Exodus 16 33

Exodus 16:33 kjv

And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.

Exodus 16:33 nkjv

And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations."

Exodus 16:33 niv

So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the LORD to be kept for the generations to come."

Exodus 16:33 esv

And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the LORD to be kept throughout your generations."

Exodus 16:33 nlt

Moses said to Aaron, "Get a jar and fill it with two quarts of manna. Then put it in a sacred place before the LORD to preserve it for all future generations."

Exodus 16 verses

Exodus 16 33 Meaning

Exodus 16:33 records Moses' instruction to Aaron to preserve an omer of manna in a jar, to be kept perpetually "before the Lord" as a lasting testimony of God's miraculous provision for Israel in the wilderness. This act ensures that future generations would witness and remember God's divine faithfulness and the sustenance He provided from heaven during their forty-year journey. It emphasizes that human life is sustained not by human means alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Exodus 16 33 Context

Exodus chapter 16 depicts the Israelite's murmuring against Moses and Aaron for lack of food shortly after their deliverance from Egypt and journey through the wilderness of Sin. God responds mercifully by promising and providing both quail in the evening and manna, "bread from heaven," every morning. Strict instructions are given regarding the gathering of manna (only enough for the day, double on the sixth day for the Sabbath, none on the Sabbath itself). This verse (16:33) institutes a permanent memorial of this daily divine sustenance, ensuring future generations would know of God's miraculous provision during this foundational period of their national existence. This occurs even before the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, highlighting God's immediate and tangible care for His newly formed nation. Historically, the preservation of the manna jar, along with Aaron's budding rod and the tablets of the Testimony, became central to the worship in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, specifically within the Ark of the Covenant, signifying the perpetual covenant relationship between God and Israel.

Exodus 16 33 Word analysis

• And Moses said: Denotes direct divine command and delegation of authority from God through Moses.
• to Aaron: Aaron, as Moses’ brother and later High Priest, is tasked with this sacred duty, highlighting its priestly and ritual significance.
• Take: A command (Imperative), demanding immediate action for preservation.
• a jar: Hebrew: tsintsenet (צִנְצֶנֶת). This specific term for a jar, likely made of clay, implies a durable container suitable for long-term preservation. It suggests a common, perhaps unassuming, vessel chosen by God for a sacred purpose.
• and put: Another command, indicating the action to place the item into the designated container.
• an omer: Hebrew: ‘omer (עֹ֫מֶר). A specific unit of measure, approximately 2.3 liters (or about 2 quarts). This precise quantity represents the daily allowance of manna per person (Ex 16:16). It signifies sufficiency and divine provision, emphasizing that God provides exactly what is needed, not more or less, demonstrating His control and His covenant to meet their needs.
• of manna: Hebrew: man (מָן). The miraculous bread-like substance provided by God. Its name, "What is it?" (Ex 16:15), emphasizes its mysterious, supernatural origin. It was a tangible sign of God's presence and care, crucial for survival in the barren wilderness. It symbolizes divine sustenance, humility, and complete reliance on God.
• in it: Referring to the jar, confirming the vessel for preservation.
• and place it: Direct instruction for positioning.
• before the Lord: Hebrew: lifnei YHWH (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה). This phrase denotes a consecrated act and a holy place. While the Tabernacle had not yet been constructed, it anticipates the future sacred space. It implies that the manna would be kept in God's immediate presence, within the Most Holy Place, serving as a perpetual reminder to God's people and potentially as a visual covenant sign to God Himself, a witness to His covenant faithfulness. This also signifies the reverence due to God's provision.
• to be kept: Hebrew: le-mishmeret (לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת). Meaning "for preservation," "for a keeping," "for a charge." This highlights its purpose as a memorial and a sacred trust. It underscores the perpetual nature of the command and the importance of its long-term retention.
• for your generations: Hebrew: le-doroteychem (לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם). This signifies that the memorial's purpose extends through all future generations of Israel. It emphasizes intergenerational teaching and remembrance, ensuring that the miraculous nature of God's provision would never be forgotten. It links past divine acts to future collective memory and faith.

Words-group analysis

• "Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it": This phrase gives the specific physical instructions for the memorial, indicating a tangible and measurable preservation of God's direct sustenance.
• "place it before the Lord": This group of words emphasizes the sacred context of the memorial, designating it as something set apart for God Himself, likely within the sanctuary that would soon be constructed, ultimately the Ark of the Covenant (Heb 9:4). It imbues the physical object with spiritual significance.
• "to be kept for your generations": This phrase defines the primary purpose of the memorial—perpetual remembrance and instruction across time. It underlines the enduring relevance of God's past acts for the faith and understanding of future Israelites, underscoring the intergenerational nature of the covenant.

Exodus 16 33 Bonus section

The manna was provided for forty years, until the Israelites entered the Promised Land (Ex 16:35; Josh 5:12), perfectly spanning their wilderness journey. The instruction to preserve an omer of manna demonstrated God's desire for His people to remember not just His power, but also their own vulnerability and His consistent grace. The fact that the manna normally spoiled overnight (Ex 16:20), but this specific omer was miraculously preserved, served as a perpetual sign of divine intervention and a witness to His power. This miracle highlights the unique and sacred nature of the command in verse 33. The inclusion of the manna jar with Aaron's rod and the Ten Commandments tablets within the Ark underscores that divine provision, priesthood, and law are foundational elements of God's covenant with Israel.

Exodus 16 33 Commentary

Exodus 16:33 establishes a perpetual reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness and His unique method of sustaining His people in the wilderness. The preserved omer of manna was more than just a historical artifact; it was a visible token of a spiritual truth: God's people depend utterly on His daily provision. It taught them humility and that "man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord" (Deut 8:3). This sacred item, placed "before the Lord" within the Ark of the Covenant, testified to Israel's journey and God's miraculous care, anticipating Christ, the true Bread of Life (Jn 6:35), who is spiritual sustenance for eternal life. This physical sign pointed to a greater spiritual reality: that God continuously provides for the spiritual and physical needs of His people.Examples for practical usage:

• Regularly reflecting on God's past provisions to strengthen faith in present and future needs.
• Passing down testimonies of God's goodness to children and grandchildren.
• Remembering that true sustenance for life comes from reliance on God and His Word, not just worldly resources.