Numbers 11:8

KJV

[And] the people went about, and gathered [it], and ground [it] in mills, or beat [it] in a mortar, and baked [it] in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the people {H5971} went about {H7751}, and gathered {H3950} it, and ground {H2912} it in mills {H7347}, or beat {H1743} it in a mortar {H4085}, and baked {H1310} it in pans {H6517}, and made {H6213} cakes {H5692} of it: and the taste {H2940} of it was as the taste {H2940} of fresh {H3955} oil {H8081}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The people would go around gathering it and would grind it up in mills or pound it to paste with mortar and pestle. Then they would cook it in pots and make it into loaves that tasted like cakes baked with olive oil.

Berean Standard Bible

The people walked around and gathered it, ground it on a handmill or crushed it in a mortar, then boiled it in a cooking pot or shaped it into cakes. It tasted like pastry baked with fine oil.

American Standard Version

The people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 11:8 vividly portrays the Israelite community's practical engagement with the miraculous manna provided by God in the wilderness. Following the description of its appearance, this verse details the various methods by which the people gathered, processed, and prepared this unique sustenance, emphasizing its versatility and desirable taste, likened to "fresh oil." This snapshot underscores God's consistent and thoughtful provision, even amidst the burgeoning discontent of a people yearning for a different diet.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 11:8 is nestled within a pivotal section of the book of Numbers, specifically addressing the Israelites' first major outbreak of grumbling and complaining after leaving Mount Sinai. The preceding verse, [Numbers 11:7](/numbers/11-7 "Numbers 11:7 - Description of Manna"), describes the manna's physical characteristics, comparing it to coriander seed and bdellium. This verse, [Numbers 11:8](/numbers/11-8 "Numbers 11:8 - Preparation of Manna"), then elaborates on its preparation, highlighting its adaptability. Immediately following this description, the narrative intensifies with the people's lament for meat and the varied diet of Egypt, leading to Moses's own despair and God's provision of quail, alongside a severe plague ([Numbers 11:18-34](/numbers/11-18 "Numbers 11:18-34 - Quail and Plague")). Thus, [Numbers 11:8](/numbers/11-8 "Numbers 11:8 - Preparation of Manna") serves as a poignant counterpoint, illustrating the goodness and sufficiency of God's provision just before the full force of Israel's ingratitude and rebellion is unleashed.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The wilderness journey was a period of profound dependence on God for the newly liberated Israelite nation. For forty years, manna was their sole staple food, a supernatural provision in an otherwise barren environment. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, food preparation was often laborious, involving grinding grains in handmills or mortars. The description of the Israelites employing these methods for manna indicates that while the manna itself was miraculously provided, its consumption still required human effort and ingenuity. The comparison to "fresh oil" is culturally significant; oil, particularly olive oil, was a highly valued commodity, used for food, anointing, fuel, and medicine. Its association with richness, purity, and pleasantness would have immediately conveyed a sense of quality and desirability to the ancient reader, contrasting sharply with the notion of a bland, monotonous diet.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several overarching themes in the Pentateuch and beyond. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **God's Daily Provision and Faithfulness**. Despite the harsh realities of the wilderness, God consistently sustained His people, demonstrating His covenant loyalty by providing their most basic need day by day, a theme echoed in Jesus' teaching on [daily bread](/matthew/6-11 "Matthew 6:11 - Daily Bread"). Secondly, it highlights the **Sufficiency and Adaptability of God's Gifts**. The manna was not merely edible but versatile, capable of being processed into various forms and possessing a pleasant taste, indicating God's desire to provide not just survival, but a measure of enjoyment. Thirdly, and perhaps most subtly, it underscores the **Contrast Between Divine Goodness and Human Discontent**. The detailed description of the manna's quality and preparation methods serves as an implicit rebuke to the Israelites' subsequent grumbling, revealing that their dissatisfaction stemmed not from the inadequacy of God's provision, but from a deeper spiritual malaise and a longing for the perceived comforts of their past bondage in Egypt ([Numbers 11:4-6](/numbers/11-4 "Numbers 11:4-6 - The People's Craving")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Taste (Hebrew, טַעַם, _ṭaʿam_):** This word refers to the faculty of tasting, the flavor itself, or even discernment and judgment. In this context, it specifically denotes the sensory quality of the manna. The emphasis on its "taste" suggests it was not merely edible but palatable and enjoyable, directly countering the later complaints of the people that their "soul is dried away" from lack of variety. The use of _ṭaʿam_ here elevates the manna beyond mere sustenance to something that engaged the senses positively.
* **Oil (Hebrew, שָׁמֶן, _šāmen_):** This term refers to fat or oil, typically olive oil in the biblical context. It was a staple of the ancient diet, highly prized for its nutritional value, rich flavor, and versatile uses. The addition of "fresh" (חָדָשׁ, _ḥādāš_) emphasizes its newness, purity, and perhaps a certain sweetness or delicate flavor, distinguishing it from stale or rancid oil. Comparing the manna's taste to "fresh oil" therefore imbues it with connotations of richness, nourishment, and desirability, suggesting a pleasant, perhaps even luxurious, flavor profile.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the people went about, and gathered [it]":** This clause emphasizes the active participation of the Israelites in collecting the manna. Despite its miraculous appearance, it required effort to gather, instilling discipline and daily dependence. The phrase "went about" suggests a widespread activity across the camp, indicating the sheer volume of manna provided daily for millions.
* **"and ground [it] in mills, or beat [it] in a mortar":** This detail highlights the two primary methods of processing grains in the ancient world. Grinding in mills (handmills) was a common, laborious task, typically performed by women. Beating in a mortar suggests a pounding action, perhaps for a finer consistency or for smaller quantities. These actions underscore the manna's solid, grain-like consistency, making it amenable to traditional food preparation techniques, further demonstrating its practical utility as a staple food.
* **"and baked [it] in pans, and made cakes of it":** These actions describe the final stages of preparation, transforming the processed manna into an edible form. Baking in "pans" (likely griddles or flat baking surfaces) suggests a quick cooking method, producing something akin to flatbreads or wafers. The phrase "made cakes of it" indicates that the manna could be formed and shaped, implying a dough-like consistency once processed, allowing for versatile culinary applications.
* **"and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil":** This climactic clause provides a sensory description of the manna's palatability. The **Simile** "as the taste of fresh oil" is crucial, likening its flavor to a highly valued, rich, and pleasant substance. This comparison elevates the manna beyond mere sustenance, suggesting it was not only nourishing but also genuinely enjoyable, directly contrasting the later complaints of the Israelites who found it monotonous.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in [Numbers 11:8](/numbers/11-8 "Numbers 11:8 - Preparation of Manna") is **Simile**. The phrase "and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil" directly compares the manna's flavor to a known, highly esteemed substance using the comparative particle "as." This simile serves to convey the manna's desirable qualities—its richness, pleasantness, and perhaps its nourishing properties—in a way that resonates with the ancient audience's understanding of valuable commodities. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Contrast** at play within the broader narrative of [Numbers 11](/numbers/11 "Numbers 11 - The People Grumble"). This verse, describing the goodness and versatility of the manna, stands in stark contrast to the Israelites' subsequent grumbling and longing for the "fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic" of Egypt. This juxtaposition highlights the people's ingratitude and spiritual blindness, despite God's miraculous and palatable provision. The detailed description of the various processing methods (grinding, beating, baking) also employs a form of **Enumeration** or **Detailed Description**, emphasizing the physical reality and adaptability of the manna, making God's provision concrete and tangible.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 11:8, though a brief descriptive verse, carries significant theological weight, serving as a testament to God's meticulous care and provision for His people. It underscores that divine provision is not merely about survival, but about sustenance that is also good, pleasant, and sufficient. The laborious process of gathering and preparing the manna, despite its miraculous origin, taught Israel daily dependence and the value of work, reminding them that God's blessings often require human participation. This verse implicitly challenges the human tendency to take God's consistent goodness for granted, highlighting the contrast between the divine gift and the human propensity for discontent and ingratitude. It points to a God who provides comprehensively, meeting both physical needs and, in the manna's pleasant taste, offering a measure of delight, even in the harshness of the wilderness.

* [Exodus 16:35](/exodus/16-35 "Exodus 16:35 - Manna for Forty Years")
* [Deuteronomy 8:3](/deuteronomy/8-3 "Deuteronomy 8:3 - Man Lives by Every Word of God")
* [Psalm 78:24-25](/psalms/78-24 "Psalm 78:24-25 - Grain of Heaven, Angels' Food")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 11:8 offers a profound lesson in appreciating God's faithful provision, even when it appears monotonous or doesn't align with our desires. Just as the Israelites were sustained by manna, we are called to recognize and be grateful for the daily blessings God bestows upon us, whether tangible necessities or spiritual nourishment. This verse challenges our tendency towards discontent, urging us to find satisfaction and even joy in what God has provided, rather than constantly craving what we perceive to be lacking. It reminds us that true contentment stems not from the abundance or variety of our possessions, but from a heart that trusts in and appreciates the Giver. We are encouraged to be resourceful and diligent in utilizing the gifts God has given us, transforming them through our effort, much like the Israelites processed the manna, and to recognize the underlying goodness in even the simplest of provisions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be taking God's consistent provision for granted, much like the Israelites did with the manna?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for the "daily bread" God provides, even when it doesn't match your ideal expectations?**
* **What does the Israelites' effort in processing the manna teach us about our role in stewarding God's blessings and actively engaging with His provision?**

### FAQ
**What was manna, and why was it so important?**

Answer: Manna was a miraculous, bread-like substance supernaturally provided by God to the Israelites daily for forty years during their wilderness wanderings after the Exodus. It was their primary source of sustenance in a barren land, serving as a tangible sign of God's faithfulness and covenant care. Its importance lay not only in its physical nourishment but also in teaching the Israelites dependence on God for their very survival, as highlighted in [Deuteronomy 8:3](/deuteronomy/8-3 "Deuteronomy 8:3 - Man Lives by Every Word of God"), which states that "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

**Why did the Israelites complain about manna if it tasted like "fresh oil"?**

Answer: The Israelites' complaints, detailed in [Numbers 11](/numbers/11 "Numbers 11 - The People Grumble"), stemmed not from the manna's inherent quality or taste, but from a deeper spiritual discontent and a longing for the varied diet they remembered from Egypt. While [Numbers 11:8](/numbers/11-8 "Numbers 11:8 - Preparation of Manna") describes the manna as having a pleasant taste, their later lament in [Numbers 11:6](/numbers/11-6 "Numbers 11:6 - Our Soul is Dried Away") expresses weariness with its monotony ("our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes"). This illustrates that even excellent, divinely provided blessings can be met with dissatisfaction when hearts are not content and are focused on what is perceived to be lacking rather than on God's goodness.

**What does "the taste of fresh oil" signify about the manna?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, oil, especially fresh oil, was a highly valued commodity, associated with richness, purity, and pleasantness. Comparing the manna's taste to "fresh oil" ([Numbers 11:8](/numbers/11-8 "Numbers 11:8 - Preparation of Manna")) signifies that it was not merely bland or tasteless. Instead, it possessed a desirable, rich, and perhaps even nourishing flavor. This detail underscores the graciousness and thoughtfulness of God's provision, indicating that He provided not just basic survival food, but sustenance that was palatable and enjoyable, even in the harsh conditions of the wilderness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The manna, described in [Numbers 11:8](/numbers/11-8 "Numbers 11:8 - Preparation of Manna") as versatile and tasting like "fresh oil," serves as a profound Old Testament type pointing directly to Jesus Christ, the ultimate and true "Bread of Life." While the manna sustained Israel physically in the wilderness, Jesus declares Himself to be the spiritual sustenance that gives eternal life. In [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - Jesus the Bread of Life"), after miraculously feeding the five thousand, Jesus draws a direct parallel, telling the crowds, "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. True Bread")). He is the living bread, the one who satisfies the deepest hunger of the human soul. The manna's pleasant taste, likened to fresh oil, foreshadows the richness and spiritual delight found in Christ, whose words are "spirit and life" ([John 6:63](/john/6-63 "John 6:63 - Words of Spirit and Life")) and whose very presence brings abundant life ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Abundant Life")). Unlike the manna, which required daily gathering and eventually ceased, Jesus provides an eternal, inexhaustible spiritual nourishment, offering complete satisfaction and eternal life to all who believe in Him ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus the Bread of Life")). He is the ultimate provision, superior to any earthly sustenance, perfectly fulfilling the shadow of the manna.

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.

Exodus 16:16

This [is] the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, [according to] the number of your persons; take ye every man for [them] which [are] in his tents.

Exodus 16:18

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.

John 6:27

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

John 6:33

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

John 6:58

This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

Exodus 16:23

And he said unto them, This [is that] which the LORD hath said, To morrow [is] the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake [that] which ye will bake [to day], and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.