Numbers 11:7

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

And the manna {H4478} was as coriander {H1407} seed {H2233}, and the colour {H5869} thereof as the colour {H5869} of bdellium {H916}.

The man, by the way, was like coriander seed and white like gum resin.

Now the manna resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of gum resin.

And the manna was like coriander seed, and the appearance thereof as the appearance of bdellium.

Commentary

Numbers 11:7 offers a precise and memorable description of the manna, the miraculous food that sustained the Israelites during their forty-year journey through the wilderness. This verse provides crucial visual details, likening the manna's appearance to coriander seed and its color to bdellium, helping readers to imagine this unique divine provision.

Context

This verse is situated in a passage where the Israelites, despite God's consistent care, express deep dissatisfaction with their diet of manna. They complain bitterly, longing for the diverse foods they had known in Egypt (Numbers 11:4-6). The detailed description of the manna here serves as a reminder of the specific and miraculous nature of God's provision. The manna had been provided daily since shortly after their exodus from Egypt, demonstrating God's faithful commitment to sustaining His people in the barren desert.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision: The manna stands as a powerful testament to God's direct and supernatural provision. It highlights His unwavering ability and willingness to care for His people, even in the most challenging and seemingly impossible circumstances. It served as a daily lesson in dependence on Him.
  • Miraculous Sustenance: The peculiar appearance and unique properties of the manna emphasize its miraculous origin, distinguishing it from any natural food source available in the wilderness. It was truly "bread from heaven."
  • God's Specificity: The meticulous details provided about the manna's appearance underscore that God's provision is not generic but precisely tailored to the needs of His people, down to its physical characteristics.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "manna" is man (מָן), famously derived from the question "What is it?" (man hu?) posed by the Israelites when they first encountered it (Exodus 16:15). The "coriander seed" is gad (Χ’ΦΌΦ·Χ“), referring to the small, round, aromatic seed of the coriander plant. The term "bdellium" is bedolach (Χ‘Φ°ΦΌΧ“ΦΉΧœΦ·Χ—), which also appears in Genesis 2:12 as a precious substance. It is generally understood to describe a translucent, yellowish-white gum resin, or possibly a pearl-like substance, suggesting a light, clear, and perhaps somewhat luminous appearance for the manna.

Reflection and Application

Numbers 11:7 encourages us to cultivate an attitude of gratitude for God's consistent and specific provisions in our own lives, even when they may seem routine or mundane. Just as the manna faithfully sustained the Israelites, God provides for our daily needs, often in ways we might easily overlook. Beyond physical sustenance, the manna points to a deeper spiritual truth: Jesus Christ proclaimed Himself the "true bread from heaven," offering eternal life to all who believe in Him (John 6:35). While the manna was a temporary provision, Christ offers enduring spiritual nourishment, teaching us that true life comes from living by "every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Deuteronomy 8:3).

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 16:31

    And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it [was] like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it [was] like wafers [made] with honey.

  • Genesis 2:12

    And the gold of that land [is] good: there [is] bdellium and the onyx stone.

  • 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.

  • Exodus 16:15

    And when the children of Israel saw [it], they said one to another, It [is] manna: for they wist not what it [was]. And Moses said unto them, This [is] the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:23

    But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

  • 1 Corinthians 1:24

    But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

  • Revelation 2:17

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].
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