Exodus 16 28

Exodus 16:28 kjv

And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?

Exodus 16:28 nkjv

And the LORD said to Moses, "How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?

Exodus 16:28 niv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?

Exodus 16:28 esv

And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?

Exodus 16:28 nlt

The LORD asked Moses, "How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?

Exodus 16 verses

Exodus 16 28 Meaning

Exodus 16:28 presents a direct question from the Lord to Moses, conveying God's deep frustration and disappointment with the people of Israel. Despite witnessing His miraculous provision of manna and receiving clear instructions regarding its gathering, especially concerning the Sabbath, some Israelites willfully defied these commands. The verse encapsulates divine patience challenged by persistent human refusal to obey His explicit directives and trust in His provision, highlighting their foundational lack of faith and reverence for His established order.

Exodus 16 28 Context

Exodus chapter 16 details God's miraculous provision of manna and quails for the grumbling Israelites in the wilderness of Sin. God instructs Moses to tell the people to gather an omer of manna per person daily for six days. On the sixth day, they are to gather a double portion because the seventh day, the Sabbath, would be a day of rest with no manna provided. This was a clear test of obedience and trust in God's provision. Despite Moses' explicit warnings against leaving any manna over until morning (Ex 16:19), some still did, and it bred worms. More critically, despite being told no manna would be available on the seventh day (Ex 16:26), some still went out to gather, only to find none. Exodus 16:28 captures God's direct and deeply concerned question to Moses in response to this repeated act of defiance and unbelief. This episode predates the formal giving of the Law at Mount Sinai (Ex 20) and serves as an initial test of Israel's covenant readiness, highlighting their immediate failure to follow basic instructions.

Exodus 16 28 Word analysis

• And the LORD (wYHWH - ויהוה): The opening conjunctive "And" links this statement to the previous events of the Israelites' disobedience. "The LORD" uses the covenant name YHWH (Yahweh), emphasizing God's personal relationship with Israel, His faithfulness to His promises (even in provision), and His divine authority in issuing the command. This is not a general deity, but the specific God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who acts in their history.
• said (yomer - יאמר): Signifies a direct, authoritative verbal communication from God to Moses. It implies an intentional address.
• to Moses (el Moshe - אל משה): Confirms Moses' unique role as the mediator between God and the Israelites. God speaks through Moses, establishing divine communication.
• How long (ad-matay - עד־מתי): This is a rhetorical question expressing profound frustration, lament, and exasperation on God's part. It’s not a request for information but a lamentation over persistent, irrational, and willful disobedience. It conveys disappointment that His people have not learned despite miraculous interventions and clear instructions. It highlights divine patience stretching to its limits.
• will you refuse (ma'antem - מאנתם): From the root מאן (ma'an), meaning "to refuse," "be unwilling," "resist," or "reject." This is a strong verb indicating stubbornness and a deliberate act of non-compliance, not mere forgetfulness or weakness. It denotes a hard-heartedness, an active choice against God's will. The plural form refers to the people of Israel as a whole, addressing their collective rebellion through their representative, Moses.
• to keep (lishmor - לשמור): From the root שמר (shamar), meaning "to keep," "observe," "guard," "watch," "preserve." It implies not just superficial adherence but careful, diligent, and protective observance of the commands. It signifies active responsibility.
• my commandments (mitzvotay - מצותי): From the root צוה (tzavah), "to command, charge." These are authoritative, divine directives from God. It highlights that these are not mere suggestions but binding obligations given by the supreme authority.
• and my laws (v'torotay - ותורתי): "And" connects these terms, signifying a unified body of divine instruction. Torotay (plural of Torah) comes from ירה (yarah), meaning "to teach, instruct, direct." While often translated "law," Torah primarily means divine "instruction" or "teaching," revealing God's character and His will for His people. Here, it refers to the specific teaching and instructions given regarding the manna and the Sabbath. This phrasing underscores the breadth and divine origin of the requirements being violated.

Words-group Analysis:

• "How long will you refuse": This phrase dramatically portrays God's enduring patience amidst Israel's enduring stubbornness. It reflects a heart that continues to turn away despite repeated blessings and clear guidance. The "how long" sets up a universal challenge that reappears throughout biblical narratives when humans resist divine will.
• "to keep my commandments and my laws": This pairing emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's demands. It's not just a single rule but an overarching principle of obedience and trust in God's divine instruction that is being disregarded. It also stresses the divine origin and authoritative weight of these instructions, distinguishing them from human customs or mere suggestions.

Exodus 16 28 Bonus Section

• Pre-Sinai Sabbath: The command regarding the Sabbath in Exodus 16 precedes the formal promulgation of the Decalogue (Ex 20). This suggests that the principle of Sabbath rest was already known or established by God, perhaps through oral tradition from creation (Gen 2:2-3), and was reinforced and tested here before being formally codified at Sinai as part of the Mosaic Covenant. This indicates its foundational importance to God's created order and His covenant relationship with humanity.
• A Test of Trust: The entire manna provision, including the Sabbath rule, functioned as a continuous test of Israel's reliance on God (Ex 16:4). Their inability to trust God for sufficient provision and rest on the Sabbath day revealed a deeper spiritual problem of unbelief and self-sufficiency, preferring to rely on their own efforts rather than God's unfailing promise.
• Divine Anthropopathy: The phrase "How long will you refuse" is an example of divine anthropopathy—attributing human emotions (frustration, disappointment) to God. This language allows finite human beings to grasp God's disposition towards sin and rebellion, revealing His just anger intertwined with His immense patience and desire for His people to walk in obedience. It conveys the real burden their sin places upon His heart.

Exodus 16 28 Commentary

Exodus 16:28 is a poignant divine lament revealing the core issue within the nascent covenant relationship between God and Israel: a lack of faith manifested in disobedience. God, having just demonstrated His ability to provide abundantly for their every need, expresses profound exasperation when His simple, life-sustaining instructions are immediately ignored. The people's defiance in going out to gather manna on the Sabbath, despite explicit warnings and an object lesson from the previous day's spoiled manna, was not mere forgetfulness but a "refusal"—a stubborn act rooted in distrust and self-will.

This verse lays bare the struggle for obedience that will define much of Israel's wilderness journey and subsequent history. It highlights that the giving of laws is not solely about rigid rules, but about revealing God's character, fostering trust, and establishing a way of life that brings blessing. The repeated "my commandments" and "my laws" underscore God's ownership and authority over these instructions. The "how long" is a cry of the heart from a patient Father towards rebellious children, underscoring that obedience stems from a heart that truly knows and trusts Him. This episode serves as a powerful foundational narrative about humanity's innate tendency toward rebellion and the enduring patience of God in the face of such resistance.