Exodus 16:25 kjv
And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.
Exodus 16:25 nkjv
Then Moses said, "Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field.
Exodus 16:25 niv
"Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today.
Exodus 16:25 esv
Moses said, "Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field.
Exodus 16:25 nlt
Moses said, "Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the LORD. There will be no food on the ground today.
Exodus 16 25 Cross References
(h2)
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:2-3 | And on the seventh day God ended His work... and He rested on the seventh day and sanctified it. | God's foundational act of rest, providing the pattern for Sabbath. |
| Exo 16:4 | ...that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or no. | God's explicit intent to test Israel through the manna/Sabbath system. |
| Exo 16:5 | ...it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. | The instruction for the double portion on the sixth day. |
| Exo 16:27 | And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. | People disobeying the command, proving the warning. |
| Exo 16:28 | And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments...? | God's response to the disobedience, highlighting their stubbornness. |
| Exo 20:8-11 | Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy... for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth... and rested the seventh day. | The formal Fourth Commandment, reinforcing the creation basis for Sabbath. |
| Exo 31:13-17 | Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you... | Sabbath established as an perpetual sign of the covenant with Israel. |
| Lev 23:3 | Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest... | General instruction for the observance of the Sabbath as a holy convocation. |
| Num 11:7-9 | And the manna was as coriander seed... the people went about, and gathered it... | Further details on the manna itself and its collection. |
| Deut 5:12-15 | Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it... that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. | Sabbath tied to release from slavery and care for all, echoing rest. |
| Neh 9:13-14 | Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai... and madest known unto them Thy holy sabbath... | Recognition of God revealing the Sabbath to Israel in the wilderness. |
| Jer 17:24-25 | if ye diligently hearken unto me... to hallow the sabbath day... then shall there enter by the gates of this city kings... | Blessings promised for faithful Sabbath observance. |
| Isa 58:13-14 | If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day... then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD... | True spirit of Sabbath observance—delighting in the Lord. |
| Eze 20:12 | Moreover also I gave them My sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. | Emphasizes Sabbath as a sign of God's sanctifying presence and power. |
| Matt 6:25-26 | Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink... | New Testament teaching on trusting God for daily provision, echoing the manna lesson. |
| John 6:31-33 | Our fathers did eat manna in the desert... My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. | Jesus interprets the manna as a type, Himself being the true Bread of Life. |
| Mk 2:27-28 | And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: So that the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. | Jesus' teaching on the purpose of the Sabbath and His authority over it. |
| Heb 3:17-19 | But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? | Links disobedience in the wilderness (including regarding manna/Sabbath) to not entering God's rest. |
| Heb 4:9-11 | There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God... Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest... | The ultimate "Sabbath rest" as a spiritual, eschatological reality for God's people. |
| 1 Cor 10:1-5 | Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud... did all eat the same spiritual meat. | Identifies manna as "spiritual meat," showing its deeper significance beyond physical food. |
| Rev 1:10 | I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice... | New Testament concept of the "Lord's Day," reflecting a change in sacred observance for many Christians. |
Exodus 16 verses
Exodus 16 25 Meaning
(h2)And Moses commanded the Israelites to eat the double portion of manna they had gathered on the sixth day, affirming that the seventh day was the LORD's Sabbath. He declared that no manna would be found in the field on that day, underscoring the divine decree for rest and absolute dependence on God's pre-arranged provision.
Exodus 16 25 Context
(h2)Exodus 16:25 is situated within the broader narrative of God's provision for the Israelites during their forty-year wilderness journey after the Exodus from Egypt. Immediately preceding this, the Israelites are grumbling about lack of food and yearning for the perceived security of Egypt (Exo 16:2-3). In response to their complaints, God promises to "rain bread from heaven" (Exo 16:4) and lays out specific instructions for gathering it: a daily portion for six days, and a double portion on the sixth day. This verse clarifies the purpose of the double portion – it's for the Sabbath. This is the initial, practical implementation of Sabbath rest for Israel, predating the formal giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai (Exo 20) and serving as a divine pedagogical lesson. It tests their obedience and teaches them to trust in God's sustained provision and divine timing.
Exodus 16 25 Word analysis
(h2)
- And Moses said: (וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה - vayyōʾmer Mōšeh) A standard narrative transition, indicating that Moses is communicating a divine instruction or truth, emphasizing the authority behind the command.
- Eat: (אִכְלֻהוּ - ikhlūhū) An imperative verb, a direct command. It refers to the manna that had already been gathered on the sixth day, indicating not just permission but an explicit instruction to partake of the specific provision prepared for that day.
- that: (אֹתֹו - ōt́ōw) The pronoun referring back to the "double portion" of manna gathered on the sixth day (Exo 16:5).
- to day: (הַיּוֹם - hayyom) Emphatically "this day," referring to the specific seventh day. Its repetition in this verse stresses the immediacy and unique character of the current day. It contrasts with the previous six days of gathering.
- for: (כִּי - kı̄) A conjunction meaning "because," "for," or "indeed." It introduces the divine reason or justification for the command to eat only what was gathered on the sixth day.
- to day is: (הַיּוֹם שַׁבָּת - hayyōm šabbāt) Reinforces the present day's identity.
- the sabbath: (שַׁבָּת - šabbāt) From the Hebrew verb shavat, meaning "to cease, to rest." This marks the first explicit practical application of Sabbath observance as a holy day for the entire community of Israel in the wilderness. It implies a cessation from all usual labor, especially food gathering.
- of the LORD: (לַיהוָה - laYHWH) Indicates divine ownership and dedication. The Sabbath is not merely a day off, but YHWH's day, rooted in His own act of rest after creation (Gen 2:2-3). This links it intrinsically to the Covenant God of Israel.
- ye shall not find it: (לֹא תִמְצָאֻהוּ - lōʾ ṯimtsāʾuhū) A negative command or prophecy, directly stating the consequence and divine control. It proves Moses' instruction to be directly from God, as no manna would appear, demonstrating God's sovereignty over creation and provision.
- in the field: (בַּשָּׂדֶה - baśśāḏeh) Refers to the open ground or wilderness outside the camp where the manna normally appeared. It specifically denies finding it in the usual place and manner.
Words-group by words-group analysis (ul)
- Eat that to day: This concise instruction highlights both divine permission and command. It focuses the people's attention on the specific provision for this day, contrasting it sharply with the daily gathering of the previous six days. It also tests their trust that God’s prior provision is sufficient.
- for to day is the sabbath of the LORD: This is the core theological statement providing the absolute reason for the unusual command. It establishes the seventh day as consecrated to YHWH, elevating it beyond a mere calendrical day to a divine appointment for rest and worship. It introduces a foundational concept of time being hallowed by God.
- to day ye shall not find it in the field: This phrase serves as both a confirmation of divine action and a direct test of obedience and faith. It reiterates "to day" for emphasis, clarifying when the manna will not be found. It is the practical, verifiable proof that the Sabbath instruction originates from God Himself, as only He can control the natural phenomena of manna.
Exodus 16 25 Bonus section
(h2)
- The repetitive use of "to day" (הַיּוֹם - hayyom) functions as an anaphora, drawing sharp focus to the current, special day. It heightens the sense of divine command and the unique nature of the Sabbath, underscoring its immediate and present significance for Israel.
- This instance marks a unique pedagogical approach by God: teaching a commandment (Sabbath) before its formal declaration in the Decalogue (Exo 20). This hands-on lesson ensures the people practically experience and understand the principle of the Sabbath before it is legally enshrined, making their subsequent formal acceptance more meaningful.
- The direct divine intervention (withholding the manna) serves as irrefutable evidence for the Israelites that Moses' words regarding the Sabbath are genuinely from the LORD. This public verification builds faith and establishes a precedent for God's enforcement of His commands.
Exodus 16 25 Commentary
(h2)Exodus 16:25 is a crucial verse illustrating God's pedagogical approach with the newly freed Israelites. Prior to the formal giving of the Ten Commandments, God institutes the Sabbath through a practical, observable miracle related to daily sustenance. This was not merely an instruction but a tangible demonstration of God's authority over time and His ability to provide abundantly. The cessation of manna on the seventh day taught Israel about God's design for rest (modeled after creation), reliance on His prior provision, and obedience to His commands. It challenged their natural inclination to strive and collect, instead inviting them to cease their labor and trust in God's sufficiency. This pre-Sinai establishment highlights the Sabbath's fundamental importance as a divine institution and a sign of covenant relationship, shaping Israel's rhythm of life around YHWH's will, fostering both faith and sanctification.
- Examples for practical usage:
- Trusting God's provision for future needs, allowing for times of rest from our striving.
- Recognizing that true rest involves ceasing from our work and committing the day to God.
- Understanding that God is sovereign over all aspects of our lives, including our time and resources.