Exodus 16 31

Exodus 16:31 kjv

And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

Exodus 16:31 nkjv

And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

Exodus 16:31 niv

The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.

Exodus 16:31 esv

Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

Exodus 16:31 nlt

The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers.

Exodus 16 verses

Exodus 16 31 Meaning

Exodus chapter 16 verse 31 describes the physical characteristics of the Manna, the miraculous food provided by God for the Israelites in the wilderness. It identifies the food by the name "Manna," notes its resemblance to coriander seed in appearance and being white, and details its taste as similar to wafers made with honey, highlighting its palatable and sweet nature.

Exodus 16 31 Context

Exodus 16:31 is nestled within the narrative of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Following their escape and the crossing of the Red Sea, the people soon faced the harsh realities of desert life, including a lack of food. This verse follows directly from the Israelites' initial discovery of the manna on the ground and their confused question, "What is it?" (man hu?). God's miraculous provision of manna, described here, addressed their murmuring and distrust, serving as a daily demonstration of His faithfulness and power to sustain His people even in the barren wilderness. It underscored their absolute reliance on divine sustenance and established a pattern of daily grace.

Exodus 16 31 Word analysis

• And the house of Israel (וַיִּקְרְאוּ בֵית־יִשְׂרָאֵל, vayiqre'u veit-Yisrael): "House of Israel" refers to the entire community of Israelites, signifying a collective agreement and recognition of the new name for the substance. This isn't just an individual's observation, but a unified acknowledgment by God's covenant people.

• called the name thereof Manna (שְׁמוֹ מָן, shmo man): The act of "calling a name" is significant in biblical culture, often indicating identification, understanding of character, or assigning destiny. Here, it formalizes the "What is it?" (man hu) into its proper, recognized name. The word "Manna" itself became synonymous with this miraculous bread from heaven.

• and it was as coriander seed (וְהוּא כְּזֶרַע גַּד, vəhu ke-zera gad): "Coriander seed" (זֶרַע גַּד, zera gad) provides a concrete visual reference that would have been familiar to the Israelites. Coriander seeds are small, round, and yellowish-brown or whitish-grey, indicating a tiny, distinct particle, easily gathered. This grounded the miraculous in a tangible, relatable form.

• white (לָבָן, lavan): The color "white" reinforces the visual description, suggesting purity, cleanliness, or even a divine origin. In the desert landscape, something clean and white would stand out.

• and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey (וְטַעְמוֹ כְּצַפִּיחִת בִּדְבָשׁ, vəta'amo ke-tsappīḥiṯ bi-devash):

  • "Taste" (טַעַם, ṭaʿam): Emphasizes its palatability, indicating it was not merely subsistence food but pleasant.
  • "wafers" (צַפִּיחִת, tsappīḥiṯ): Likely thin, flat cakes, commonly prepared.
  • "honey" (דְבָשׁ, devash): A prized, natural sweetener. The comparison suggests deliciousness, sweetness, and a pleasant, nourishing quality, contrasting sharply with their previous complaints about hunger and the potential bitterness of desert life. This detail highlights God's generosity, providing not just what was necessary, but what was good and enjoyable.

• "Manna: and it was as coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.": This concise description serves multiple purposes: it names the new substance, describes its appearance, and elaborates on its flavor. This rich sensory detail grounds the miracle, making it real and relatable for the original audience and highlighting the specific nature of God's supernatural provision, which was distinct from any earthly food source known to them in that context. The combination of its mysterious appearance and pleasant taste speaks to God's careful and abundant care.

Exodus 16 31 Bonus section

The manna, though a staple, also highlighted Israel's ingratitude and longing for the familiar Egyptian diet (Num 11:4-6), showing how quickly even miraculous provision could be taken for granted. While Exod 16:31 focuses on its delightful aspects, Num 11:8 offers a slightly different taste description ("taste of fresh oil"), perhaps indicating its versatile nature depending on preparation, or merely another descriptive detail. The constant supply for forty years, melting in the sun and putrefying if hoarded (except for the Sabbath portion), underscored its divine and daily, rather than accumulated, nature, instructing Israel in discipline and trust rather than stockpiling and self-reliance. This miracle, unique in biblical history for its scale and duration, serves as a testament to God's specific, intimate, and daily care for His people.

Exodus 16 31 Commentary

Exodus 16:31 provides the essential descriptive elements of the manna, emphasizing God's meticulous care in providing for Israel. The act of the "house of Israel" naming it "Manna" signifies communal acceptance and recognition of its divine origin. The detailed physical descriptions – resembling small, round coriander seeds, white in color, and tasting like sweet, honey-flavored wafers – communicate that this was no ordinary desert shrub or residue. Instead, it was a specifically crafted, pleasant, and miraculously appearing food.

This daily provision served as a profound object lesson. It taught the Israelites radical dependence on God for daily sustenance, reminding them that He would sustain them even in barren lands. The specific instructions for gathering it—daily, but double on the sixth day for the Sabbath—further underscored their need for obedience and trust. This physical provision also foreshadowed a greater spiritual reality, famously elaborated by Jesus in John 6, where He declares Himself the true "Bread of Life" who came down from heaven, providing eternal sustenance that the physical manna could not. The temporary manna points to the eternal Christ.