principle articulated in Deuteronomy 8:3 where Moses reminds them that "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." The manna also serves as a precursor to the theme of God's Presence and Sustenance in the wilderness journey, a motif that continues through the Tabernacle's construction and the giving of the Law in Exodus 25 through Exodus 40.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root means "to pick up, i.e. (generally) to gather; specifically, to glean." It implies an active, intentional effort on the part of the Israelites. They were not merely passive recipients of God's bounty but had to exert themselves daily to collect it. This highlights the principle that divine provision often requires human participation and diligent stewardship.
This term refers to "a man as an individual or a male person." Its use here emphasizes the personal nature of God's provision. Each individual was responsible for gathering their own portion, and God's provision was tailored to meet the specific needs of "every man," underscoring the precise and equitable nature of His care.
This noun means "food" or "eating." It emphasizes the individual portion and sufficiency. Each person was to gather according to their personal need for consumption, not according to their greed or desire to hoard. This underscores God's precise and equitable provision, ensuring that everyone had enough without excess or lack, a principle explicitly stated in Exodus 16:18.
This primitive root means "to be hot (literally or figuratively); enflame self, get (have) heat, be (wax) hot, (be, wax) warm (self, at)." Used here, it describes the natural process of the sun's heat affecting the manna. While a natural phenomenon, its effect on the manna was divinely ordained to serve a specific purpose: to prevent the people from storing it beyond the day (except for the Sabbath), thereby enforcing daily dependence and trust in God's ongoing provision.
This primitive root means "to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief)." In this context, it literally describes the manna dissolving under the sun's heat. This rapid disintegration was a crucial aspect of the manna's miraculous properties, serving to enforce God's command against hoarding and to reinforce the lesson of daily reliance on His fresh provision.
Verse Breakdown
"And they gathered it every morning"
This phrase establishes the consistent, daily routine mandated by God. The manna appeared fresh each dawn, requiring the Israelites to rise early and collect it. This daily ritual instilled discipline and fostered a continuous, moment-by-moment reliance on God's fresh provision, preventing them from living off past blessings or hoarding for future uncertainties. It highlights the active participation required of the people in receiving God's grace.
"every man according to his eating"
This clause emphasizes the principle of equitable and sufficient provision. God's design ensured that each individual, regardless of their family size or perceived need, received precisely what was necessary for their sustenance for that day. This prevented both scarcity and wasteful excess, promoting a sense of communal equity and contentment with God's perfect provision, demonstrating His meticulous care for each person.
"and when the sun waxed hot, it melted"
This crucial detail reveals the perishable nature of the manna. The rapid disintegration of the manna under the sun's heat served a practical and theological purpose. Practically, it enforced the daily gathering and prevented any attempts at long-term storage, which would have circumvented God's lesson in daily trust. Theologically, it served as a tangible, daily reminder of God's immediate, ongoing care and the futility of human self-sufficiency apart from His constant grace, reinforcing the need for continuous reliance.
Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary techniques to convey its profound message. Repetition is implied through the phrase "every morning," highlighting the consistent, rhythmic nature of God's provision and the Israelites' daily act of dependence. The manna itself functions as powerful Symbolism, representing God's sustaining grace and His faithfulness to His covenant people. Its perishable nature, melting under the sun, symbolizes the transient quality of earthly provisions and the imperative for constant spiritual renewal and reliance on the enduring Provider. There is also a subtle Contrast between the miraculous, daily appearance of the manna and its rapid disappearance, which underscores God's absolute control over their sustenance and the Israelites' complete vulnerability and dependence on Him. This dynamic interplay between divine generosity and human limitation reinforces the theological lessons of trust and obedience, preparing the people for a life lived by faith.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Exodus 16:21 profoundly illustrates God's character as a faithful, precise, and sovereign provider. The daily appearance and perishable nature of the manna were not arbitrary; they were divinely orchestrated to cultivate a deep and abiding trust in the Israelites. This continuous, immediate dependence taught them that true life and sustenance come not from accumulated wealth or human foresight, but from God's daily grace. It was a tangible lesson in living "by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord," rather than by bread alone. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's desire for His people to rely on Him for both physical and spiritual sustenance, fostering contentment and discouraging hoarding or anxiety, thereby cultivating a posture of humble dependence.
Reflection and Application
Exodus 16:21 offers timeless lessons for believers today, mirroring the Israelites' journey of dependence. Just as they were called to gather manna "every morning," we are invited to approach each new day with a fresh reliance on God's grace and provision, rather than resting solely on past blessings or succumbing to future anxieties. This verse challenges our innate tendency to hoard, control, or rely on our own resources. The melting of the manna reminds us that many earthly provisions are temporary and fleeting, directing our focus towards the ultimate, enduring Provider. It encourages us to cultivate contentment with what God provides for the present, trusting that He knows our needs and will faithfully meet them. Spiritually, it calls us to seek daily nourishment from God's Word and His presence, understanding that true life and spiritual vitality come from continually drawing near to Him, our ultimate source of sustenance, much like the Israelites had to daily go out and gather their physical food.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did the manna melt when the sun waxed hot?
The melting of the manna was a divinely ordained characteristic designed to enforce several crucial lessons for the Israelites. Firstly, it prevented them from hoarding or storing the manna beyond a single day (except for the Sabbath, when a double portion was provided and miraculously did not melt, as detailed in Exodus 16:22-26). This enforced daily dependence on God, teaching them to trust Him for fresh provision each morning. Secondly, it instilled discipline and obedience, as they had to rise early to gather it before the sun became too intense. Finally, it served as a tangible, daily reminder of God's immediate and ongoing care, preventing them from becoming self-sufficient or forgetting their reliance on Him in the barren wilderness.
Was the manna a natural phenomenon or a miracle?
While some have attempted to explain manna as a natural secretion from certain desert plants, the biblical account overwhelmingly presents it as a profound miracle. Its consistent, daily appearance for forty years, as noted in Exodus 16:35, in sufficient quantities to feed millions, its unique properties (like not spoiling on the Sabbath but melting on other days), and its cessation precisely when the Israelites entered Canaan, as recorded in Joshua 5:12, all point to its supernatural origin and divine control. It was a direct, miraculous intervention by God to sustain His people, demonstrating His power and faithfulness.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
The manna, though a miraculous provision, was ultimately a temporary, physical sustenance that nourished the body but could not grant eternal life. It served as a powerful type, or foreshadowing, of Jesus Christ, the true "Bread of Life." Jesus Himself drew this profound connection, declaring, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" in John 6:35. Unlike the manna that "melted" and eventually ceased, Jesus offers spiritual sustenance that does not perish but leads to everlasting life. While the Israelites ate manna and still died, as Jesus pointed out in John 6:49, those who partake of Christ, the living bread who came down from heaven, will live forever, as promised in John 6:51. His body, broken for us on the cross, is the ultimate "daily bread" for our souls, providing eternal nourishment and satisfying our deepest spiritual hunger. Through faith in Him, we receive not just temporary sustenance, but the very life of God, a provision that will never melt away or cease, securing our eternal future.