Exodus 16 26

Exodus 16:26 kjv

Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

Exodus 16:26 nkjv

Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none."

Exodus 16:26 niv

Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any."

Exodus 16:26 esv

Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none."

Exodus 16:26 nlt

You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day."

Exodus 16 26 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 2:2-3By the seventh day God had finished… He rested… blessed… made it holy.Creation, rest, holiness of 7th day.
Exo 16:4"Behold, I am raining bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a certain amount every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not."Manna as a test of obedience.
Exo 16:5On the sixth day… prepare what they bring in, and it will be twice as much as they gather daily.God's provision for the Sabbath beforehand.
Exo 16:22on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread…Confirmation of the double portion on Friday.
Exo 16:23"Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord..."Sabbath is holy rest to the Lord.
Exo 16:27-28Some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none… "How long will you refuse to keep my commandments…?"Disobedience and God's displeasure.
Exo 20:8-11"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor… but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God."Formal Mosaic Law commandment for Sabbath.
Lev 23:3"Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation..."Sabbath as holy convocation.
Num 11:7-9The manna was like coriander seed… went about and gathered it.Description and gathering of manna.
Deut 5:12-15"Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy… Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt…"Sabbath tied to liberation from slavery.
Deut 8:2-3"And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years… that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna…"Manna and wilderness as a test.
Neh 9:15"You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water out of the rock for their thirst…"God's faithfulness in providing manna and water.
Ps 78:24-25"He rained down manna upon them to eat… Man ate of the bread of angels."Divine, heavenly origin of manna.
Ps 105:40They asked, and he brought quails, and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.God's abundant provision.
Isa 56:2Blessed is the man who does this… who keeps the Sabbath…Blessing for Sabbath observance.
Jer 17:21-27"Bring no burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day… then there shall enter by the gates of this city kings… But if you do not listen to me…"Consequences of obeying/disobeying Sabbath.
Ez 20:12"Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them."Sabbath as a sign of God's sanctifying power.
Mt 12:8 / Mk 2:28 / Lk 6:5"For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."Jesus' authority over the Sabbath.
Jn 6:31-35"Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness… Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger…'"Manna as a type of Christ, the true Bread.
Heb 4:1-11Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear… a Sabbath-rest for the people of God remains.Sabbath rest as a spiritual foreshadowing.
Rev 2:17"To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna…"Future spiritual nourishment/reward.

Exodus 16 verses

Exodus 16 26 Meaning

Exodus 16:26 gives a direct instruction from the Lord concerning the gathering of manna. It specifies that the Israelites are to gather manna for six days, but explicitly states that no manna will be available on the seventh day, which is designated as the Sabbath. This command established a divinely ordered pattern of work and rest, ensuring the people relied daily on God's provision while observing a sacred day of cessation from labor.

Exodus 16 26 Context

Exodus chapter 16 depicts the Israelites' journey through the Wilderness of Sin after their deliverance from Egypt. Facing hunger, they complain against Moses and Aaron, leading God to promise them bread from heaven (manna) and meat (quails). The giving of manna served as a daily provision and, crucially, a test of their obedience to God's instructions. This verse is central to these instructions, introducing the Sabbath observance not as a legalistic imposition but as an intrinsic part of God's creational order and a foundational lesson in trusting His timely and sufficient provision. This occurred prior to the formal giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, signifying the Sabbath's pre-Mosaic origin.

Exodus 16 26 Word analysis

  • Six days (שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים, sheishet yamim): Literally "six days." This sets the regular period for activity. It echoes the divine pattern of creation (Gen 1) where God worked for six days before resting on the seventh, establishing a creational precedent for the work week. This pattern is foundational to human endeavor, signifying consistent labor and productivity under divine arrangement.
  • you shall gather it (תִּלְקְט֖וּ, tilketu): From the root לָקַט (laqat), meaning "to gather," "to glean," or "to collect." It implies intentional action and personal effort on the part of each household. While God miraculously provides, humans are required to participate in receiving the provision, demonstrating their willingness to follow instructions.
  • it: Refers directly to the manna, the miraculous bread provided by God.
  • but on the seventh day (וּבַיּוֹם֩ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֨י, uvayyom hashshevi'i): "And on the day, the seventh." The conjunction "but" (וּ, u) introduces a sharp contrast and emphasizes the distinct nature of this particular day. It clearly delineates the special status of the seventh day, setting it apart from the previous six.
  • the Sabbath (שַׁבָּת֙, shabbat): Derived from the root שָׁבַת (shabat), meaning "to cease," "to rest," or "to desist from labor." It denotes more than just inactivity; it is a sacred cessation of ordinary work dedicated to God, signifying a day of consecrated rest and communion. Here, its use prior to the Ten Commandments at Sinai highlights its status as an ancient, God-ordained institution rooted in creation, not solely a Mosaic covenantal law.
  • there will be none (לֹ֣א יִהְיֶה־בּוֹ, lo yihyeh-bo): Literally "there will not be in it," referring to the manna. This phrase conveys an absolute absence. It signifies God's complete control over the manna's appearance, actively withholding it on the Sabbath as a test of obedience and an enforcement of the day's sanctity. It implies that seeking to gather on the Sabbath would be futile and defiant of God's clear command.

Words-group analysis

  • "Six days you shall gather it": This phrase establishes the consistent routine for Israel's daily provision and labor. It underscores God's regular, sustained care and expects regular effort from His people. It highlights that diligence in labor is commendable within the bounds set by God.
  • "but on the seventh day, the Sabbath": This powerful contrast explicitly interrupts the pattern of gathering. It emphasizes the divinely mandated sanctity and distinction of the seventh day. It is not just a break from work but a consecrated time, an intrinsic part of God's order for humanity from creation. This group of words elevates the Sabbath as a special, God-given privilege and obligation.
  • "there will be none": This concluding declaration serves as both a prophetic warning and a divine decree. It stresses the supernatural control God exerts over their sustenance. It assures the people that God's plan is unwavering and reinforces the futility of attempting to transgress His command. It implicitly tests their faith to trust God's provision and honor His boundaries.

Exodus 16 26 Bonus section

The explicit mention of "the Sabbath" here is significant as it demonstrates that the Sabbath principle, deeply rooted in creation (Gen 2:2-3), predates the Mosaic Law. This indicates that God's resting on the seventh day at creation was a universal blueprint for humanity, not just a covenant sign for Israel after Sinai. The narrative details how on the sixth day, the manna gathered would not rot overnight (unlike other days), specifically to sustain them through the Sabbath (Exo 16:23-24). This practical miracle underscored God's intentional provision for the Sabbath rest and actively facilitated obedience to the command of "none on the Sabbath." Conversely, those who disregarded the command and went out on the Sabbath found no manna, providing immediate, tangible evidence of their disobedience and God's displeasure (Exo 16:27-28). The experience of manna and the Sabbath rhythm served as vital training for Israel, fostering their identity as a people who depended solely on the Lord for their sustenance and lived by His revealed will.

Exodus 16 26 Commentary

Exodus 16:26 encapsulates God's strategic instruction for manna collection, specifically serving as an early, practical lesson in observing the Sabbath. It’s a foundational teaching for Israel in the wilderness, long before the Ten Commandments were given at Sinai. Through the manna, God instilled principles of daily reliance, diligent work within a set time frame, and sacred rest on His appointed day. The command tests Israel's obedience and trust: Would they diligently gather for six days, refrain on the seventh, and trust that the double portion gathered on the sixth day would suffice? This practical discipline prepared them for life under the covenant, teaching them the sanctity of time and God's absolute sovereignty over provision and rest. It highlights that God values rest not merely as an absence of labor but as a holy time to cease, reflect, and worship Him.