Exodus 16:31
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Exodus 16:31
31 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.
Chapter Context
Exodus 16 is a narrative with legal sections chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of mercy, faith, hope. 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 demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. 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 16:31
31 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.
Analysis
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—The official naming as 'Manna' (מָן, man, 'What is it?') permanently memorializes Israel's initial bewilderment. Physical descriptions—coriander seed size, white color, honey wafer taste—ground the miraculous in sensory reality. The comparison to 'honey' (דְּבַשׁ, d'vash) connects to the promised land 'flowing with milk and honey,' showing God provides promised-land sweetness even in wilderness. Numbers 11:7-8 adds that it could be ground, beaten, baked, or boiled, showing divine provision's versatility. This daily miracle of pleasant taste for 40 years demonstrates God's goodness—He didn't merely sustain life but gave satisfaction. Christ invites believers to 'taste and see that the Lord is good' (Ps 34:8).
Historical Context
The detailed physical description confirms historical reality while emphasizing the miraculous. No natural substance matches manna's complete profile: daily appearance, Sabbath cessation, double portions, 40-year duration.
Reflection
- How does manna's pleasant taste reveal God's provision includes satisfaction, not mere survival?
- What does naming the bread 'What is it?' teach about receiving God's gifts even when we don't understand them?
Cross-References
- References Israel: Exodus 16:15
- Related: Song of Solomon 2:3