Exodus 16:15
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Exodus 16:15
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.
Chapter Context
Exodus 16 is a narrative with legal sections chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of prayer, hope, sacrifice. Written during the Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1446-1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Egypt was the dominant superpower with a complex polytheistic religion and a god-king pharaoh.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-36: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it foreshadows Christ's work through typology and prophetic elements. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Exodus and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Exodus 16:15
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.
Analysis
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).
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.
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?
Word Studies
- Lord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai) H3068 - The LORD / Lord
Cross-References
- References Lord: Exodus 16:4, 16:33, Deuteronomy 8:3
- References Israel: Exodus 16:31, Joshua 5:12
- Parallel theme: Nehemiah 9:15, 9:20, John 6:49, 6:58, 1 Corinthians 10:3