Exodus 16:31
Exodus 16:31 in Multiple Translations
Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.
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.
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.
And this bread was named manna by Israel: it was white, like a grain seed, and its taste was like cakes made with honey.
The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers with honey.
And the house of Israel called the name of it, MAN. and it was like to coriander seede, but white: and the taste of it was like vnto wafers made with hony.
and the house of Israel call its name Manna, and it [is] as coriander seed, white; and its taste [is] as a cake with honey.
The house of Israel called its name “Manna”, and it was like coriander seed, white; and its taste was like wafers with honey.
And the house of Israel called its name Manna: and it was like coriander-seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed white, and the taste thereof like to flour with honey.
The Israeli people called this food manna, which sounds like the words in their language that mean ‘what is it?’ It looked like small seeds called coriander, but it was white, and it tasted like thin wafers/biscuits made with honey.
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 16:31
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Exodus 16:31 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יִּקְרְא֧וּ
בֵֽית
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל
אֶת
שְׁמ֖/וֹ
מָ֑ן
וְ/ה֗וּא
כְּ/זֶ֤רַע
גַּד֙
לָבָ֔ן
וְ/טַעְמ֖/וֹ
כְּ/צַפִּיחִ֥ת
בִּ/דְבָֽשׁ
וַ/יִּקְרְא֧וּ
qârâʼ
H7121
to call
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
בֵֽית
bayith
H1004
place
N-ms
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
Israel
N-proper
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
שְׁמ֖/וֹ
shêm
H8034
name
N-ms | Suff
מָ֑ן
mân
H4478
manna
N-ms
וְ/ה֗וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
he/she/it
Conj | Pron
כְּ/זֶ֤רַע
zeraʻ
H2233
seed
Prep | N-ms
גַּד֙
gad
H1407
coriander
N-ms
לָבָ֔ן
lâbân
H3836
white
Adj
וְ/טַעְמ֖/וֹ
ṭaʻam
H2940
taste
Conj | N-ms | Suff
כְּ/צַפִּיחִ֥ת
tsappîychith
H6838
flatbread
Prep | N-fs
בִּ/דְבָֽשׁ
dᵉbash
H1706
honey
Prep | N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 16:31
וַ/יִּקְרְא֧וּ
qârâʼ
H7121
"to call"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
This Hebrew word means to call out to someone or something, often by name. It's used in many situations, like calling for help or reading aloud. In Genesis, God calls out to Adam in the Garden.
Definition: : call_to/invite/entreat 1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound 1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God) 1a3) to proclaim 1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read 1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow 1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to call oneself 1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named 1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen
Usage: Occurs in 689 OT verses. KJV: bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 49:1; Judges 1:26.
בֵֽית
bayith
H1004
"place"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
"Israel"
N-proper
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently § Israel = "God prevails" 1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel 2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob 2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split 2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah 2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile
Usage: Occurs in 2231 OT verses. KJV: Israel. See also: Genesis 32:29; Exodus 13:18; Exodus 40:38.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
שְׁמ֖/וֹ
shêm
H8034
"name"
N-ms | Suff
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Definition: 1) name 1a) name 1b) reputation, fame, glory 1c) the Name (as designation of God) 1d) memorial, monument Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)
Usage: Occurs in 771 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report. See also: Genesis 2:11; Exodus 3:15; Deuteronomy 16:6.
מָ֑ן
mân
H4478
"manna"
N-ms
This word refers to a special food God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, called manna. It got its name from the question the Israelites asked when they saw it: 'What is it?'
Definition: 1) manna 1a) the bread from Heaven that fed the Israelites for 40 years of wilderness wanderings
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: manna. See also: Exodus 16:15; Numbers 11:9; Psalms 78:24.
וְ/ה֗וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
"he/she/it"
Conj | Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
כְּ/זֶ֤רַע
zeraʻ
H2233
"seed"
Prep | N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means seed or offspring, like in Genesis where God promises Abraham many descendants. It can also mean a plant or sowing time, as in Isaiah 55:10. This concept is central to God's plan for humanity.
Definition: : seed/sowing 1) seed, sowing, offspring 1a) a sowing 1b) seed 1c) semen virile 1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children 1e) of moral quality 1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.) 1f) sowing time (by meton)
Usage: Occurs in 205 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time. See also: Genesis 1:11; 1 Samuel 1:11; Psalms 18:51.
גַּד֙
gad
H1407
"coriander"
N-ms
Coriander is a plant with seeds that resemble manna, used in the Bible to describe the taste of manna.
Definition: coriander-a plant the seed of which resembles manna
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: coriander. See also: Exodus 16:31; Numbers 11:7.
לָבָ֔ן
lâbân
H3836
"white"
Adj
Means white in Hebrew, used to describe something pure or clean, like freshly fallen snow.
Definition: white
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: white. See also: Genesis 30:35; Leviticus 13:21; Zechariah 6:6.
וְ/טַעְמ֖/וֹ
ṭaʻam
H2940
"taste"
Conj | N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means to have a taste or perception of something, and is often used to describe judgment or intelligence. It appears in Proverbs 1:7, where wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. In the Bible, it can also mean a decree or decision.
Definition: 1) taste, judgment 1a) taste 1b) judgment (fig.) 1c) decision, decree
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: advice, behaviour, decree, discretion, judgment, reason, taste, understanding. See also: Exodus 16:31; Psalms 34:1; Psalms 119:66.
כְּ/צַפִּיחִ֥ת
tsappîychith
H6838
"flatbread"
Prep | N-fs
Tsappiyachith refers to a type of flatbread, like a thin cake or wafer, as seen in the Bible. It's a simple food made from flat, thin dough. This word is used to describe a basic food item.
Definition: flat cake, wafer
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: wafer. See also: Exodus 16:31.
בִּ/דְבָֽשׁ
dᵉbash
H1706
"honey"
Prep | N-ms
In the Bible, this word means honey, a sweet and valuable food. It was used to describe the Promised Land as a place of abundance and blessing, flowing with milk and honey. The word also appears in stories of bees and honey production.
Definition: honey
Usage: Occurs in 54 OT verses. KJV: honey(-comb). See also: Genesis 43:11; 1 Samuel 14:29; Psalms 19:11.
Study Notes — Exodus 16:31
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Exodus 16:31 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Exodus 16:31
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 16:31
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 16:31
- Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 16:31
- Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 16:31
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 16:31
- Cambridge Bible on Exodus 16:31
- Barnes' Notes on Exodus 16:31
- Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 16:31
- Sermons on Exodus 16:31
Context — The Jar of Manna
29Understand that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day He will give you bread for two days. On the seventh day, everyone must stay where he is; no one may leave his place.”
30So the people rested on the seventh day.
31Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.
32Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Keep an omer of manna for the generations to come, so that they may see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” 33So Moses told Aaron, “Take a jar and fill it with an omer of manna. Then place it before the LORD to be preserved for the generations to come.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Song of Solomon 2:3 | Like an apricot tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. |
| 2 | Numbers 11:6–9 | But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!” Now the manna resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of gum resin. 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. When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it. |
| 3 | Exodus 16:15 | When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. |
Exodus 16:31 Summary
The manna that God provided for the Israelites was a special bread that was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey, as described in Exodus 16:31. This manna was a reminder of God's provision and care for His people, just like how Jesus is the bread of life, as seen in John 6:35. God wants us to trust in His daily provision and not take it for granted, and we can learn from the Israelites' experience in the wilderness. By trusting in God's provision, we can experience the spiritual nourishment that comes from Him, just like the Israelites experienced physical nourishment from the manna.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the manna that God provided for the Israelites?
The manna was a special bread that God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, as described in Exodus 16:31, and it tasted like wafers made with honey, as noted in this verse, and was a reminder of God's provision, similar to the provision of Jesus, the bread of life, as seen in John 6:35.
Why did the Israelites call the bread manna?
The Israelites called the bread manna because it was a mysterious and miraculous provision from God, and the name 'manna' is derived from the Hebrew phrase 'man hu,' which means 'what is it,' as the people were unsure what this bread was, as seen in Exodus 16:15, and Numbers 11:7-9.
What did the manna look like?
According to Exodus 16:31, the manna was white like coriander seed, giving us a visual description of this miraculous bread that God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness.
Is there any spiritual significance to the manna?
Yes, the manna is often seen as a symbol of God's spiritual nourishment and provision, as Jesus himself is the bread of life, as seen in John 6:48-51, and the manna in the wilderness points to the greater reality of Jesus' provision for our spiritual needs.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that God has provided for me in my own life, and how can I be more aware of His provision?
- How can I, like the Israelites, learn to trust in God's daily provision and not take it for granted?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of trusting in God's provision to my own life, and what are some areas where I need to trust Him more?
- How does the manna in Exodus 16:31 remind me of the spiritual nourishment that I receive from God's Word and from Jesus, the bread of life?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 16:31
And the house of Israel called the name thereof manna,.... For till now they had given it no name; which shows that the words are not to be read as we render them in Exodus 16:15 it is manna, unless
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 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.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 16:31
It was like coriander seed, in shape and figure, but not in colour, for that is dark-coloured, but this white, as it follows here, like bdellium, &c., . The taste of it, when it was raw; but when it was drest it was like fresh oil, .
Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 16:31
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.Ver. 31. And the taste of it.] It had not all manner of good tastes, according to every man’ s appetite, else why should the people lust and murmur as there they did?
Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 16:31
(31) Manna.—Rather, man. (See Note on Exodus 16:15.) “Manna” is a Greek form, first used by the LXX. translator of Numbers (Exodus 11:6-7; Exodus 11:9). It was like coriander seed.—The appearance of the manna is compared above to hoar frost (Exodus 16:14); here, and in Numbers 11:7, to coriander seed. The former account describes its look as it lay on the ground, the latter its appearance after it was collected and brought in. The coriander seed is “a small round grain, of a whitish or yellowish grey.” In Numbers it is further said that the colour was that of bdellium, which is a whitish resin. The taste of it was like wafers made with honey.—In Numbers the taste is compared to that of fresh oil (Numbers 11:8). The wafers or cakes used by the Egyptians, Greeks, and other ancient nations as offerings, were ordinarily composed of fine wheaten flour, oil, and honey. According to a Jewish tradition which finds a place in the Book of Wisdom (Exodus 16:20-21), the taste of the manna varied according to the wish of the eater, and “tempered itself to every man’s liking.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 16:31
Verse 31. Called the name thereof Manna] See Clarke on Exodus 16:15.
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 16:31
31–34. A further description of the manna, and directions for a pot of it to be preserved in the sanctuary, as a witness to future generations how Israel had been sustained in the wilderness.
Barnes' Notes on Exodus 16:31
manna - It was not indeed the common manna, as they then seem to have believed, but the properties which are noted in this passage are common to it and the natural product: in size, form and color it
Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 16:31
31. Like coriander seed — It lay on the ground in small seed-like, pearl-coloured grains. Though called bread it is not to be imagined as a loaf, but as like a grain or seed.
Sermons on Exodus 16:31
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Graves of Lust by Teresa Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher begins by expressing gratitude for God's mercy and anointing to set people free from lust and discontent. The sermon focuses on the story of the Israel |
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Desert Survival Series Pt 22- Moses the Servant of God by Don Courville | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of putting God first in our lives. He refers to the story of the Israelites in the wilderness, where God provided manna for t |
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The Mischief of Sin by Thomas Watson | Thomas Watson preaches about the mischief of sin, highlighting God's mercy in saving Christians from persisting in sin and the consequences of unrepentant sinners storing up wrath |
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The Pot of Manna by George Warnock | George Warnock delves into the significance of manna in the wilderness, highlighting how the people named it 'What is it?' as they did not fully understand its nature, but knew it |
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Marks of the Righteous by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes the characteristics of true ministers of God as foretold by the prophet Isaiah, highlighting that they will proclaim the all-sufficiency of Christ and li |
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Spiritual Fluctuations by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink explores the concept of 'Spiritual Fluctuations,' emphasizing that true Christians experience significant changes in their spiritual lives, contrasting with those who mai |
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John 7:37 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker discusses a period of 400 years of darkness and stillness without any prophetic voice. Suddenly, a man appears in the wilderness, wearing a piece of old |