Exodus 16:15
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּרְא֣וּ
saw
H7200
וַיִּרְא֣וּ
saw
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
1 of 24
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
בְנֵֽי
And when the children
H1121
בְנֵֽי
And when the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 24
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
3 of 24
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אִ֤ישׁ
one
H376
אִ֤ישׁ
one
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
5 of 24
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אָחִיו֙
to another
H251
אָחִיו֙
to another
Strong's:
H251
Word #:
7 of 24
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
מָ֣ן
It is manna
H4478
מָ֣ן
It is manna
Strong's:
H4478
Word #:
8 of 24
literally a whatness (so to speak), i.e., manna (so called from the question about it)
ה֔וּא
H1931
ה֔וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
9 of 24
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
כִּ֛י
H3588
כִּ֛י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
10 of 24
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
11 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָֽדְע֖וּ
for they wist
H3045
יָֽדְע֖וּ
for they wist
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
12 of 24
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
13 of 24
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
ה֑וּא
H1931
ה֑וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
14 of 24
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
ה֣וּא
H1931
ה֣וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
18 of 24
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
הַלֶּ֔חֶם
unto them This is the bread
H3899
הַלֶּ֔חֶם
unto them This is the bread
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
19 of 24
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
20 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נָתַ֧ן
hath given
H5414
נָתַ֧ן
hath given
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
21 of 24
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Cross References
Exodus 16:4Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.Exodus 16:31And 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.John 6:58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.Deuteronomy 8:3And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.Nehemiah 9:20Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.Nehemiah 9:15And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.1 Corinthians 10:3And did all eat the same spiritual meat;Joshua 5:12And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.John 6:49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.Exodus 16:33And 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.
Historical Context
The permanent naming based on initial confusion emphasizes that God's ways transcend human understanding. Israel spent 40 years eating 'What is it?'—a daily reminder of mystery and dependence.
Questions for Reflection
- How does not understanding God's provision test whether we trust His word over our comprehension?
- What does naming the substance 'What is it?' teach about accepting mystery in spiritual life?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was—The name 'manna' derives from the Hebrew מָן (man), meaning 'What is it?'—Israel's bewildered question becomes the substance's permanent name. This ignorance is pedagogically purposeful: they must learn to receive what they don't understand, depending on God's word about it rather than their own knowledge. The phrase 'they wist not' (לֹא־יָדְעוּ, lo yad'u) emphasizes their complete ignorance, making them like children who must simply trust. Moses' explanation 'This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat' establishes it as divine gift, not natural phenomenon. Christ uses identical logic: 'This is my body...given for you' (Luke 22:19).