Exodus 16 14

Exodus 16:14 kjv

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 16:14 nkjv

And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.

Exodus 16:14 niv

When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.

Exodus 16:14 esv

And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground.

Exodus 16:14 nlt

When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground.

Exodus 16 verses

Exodus 16 14 Meaning

Exodus 16:14 describes the appearance of the manna, the miraculous provision of food from God, to the Israelites in the wilderness. After the dew had evaporated, a small, delicate substance resembling hoarfrost was found spread across the desert floor. This verse specifically details the moment of its first clear discovery each morning, highlighting its unique physical characteristics.

Exodus 16 14 Context

Exodus chapter 16 unfolds approximately a month after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, during their journey through the Wilderness of Sin. Having exhausted the provisions brought from Egypt, the people began to complain bitterly to Moses and Aaron, longing for the food they had in slavery and accusing their leaders of bringing them into the desert to starve. In response to their murmuring, and demonstrating His unfailing faithfulness, the Lord promised to rain bread from heaven and provide meat in the evening. This divine intervention was a test of Israel's obedience and a continuous demonstration of God's direct, personal provision for His chosen people in an uninhabitable land, establishing His sovereignty and their utter dependence on Him. Verse 14 specifically describes the visible manifestation of this promised "bread" on the ground each morning.

Exodus 16 14 Word analysis

• And when the dew (וְהַטַּל - vəhaṭṭal):
  • vəhaṭṭal translates to "and the dew." In a desert environment, dew is a precious source of moisture and is often associated with divine blessing or refreshing (e.g., Deut 33:28; Psa 133:3; Hos 14:5).
  • The appearance of manna after the dew implies a unique formation, separate from the dew itself, yet requiring its presence or absence. The manna wasn't merely dew, but appeared after it.
• was gone up (עָלָה - ʿālâ):
  • ʿālâ means "to ascend," "to go up," "to evaporate." This indicates the natural process of the morning dew evaporating as the sun rose.
  • The precise timing is important: the manna was not found in the dew, but after it had disappeared, making its distinct presence clearly visible and remarkable.
• behold, (וְהִנֵּה - vəhinnêh):
  • This interjection functions as a pointer, drawing the reader's attention to a new or surprising occurrence. It emphasizes the striking nature of what was found.
• upon the face of the wilderness (עַל־פְּנֵי הַמִּדְבָּר - ʿal-pənê hammiḏbār):
  • ʿal-pənê means "upon the surface of" or "upon the face of."
  • hammiḏbār means "the wilderness" or "the desert." This specifies the vast, desolate landscape where the manna appeared, reinforcing the miraculous nature of God's provision in an uncultivable land. It was not localized, but covered a wide area.
• there lay (שְׁכֶבֶת - šəḵeḇeṯ):
  • šəḵeḇeṯ refers to something "lying" or "laid down," a deposited substance. It conveys a sense of abundance and ease of collection.
  • The root means "to lie down," suggesting a peaceful and orderly appearance, not scattered haphazardly or difficult to discern.
• a small round thing, as small as (דַּק - daq and כַּקָּרְחִית - kakaqr̥ḥiṯ):
  • daq means "thin," "fine," "small," or "scaled." It emphasizes the delicate and fine granular nature of the manna, rather than a solid or thick mass. While "round" is often inferred from later descriptions (like coriander seed), daq primarily focuses on its fineness or flakiness.
  • kakaqr̥ḥiṯ translates to "like the hoarfrost." The prefix ka- means "like" or "as." The word qarḥiṯ refers to hoarfrost, which is typically delicate, crystalline, and white. This comparison provides both a visual (white/translucent) and textural (fine, brittle) description of the manna.
• the hoarfrost on the ground. (הָאָרֶץ - hāʾāreṣ):
  • hāʾāreṣ means "the ground" or "the earth." The phrase clarifies that the comparison is to hoarfrost as it appears naturally on the ground, which is thin, widespread, and glistening. This further grounds the description in a tangible, though miraculous, reality for the Israelites.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And when the dew was gone up, behold...": This phrase sets the scene and creates an expectation. The evaporation of dew acts as a natural signal for the miraculous appearance, emphasizing that the manna was distinct from any natural moisture and directly manifested by divine power at a specific time. The "behold" stresses the awe and wonder of this daily discovery.
• "...upon the face of the wilderness there lay...": This establishes the vast scope and deliberate placement of the provision. It highlights that God's food covered the entire camp area, available for all, rather than being concentrated in one spot. It underscored the immediate, visible fulfillment of God's promise.
• "...a small round thing, as small as the hoarfrost on the ground.": This is the core descriptive phrase for the manna's initial appearance. The comparison to "hoarfrost" emphasizes its delicate, white, crystalline, and transient nature. "Small" and "fine" suggest a substance that was easy to gather but also a continuous miracle, as it lacked the substantiality of typical cultivated food, hinting at its supernatural origin and the Israelites' need to trust God daily.

Exodus 16 14 Bonus section

• The daily appearance of the manna after the dew's evaporation reinforces its supernatural origin, preventing any human claim of cultivation or natural explanation for its presence.
• The term daq, meaning fine or thin, in contrast with a bulky substance, illustrates the immense quantity God could provide daily through a multitude of delicate particles, sustaining millions over forty years.
• The hoarfrost analogy connects the manna's physical characteristics to elements associated with the sky or atmosphere, implying a direct descent from "heaven," a theme picked up powerfully in the New Testament with Jesus as the "true bread from heaven."
• This verse, along with subsequent descriptions of manna, demonstrates God's creative power, manifesting a new substance purely for the purpose of sustaining His covenant people.

Exodus 16 14 Commentary

Exodus 16:14 provides the inaugural physical description of the manna, God's miraculous provision of daily bread for Israel in the wilderness. The meticulous details given — appearing after the dew evaporated, spread upon the face of the wilderness, and described as "a small fine thing, like hoarfrost on the ground" — highlight several key aspects. Firstly, the timing ensures that the manna could not be mistaken for dew or any ordinary condensation; its distinct presence was clearly observed after the natural moisture had vanished. Secondly, its pervasive spread "upon the face of the wilderness" underscored God's abundant and accessible provision for the entire nation, even in a desolate place where sustenance was humanly impossible. Thirdly, the comparison to "hoarfrost" suggests its delicate, crystalline appearance, possibly white or translucent, and emphasizes its transient nature, reinforcing the daily cycle of provision and dependence. This miraculous food served not only as physical sustenance but as a tangible daily lesson in trust, humility, and obedience to God's precise instructions (as seen in later verses). It vividly demonstrated God's personal involvement and faithful care for His people, nurturing them physically and spiritually.