Exodus 16 17

Exodus 16:17 kjv

And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.

Exodus 16:17 nkjv

Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less.

Exodus 16:17 niv

The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little.

Exodus 16:17 esv

And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less.

Exodus 16:17 nlt

So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little.

Exodus 16 verses

Exodus 16 17 Meaning

Exodus 16:17 describes the immediate action of the Israelites after receiving Moses' instructions for gathering manna in the wilderness. It notes their practical obedience in going out to gather the bread from heaven, but also observes the natural human variability in their effort or capacity, resulting in some collecting more and others less than the prescribed amount. This sets the stage for the following verse (16:18), which reveals God's miraculous provision that ensured each person ultimately had exactly what was needed, regardless of what they individually gathered.

Exodus 16 17 Context

h2Exodus chapter 16 depicts a critical turning point in Israel's journey through the wilderness after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt and crossing of the Red Sea. They had murmured against Moses and Aaron for lack of food in the wilderness of Sin, lamenting that they had preferred the meager fare of Egyptian slavery over freedom and hunger. In response to their complaints, yet out of His unwavering faithfulness, God promised to rain "bread from heaven" for them. Moses conveyed God's detailed instructions: each person was to gather an omer (a specific dry measure) per head, except on the sixth day when they were to collect a double portion, preparing for the Sabbath on which no manna would fall. Verse 17 simply states that the people followed these general instructions to gather, though their individual effort or capacity varied, setting the stage for the revelation of God's consistent and equitable provision in verse 18. This event serves as a foundational lesson in God's faithfulness, daily dependence, and the sanctity of the Sabbath.

Exodus 16 17 Word analysis

h2

• And (וּ / u-): A common Hebrew conjunctive, here joining the people's action to Moses' previous command. It signals continuation.
• the children of Israel (בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל / b'nei Yisrael): Literally, "sons of Israel." This phrase identifies the entire nation as a collective, God's covenant people. Their action, despite individual differences, represents the communal response to divine instruction. It signifies their identity as God's chosen, now directly reliant on His provision in the wilderness.
• did so (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן / va'ya'asu chen): Literally, "and they did thus" or "and they acted thus." This phrase confirms their immediate, albeit varied, obedience to Moses' instructions in verse 16 regarding gathering the manna. It highlights the general adherence to God's command.
• and gathered (וַיִּלְקְטוּ / va'yilketu): From the root לקט (laqat), "to gather" or "to glean." This verb specifically implies picking up what has fallen to the ground. In this unique context, it refers to collecting the manna, which literally "fell" like dew or frost. This action required physical labor, teaching dependence not only on God's giving but also on their participation.
• some more, some less (אִישׁ מַרְבֵּה וְאִישׁ מִמְעִיט / ish marbeh v'ish mim'it): Literally, "a man multiplying and a man diminishing." This phrase captures the individual human variation in the amount collected.
  • some more (אִישׁ מַרְבֵּה / ish marbeh): Signifies individuals who gathered an excessive quantity, perhaps driven by zeal, strength, or even greed and distrust, desiring to store up. It reflects a human tendency to over-provide or accumulate.
  • some less (וְאִישׁ מִמְעִיט / v'ish mim'it): Refers to those who gathered a smaller quantity, possibly due to weakness, lack of diligence, skepticism, or simply collecting what they initially perceived as enough. It highlights human limitation or a lack of robust effort.
• "And the children of Israel did so, and gathered": This initial clause emphasizes that despite the murmurings preceding this event, there was a collective, obedient response to God's provision. It establishes the people's immediate engagement with the miraculous food. Their action demonstrates a step of faith and cooperation.
• "some more, some less": This critical phrase highlights the disparity in the human act of gathering. It foregrounds the diversity in human effort, capability, and perhaps trust levels, setting a vivid contrast for the divine leveling that immediately follows in Exodus 16:18. This variability showcases a real-world scenario where human inputs differ. It also subtly indicates the Israelite people's yet incomplete understanding of true trust and obedience, before God reveals the perfection of His provision.

Exodus 16 17 Bonus section

h2The seemingly simple phrase "some more, some less" is crucial because it debunks any idea that the equal portion received (in Ex 16:18) was due to the Israelites' precise obedience or clever rationing on their part. Instead, it places the emphasis squarely on the supernatural element of God's daily supply, proving His equitable care despite varying human effort or capacity. This principle foreshadows the spiritual equality found in the Body of Christ, where God's grace ensures that all receive what is sufficient for their needs and spiritual nourishment. The daily provision also served as a daily test, instructing them in ongoing dependence and trust, directly counteracting the self-sufficiency and hoarding mentality prevalent in their former Egyptian environment. It was a visible, tangible, and daily demonstration that Yahweh was their ultimate provider, not their own strength, past experiences, or human systems.

Exodus 16 17 Commentary

h2Exodus 16:17 is a pivotal observation leading into one of the most remarkable daily miracles in the wilderness journey. It succinctly captures the practical human response to God's promised provision of manna. The Israelites, as instructed, went out and gathered. However, typical of human behavior, some exerted more effort or perhaps harbored greater anxiety, collecting more than the specified omer, while others collected less, possibly due to infirmity, less zeal, or a yet-undeveloped trust. This variation in collection highlights the immediate, tangible reality of individual human action. The verse serves to underscore that the upcoming miracle in Exodus 16:18—where regardless of what was collected, each person measured out exactly an omer and had no excess or lack—was entirely of God's doing. It was not a result of perfect human diligence or equitable distribution by Moses, but a sovereign act of God ensuring divine equality and daily sustenance for His people. This detail thus amplifies the divine nature of the provision, correcting any notion that their sustenance was merely a sum of human effort. It teaches reliance on God's grace and supply rather than individual performance or anxiety-driven hoarding.Optional: Examples of practical usage might include considering modern "gathering" in terms of spiritual or material resources, where individuals might feel they gather "more" or "less" in their Christian walk. The lesson from this verse points to God's ultimate role in providing what is needed for each, ensuring divine equity and challenging anxieties about scarcity or personal insufficiency, encouraging trust in His provision regardless of one's perceived "gathering" ability.