Exodus 16 34

Exodus 16:34 kjv

As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

Exodus 16:34 nkjv

As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

Exodus 16:34 niv

As the LORD commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law, so that it might be preserved.

Exodus 16:34 esv

As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the testimony to be kept.

Exodus 16:34 nlt

Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded Moses. He eventually placed it in the Ark of the Covenant ? in front of the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant.

Exodus 16 verses

Exodus 16 34 Meaning

Exodus 16:34 describes the specific divine instruction given to Moses and carried out by Aaron concerning the jar of manna. It states that as commanded by the Lord, Aaron placed a portion of manna "before the Testimony," signifying its storage in the most holy place, the Ark of the Covenant, as a perpetual memorial. This act ensured that future generations would have a tangible reminder of God's miraculous provision and enduring faithfulness during Israel's wilderness journey.

Exodus 16 34 Context

Exodus chapter 16 records Israel's first significant period of murmuring for food after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt and crossing of the Red Sea. In response to their complaints, the Lord miraculously provides quails in the evening and manna every morning. Specific instructions are given regarding its collection, daily quantity, and preservation (with no collecting on the Sabbath). Exodus 16:34 concludes this narrative, emphasizing that the act of storing the manna was a direct divine command executed with precision, establishing a lasting symbol within the central artifact of Israelite worship—the Ark of the Covenant, often referred to by the "Testimony" it contained. Historically, this event solidified the nascent nation's dependence on God for sustenance, providing an ongoing lesson against reliance on their own efforts or the fleeting provisions of the world. It also served as a stark contrast to pagan fertility cults that emphasized human efforts or the capricious favor of local deities, demonstrating the living God's consistent and direct care for His people.

Exodus 16 34 Word analysis

• As the Lord commanded: כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה (ka'asher tsivvah Adonai). This phrase immediately establishes the divine origin and authority behind the subsequent action. It underscores that Moses was not acting on his own initiative but directly transmitting God's will. This is a common phrase in the Pentateuch, affirming divine mandate for instructions and actions.

• Moses: מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh). The divinely appointed leader, prophet, and mediator of the covenant between God and Israel. His role is to receive and communicate God's instructions faithfully.

• so Aaron: וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ אַהֲרֹן (vayannikhehu Aharon). Aaron, Moses's brother, who was designated to become Israel's first High Priest. His direct involvement highlights the sacredness of the act, performing a duty that would typically fall to a priest or the High Priest, even before the Tabernacle was fully constructed. This indicates that the ritual aspects of storing holy relics were already being initiated under divine guidance.

• laid it up: וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ (vayannikhehu). From the root נוח (nuakh), meaning "to rest" or "to settle." This verb suggests a careful, deliberate placement rather than mere storage, emphasizing the reverence due to the object and its symbolic purpose.

• before the Testimony: לִפְנֵי הָעֵדֻת (lifnei ha'edut). This is a crucial geographical and theological identifier. לִפְנֵי (lifnei) means "in the face of," "in the presence of," or "before." הָעֵדֻת (ha'edut), "The Testimony," refers specifically to the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments (Ex 25:16, 21), which were later housed within the Ark of the Covenant. Thus, "before the Testimony" indicates that the jar of manna was placed inside the Ark, alongside the tablets. This sacred location signifies the deep connection between God's gracious provision (manna) and His covenantal law (Testimony). It shows God's commitment not only to sustain His people physically but also to bind them to His revealed will, emphasizing that life comes through both His provision and His precepts. Placing the manna here demonstrated God's ongoing presence and care within the most sacred space. This directly contrasted with contemporary pagan practices, where deities might be housed in temples but were often seen as aloof or appeased only by extensive ritual; the God of Israel dwelt intimately among His people, making Himself manifest through covenant and miraculous care.

• to be kept: לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת (l'mishmeret). From the root שמר (shamar), "to watch, guard, keep." This noun signifies "for a keeping," "as a perpetual memorial," or "for preservation." It indicates the specific purpose of the act: to maintain the manna as a permanent, enduring witness for future generations, reminding them of God's unwavering faithfulness and power. It was not merely to be stored but perpetually preserved as a holy artifact.

• "As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up": This phrase highlights obedience and the established chain of command and authority. It stresses divine instruction being flawlessly executed through His chosen mediators, emphasizing the trustworthiness of the divine revelation and the system being put in place. This underscores that sacred acts must adhere precisely to divine mandates, rather than human invention.

Exodus 16 34 Bonus section

The consistent presence of three items within the Ark of the Covenant, as later confirmed in Hebrews 9:4 (the golden jar of manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant), carries profound theological symbolism. The manna represents God's sustenance and faithfulness despite human complaining; Aaron's rod signifies God's vindication of His chosen leadership (against Korah's rebellion); and the Tablets embody God's holy law and covenant. Together, these artifacts encapsulate the core narrative of Israel's early wilderness experience: God's gracious provision, His sovereign authority and choice, and His holy requirements. Placing them all together within the Ark, "before the Testimony," emphasized that God's dwelling among His people brought with it a remembrance of their reliance, His authority, and His perfect standard. This collective witness within the holiest place prepared Israel to understand the comprehensive nature of God's interaction with them, laying a groundwork for appreciating a salvation that addresses not only their physical needs but also their rebellion and moral failings, ultimately finding their complete resolution in Christ. The future absence of the Ark in the Second Temple era (post-exilic) and the New Covenant's emphasis suggest a shift from physical memorials to spiritual realities, with Christ himself embodying all these elements: the true Bread of Life, the faithful High Priest whose priesthood overcomes all rebellion, and the one who perfectly fulfills the Law.

Exodus 16 34 Commentary

Exodus 16:34 serves as a crucial concluding detail to the manna narrative, emphasizing divine precision, human obedience, and the establishment of a lasting covenant memorial. The command originating from the "Lord" and relayed through "Moses" before being enacted by "Aaron" demonstrates the foundational divine-human partnership in the emerging Israelite spiritual system. The placement "before the Testimony" is profoundly significant; it means the jar of manna, representing God's daily physical sustenance, was kept inside the Ark of the Covenant, beside the very tablets of the Law (the Testimony) which codified God's covenant with Israel. This intimately links God's gracious provision to His divine law and presence. It visually taught Israel that sustenance and spiritual life come directly from God, given in the context of His covenant. It acts as a prefigurement of Christ, the true "Bread of Life," who perfectly fulfills God's law and provides eternal spiritual nourishment for those who come to Him. This memorial underscores that God's faithful remembrance of His people, and His acts of salvation, are inseparable from His enduring covenant relationship with them, intended for intergenerational teaching and trust.