Numbers 11:7

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 11:7 provides a vivid sensory description of the manna, the miraculous sustenance divinely provided to the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. Likening its appearance to the small, round coriander seed and its translucent, yellowish-white color to bdellium, the verse offers precise details that highlight the unique nature of this heavenly provision, serving as a poignant reminder of God's faithful, though often unappreciated, care for His people amidst their complaints.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 11:7 is embedded within a critical narrative of Israelite discontent and rebellion, immediately following their bitter complaints about the manna and their longing for the diverse foods of Egypt ([Numbers 11:4-6](/numbers/11-4 "Numbers 11:4-6 - Israel's Complaints")). This detailed description of the manna serves as a stark contrast to their ingratitude, reminding both the original audience and contemporary readers of the specific and miraculous nature of God's daily provision. The verse precedes God's exasperation with their murmuring and His subsequent, albeit wrathful, provision of quail ([Numbers 11:18-20](/numbers/11-18 "Numbers 11:18-20 - God Provides Quail")). It underscores the Israelites' spiritual amnesia regarding God's consistent care since their [exodus from Egypt](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Provision of Manna").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites were a vast multitude, likely numbering in the millions, traversing a desolate and arid wilderness for forty years. In such an environment, natural food sources were extremely scarce, making sustained survival impossible without divine intervention. The daily provision of manna was not merely a convenience but an absolute necessity, a supernatural act that defied the natural limitations of their environment. Culturally, the Israelites were transitioning from slavery in Egypt, where they had access to a varied diet, to a nomadic existence, which required a radical shift in their understanding of sustenance and dependence. This period was designed to teach them reliance on God alone, as highlighted in [Deuteronomy 8:3](/deuteronomy/8-3 "Deuteronomy 8:3 - Man Lives by God's Word").
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several overarching themes within Numbers and the Pentateuch. Primarily, it emphasizes **Divine Provision**, showcasing God's unwavering faithfulness and omnipotence in sustaining His chosen people in impossible circumstances. It highlights the theme of **Miraculous Sustenance**, distinguishing the manna from any ordinary food source and underscoring its supernatural origin as "bread from heaven" ([Psalm 78:24](/psalm/78-24 "Psalm 78:24 - Bread from Heaven")). Furthermore, the precise description implicitly contrasts with the Israelites' **Ingratitude and Discontent**, revealing their spiritual blindness to God's specific and tailored care, despite its consistent and life-giving nature. The manna also served as a daily lesson in **Dependence on God**, teaching them to trust Him for their daily bread rather than relying on human ingenuity or past comforts.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Manna (Hebrew, _mān_):** The miraculous food provided by God. Its name is famously derived from the question "What is it?" (_mān hū'_) posed by the Israelites upon its first appearance, indicating its unknown and supernatural origin ([Exodus 16:15](/exodus/16-15 "Exodus 16:15 - Origin of the Name Manna")). It was a daily, consistent provision, appearing with the dew and melting in the sun, requiring daily gathering and teaching obedience and trust.
* **Coriander seed (Hebrew, _gad_):** Refers to the small, round, light-brown or yellowish seed of the coriander plant, known for its aromatic properties. This comparison provides a concrete visual for the manna's size and shape, suggesting it was small and easily gathered, contrasting with the large, substantial foods they desired from Egypt.
* **Bdellium (Hebrew, _bəḏōlaḥ_):** A substance mentioned also in [Genesis 2:12](/genesis/2-12 "Genesis 2:12 - Bdellium in Eden") as a precious commodity found in the land of Havilah. While its exact identity is debated, it is generally understood to be a translucent, yellowish-white gum resin, or possibly a pearl-like substance. This comparison describes the manna's color and perhaps its texture or translucency, suggesting a pure, clear, and possibly luminous appearance, further emphasizing its unique, non-earthly origin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the manna [was] as coriander seed":** This clause provides a specific, tangible comparison for the physical appearance of the manna. It indicates that the manna was small, likely round or spherical, and perhaps similar in texture or consistency to a seed. This detail emphasizes its humble yet miraculous nature, not a grand, imposing food, but a small, daily gift.
* **"and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium":** This second clause describes the manna's visual hue and perhaps its luminosity. The comparison to bdellium suggests a light, clear, possibly translucent, and yellowish-white or pearl-like color. This description elevates the manna beyond ordinary food, hinting at its purity and divine origin, perhaps even a subtle glow that would distinguish it from anything found naturally in the desert.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 11:7 primarily employs **Simile** to describe the manna, using the comparative "as" (כְּ, _kə_) to liken its appearance to familiar objects: "as coriander seed" and "as the colour of bdellium." These similes create vivid **Sensory Imagery**, allowing the reader to visualize the manna's size, shape, and color. The precise details serve to emphasize the concrete reality of this miraculous provision, countering any notion that it was vague or unremarkable. The use of these specific comparisons also highlights the uniqueness of the manna, as it was unlike any other known food, requiring analogies to convey its characteristics. This detailed description, placed amidst the Israelites' complaints, also functions as a subtle form of **Irony**, contrasting the divine perfection of the provision with the human imperfection of those receiving it.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 11:7, in its precise description of the manna, serves as a profound theological statement about God's character and His relationship with His people. The manna, a daily, miraculous provision, underscores God's unwavering faithfulness, His ability to sustain life in the most barren conditions, and His meticulous attention to the needs of His covenant people. It was not merely food but a tangible sign of God's presence and care, a daily reminder of their absolute dependence on Him. The Israelites' rejection of this divine provision, despite its miraculous nature and life-sustaining power, foreshadows humanity's consistent tendency to reject God's perfect provision in favor of fleeting worldly desires. The manna, therefore, becomes a powerful type, pointing beyond itself to a greater spiritual reality and a more perfect provision.

* [Exodus 16:31](/exodus/16-31 "Exodus 16:31 - Manna's Taste and Appearance")
* [Deuteronomy 8:3](/deuteronomy/8-3 "Deuteronomy 8:3 - Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone")
* [John 6:31-35](/john/6-31 "John 6:31-35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 11:7 invites us to reflect on the nature of God's provision in our own lives and our response to it. The detailed description of the manna, a humble yet miraculous gift, challenges us to recognize and appreciate the specific ways God sustains us daily, even when His provisions may seem routine or less exciting than what we imagine we desire. Just as the Israelites grew weary of the manna, we too can become discontent with God's consistent grace, longing for what we perceive as more satisfying or glamorous. This verse calls us to cultivate a spirit of gratitude for "our daily bread," understanding that true sustenance, both physical and spiritual, comes from God's hand. It also reminds us that God's provisions, though sometimes appearing simple, are perfectly tailored to our needs and are always sufficient. Our spiritual health depends not on the abundance of our desires, but on our recognition and acceptance of God's perfect will and provision.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be overlooking or complaining about God's consistent, daily provisions in my life, both physical and spiritual?**
* **How does the Israelites' dissatisfaction with manna challenge my own desires and expectations for God's blessings?**
* **What does this verse teach me about the importance of gratitude and dependence on God for every aspect of my life?**

### FAQ

**Why is the description of manna so detailed in Numbers 11:7?**

Answer: The detailed description of manna in [Numbers 11:7](/numbers/11-7 "Numbers 11:7 - Description of Manna") serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it emphasizes the miraculous and unique nature of this divine provision. By comparing it to familiar objects like coriander seed and bdellium, the text helps the reader visualize something entirely new and supernatural, highlighting that it was unlike any ordinary food. Secondly, this vivid description stands in stark contrast to the Israelites' complaints in the preceding verses ([Numbers 11:4-6](/numbers/11-4 "Numbers 11:4-6 - Israel's Discontent")), underscoring their ingratitude for such a specific and perfect gift from God. It reminds them, and us, that God's provision is not generic but meticulously tailored to their needs, even down to its appearance. Finally, the details reinforce the reality of the manna as a tangible, daily sustenance, a constant reminder of God's faithfulness in the wilderness.

**What is "bdellium" and why is it used as a comparison?**

Answer: "Bdellium" (Hebrew: _bəḏōlaḥ_) is a substance mentioned in the Bible in [Genesis 2:12](/genesis/2-12 "Genesis 2:12 - Bdellium in Eden") as a valuable commodity found in the land of Havilah, alongside gold and onyx stone. While its precise identification is debated among scholars, it is generally understood to be a translucent, yellowish-white gum resin, or possibly a type of pearl or precious stone. Its use as a comparison for the manna's color suggests that the manna had a pure, clear, and perhaps somewhat luminous or pearl-like appearance. This choice of comparison elevates the manna beyond common food, implying a preciousness and purity that aligns with its divine origin, further distinguishing it as a supernatural gift from heaven.

**Did the Israelites eat manna for the entire 40 years in the wilderness?**

Answer: Yes, the Israelites ate manna for nearly the entire forty years of their wilderness wandering. [Exodus 16:35](/exodus/16-35 "Exodus 16:35 - Manna for Forty Years") explicitly states, "And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan." The provision of manna ceased only after they had crossed the Jordan River and entered the promised land, specifically after they ate the produce of the land at Gilgal ([Joshua 5:10-12](/joshua/5-10 "Joshua 5:10-12 - Manna Ceases at Gilgal")). This long duration underscores God's consistent and unfailing provision for His people throughout their journey.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 11:7, with its detailed description of the manna, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. The manna, miraculously sent from heaven to sustain physical life in the wilderness, serves as a powerful type of Christ, the "true bread from heaven" ([John 6:32](/john/6-32 "John 6:32 - Jesus, the True Bread")). Just as the manna was a daily, humble, yet essential provision, Jesus offers Himself as the indispensable spiritual nourishment for eternal life. The Israelites' discontent with the manna, desiring the fleeting pleasures of Egypt, mirrors humanity's propensity to reject God's perfect spiritual provision in Christ, preferring temporary worldly satisfactions. Jesus explicitly contrasts Himself with the manna, stating, "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died; this is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die" ([John 6:49-50](/john/6-49 "John 6:49-50 - Manna vs. Bread of Life")). While the manna sustained physical life for a time, Christ provides eternal life, satisfying the deepest hunger of the soul. He is the ultimate, pure, and precious provision, perfectly tailored by God to meet humanity's greatest need, offering sustenance that leads not to physical death but to everlasting communion with God ([John 6:51](/john/6-51 "John 6:51 - Jesus Gives Life")).

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

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].