The Hebrew word gad, represented by H1407, means coriander or coriander seed. It is derived from a root word meaning to cut, which may refer to the furrows on the seed. This specific term appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses, used exclusively as a physical descriptor.
In the biblical narrative, H1407 is used to provide a tangible comparison for the miraculous food God provided to Israel in the wilderness. The house of Israel named this food Manna and described it as being "like coriander seed, white" Exodus 16:31. A parallel account reinforces this description, stating that "the manna was as coriander seed" Numbers 11:7. In both cases, the word helps to visualize the appearance of the divine provision.
Several related words help to build the context surrounding the description of manna:
- H4478 mân (Manna): Defined literally as manna, this is the substance that is compared to coriander seed. It is the bread given by the LORD for Israel to eat during their forty years in the wilderness (Exodus 16:15, Exodus 16:35).
- H2233 zeraʻ (seed): This word, meaning seed, is used directly with gad in both of its occurrences (Exodus 16:31, Numbers 11:7). While it describes the physical form of manna, it is also used figuratively in scripture to refer to posterity, as in the promise of future seed Genesis 3:15.
- H1706 dᵉbash (honey): Meaning honey, this word describes the taste of the manna, which looked like coriander seed Exodus 16:31. This same word is frequently used to characterize the abundance of the promised land, a "land flowing with milk and honey" Exodus 3:8.
The theological weight of H1407 is derived entirely from the object it describes, the manna.
- Tangible Sign of Divine Provision: The comparison to coriander seed grounds the miracle of manna in a familiar image. It illustrates God's method of providing for his people in a way they could see and understand, even if they did not know its origin Exodus 16:15. God fed them in the wilderness with this substance their fathers did not know Deuteronomy 8:16.
- A Symbol of God's Word: Manna represents more than physical food; it was given so that Israel would know that "man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD" Deuteronomy 8:3. The specific appearance, like a coriander seed, is a detail in the memory of this daily lesson.
- A Memorial of Faithfulness: Manna, with its appearance like coriander seed, was provided consistently until Israel entered the promised land Joshua 5:12. Its description is therefore part of the memorial of God's enduring faithfulness and His power to sustain His people Exodus 16:35.
In summary, H1407 gad is a highly specific term for coriander seed, used solely to give a physical description of the manna. While a simple word, its context is profound. It serves as a visual anchor for one of the most significant miracles in the Old Testament, grounding the supernatural provision of God in a tangible, recognizable form. The mention of coriander seed is a detail that enriches the narrative of God's daily care and faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
TRV