Exodus

Exodus 16:15–22

¹⁵When 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. ¹⁶This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Each one is to gather as much as he needs. You may take an omer^c for each person in your tent.’”

¹⁷So the Israelites did this. Some gathered more, and some less. ¹⁸When they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.^d Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat.

¹⁹Then Moses said to them, “No one may keep any of it until morning.” ²⁰But they did not listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it became infested with maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

²¹Every morning each one gathered as much as was needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.

²²On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much food — two omers per person^e — and all the leaders of the congregation came and reported this to Moses.

Footnotes

c 16:16 An omer is approximately 2 dry quarts or 2.2 liters; also in verses 18, 32, 33, and 36.
d 16:18 Cited in 2 Corinthians 8:15|2CO 8:15
e 16:22 2 omers is approximately 4 dry quarts or 4.4 liters per person.

Read all of Exodus 16

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Exodus 16:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When the Israelites	בְנֵֽי־	ḇə·nê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
saw it	וַיִּרְא֣וּ	way·yir·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7200 see
they asked	וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
one	אִ֤ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
another	אָחִיו֙	’ā·ḥîw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H251 brother
What	מָ֣ן	mān	Interrogative	H4478 manna
is it	ה֔וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
For	כִּ֛י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
they did not	לֹ֥א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
know	יָדְע֖וּ	yā·ḏə·‘ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3045 know
what	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
it was	ה֑וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
So Moses	מֹשֶׁה֙	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
told	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
them	אֲלֵהֶ֔ם	’ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H413 motion to
It	ה֣וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
is the bread	הַלֶּ֔חֶם	hal·le·ḥem	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3899 bread, food
that	אֲשֶׁ֨ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
the LORD	יְהוָ֛ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
has given	נָתַ֧ן	nā·ṯan	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
you	לָכֶ֖ם	lā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
to eat	לְאָכְלָֽה׃	lə·’āḵ·lāh	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular	H402 food, eating

Exodus 16:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
This	זֶ֤ה	zeh	Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
is what	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
has commanded	צִוָּ֣ה	ṣiw·wāh	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
Each one	אִ֖ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
is to gather	לִקְט֣וּ	liq·ṭū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H3950 pick or gather up
as much	מִמֶּ֔נּוּ	mim·men·nū	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
as	לְפִ֣י	lə·p̄î	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H6310 mouth
he needs	אָכְל֑וֹ	’ā·ḵə·lōw	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H400 food
You may take	תִּקָּֽחוּ׃	tiq·qā·ḥū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H3947 take
an omer	עֹ֣מֶר	‘ō·mer	Noun - masculine singular	H6016 sheaf
for each	לַגֻּלְגֹּ֗לֶת	lag·gul·gō·leṯ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H1538 skull, head, poll
person	נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם	nap̄·šō·ṯê·ḵem	Noun - feminine plural construct; second person masculine plural	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
in your tent	בְּאָהֳל֖וֹ	bə·’ā·ho·lōw	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H168 tent

Exodus 16:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So the Israelites	בְּנֵ֣י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
did	וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־	way·ya·‘ă·śū-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H6213 do, make
this	כֵ֖ן	ḵên	Adverb	H3651 right, veritable, honest
Some gathered	וַֽיִּלְקְט֔וּ	way·yil·qə·ṭū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3950 pick or gather up
more	הַמַּרְבֶּ֖ה	ham·mar·beh	Article; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
and some less	וְהַמַּמְעִֽיט׃	wə·ham·mam·‘îṭ	Conjunctive waw, Article; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H4591 be or become small, diminished, few

Exodus 16:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When they measured it	וַיָּמֹ֣דּוּ	way·yā·mōd·dū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H4058 measure
by the omer	בָעֹ֔מֶר	ḇā·‘ō·mer	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6016 sheaf
he who gathered much	הַמַּרְבֶּ֔ה	ham·mar·beh	Article; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
had no	וְלֹ֤א	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
excess	הֶעְדִּיף֙	he‘·dîp̄	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5736 remain over, be in excess
and he who gathered little	וְהַמַּמְעִ֖יט	wə·ham·mam·‘îṭ	Conjunctive waw, Article; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H4591 be or become small, diminished, few
had no	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
shortfall	הֶחְסִ֑יר	heḥ·sîr	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H2637 lack, need, be lacking, decrease
Each one	אִ֥ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
gathered	לָקָֽטוּ׃	lā·qā·ṭū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3950 pick or gather up
as	לְפִֽי־	lə·p̄î-	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H6310 mouth
much as he needed to eat	אָכְל֖וֹ	’ā·ḵə·lōw	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H400 food

Exodus 16:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then Moses	מֹשֶׁ֖ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
said	וַיֹּ֥אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to them	אֲלֵהֶ֑ם	’ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H413 motion to
No	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
one	אִ֕ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
may keep	יוֹתֵ֥ר	yō·w·ṯêr	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular	H3498 remain over
any of it	מִמֶּ֖נּוּ	mim·men·nū	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
until	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
morning	בֹּֽקֶר׃	bō·qer	Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning

Exodus 16:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But they did not	וְלֹא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
listen	שָׁמְע֣וּ	šā·mə·‘ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H8085 hear
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Moses	מֹשֶׁ֗ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
some people	אֲנָשִׁ֤ים	’ă·nā·šîm	Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
left	וַיּוֹתִ֨רוּ	way·yō·w·ṯi·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3498 remain over
part of	מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙	mim·men·nū	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
it until	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
morning	בֹּ֔קֶר	bō·qer	Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning
and it became infested	וַיָּ֥רֻם	way·yā·rum	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7311 be high, exalted, rise
with maggots	תּוֹלָעִ֖ים	tō·w·lā·‘îm	Noun - masculine plural	H8438 worm, scarlet stuff
and began to smell	וַיִּבְאַ֑שׁ	way·yiḇ·’aš	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H887 be evil, bad
So Moses	מֹשֶֽׁה׃	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
was angry	וַיִּקְצֹ֥ף	way·yiq·ṣōp̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7107 be wroth
with them	עֲלֵהֶ֖ם	‘ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H5921 height

Exodus 16:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Every morning	בַּבֹּ֣קֶר	bab·bō·qer	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning
each one	אִ֖ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
gathered	וַיִּלְקְט֤וּ	way·yil·qə·ṭū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3950 pick or gather up
as much	כְּפִ֣י	kə·p̄î	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct	H6310 mouth
as was needed	אָכְל֑וֹ	’ā·ḵə·lōw	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H400 food
and when the sun	הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ	haš·še·meš	Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun
grew hot	וְחַ֥ם	wə·ḥam	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H2552 be or become warm
it melted away	וְנָמָֽס׃	wə·nā·mās	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H4549 dissolve, melt

Exodus 16:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
On the sixth	הַשִּׁשִּׁ֗י	haš·šiš·šî	Article; Number - ordinal masculine singular	H8345 sixth
day	בַּיּ֣וֹם	bay·yō·wm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
they gathered	לָֽקְט֥וּ	lā·qə·ṭū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3950 pick or gather up
twice	מִשְׁנֶ֔ה	miš·neh	Noun - masculine singular	H4932 double, copy, second
as much food	לֶ֙חֶם֙	le·ḥem	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3899 bread, food
two	שְׁנֵ֥י	šə·nê	Number - masculine dual construct	H8147 two
omers	הָעֹ֖מֶר	hā·‘ō·mer	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6016 sheaf
per person	לָאֶחָ֑ד	lā·’e·ḥāḏ	Preposition-l, Article; Number - masculine singular	H259 one
and all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the leaders	נְשִׂיאֵ֣י	nə·śî·’ê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H5387 one lifted up
of the congregation	הָֽעֵדָ֔ה	hā·‘ê·ḏāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5712 congregation
came	וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
and reported	וַיַּגִּ֖ידוּ	way·yag·gî·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5046 be conspicuous
this to Moses	לְמֹשֶֽׁה׃	lə·mō·šeh	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses