Exodus 16:15 When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

◄ Exodus 16:15 ►

New International Version
When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.

New Living Translation
The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was. And Moses told them, “It is the food the LORD has given you to eat.

English Standard Version
When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

Berean Standard Bible
When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

New American Standard Bible
When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

NASB 1995
When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

NASB 1977
When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the sons of Israel saw it and said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which Yahweh has given you to eat.

Amplified Bible
When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

Christian Standard Bible
When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it? ” because they didn’t know what it was. Moses told them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” because they didn’t know what it was. Moses told them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.

American Standard Version
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, What is it? for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them, It is the bread which Jehovah hath given you to eat.

Contemporary English Version
The people had never seen anything like this, and they started asking each other, "What is it?" Moses answered, "This is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

English Revised Version
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, What is it? for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, It is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the Israelites saw it, they asked each other, "What is this?" because they didn't know what it was. Moses said to them, "It's the food the LORD has given you to eat.

Good News Translation
When the Israelites saw it, they didn't know what it was and asked each other, "What is it?" Moses said to them, "This is the food that the LORD has given you to eat.

International Standard Version
When the Israelis saw it, they asked one another, "What is it?", because they did not know what it was. Moses told them, "It's the food that the LORD has given you to eat.

Majority Standard Bible
When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, ?What is it?? For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, ?It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

NET Bible
When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" because they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you for food.

New Heart English Bible
When the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat."

Webster's Bible Translation
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they knew not what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

World English Bible
When the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they didn’t know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread which Yahweh has given you to eat.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the sons of Israel see, and say to one another, “What [is] it?” For they have not known what it [is]; and Moses says to them, “It [is] the bread which YHWH has given to you for food.

Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Israel see, and say one unto another, 'What is it?' for they have not known what it is; and Moses saith unto them, 'It is the bread which Jehovah hath given to you for food.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sons of Israel will see, and they will say, each to his brother, What this? for they knew not what it was And Moses will say to them, This the bread which Jehovah gave to you to eat.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another: Manhu! which signifieth: What is this! for they knew not what it was. And Moses said to them: This is the bread, which the Lord hath given you to eat.

Catholic Public Domain Version
When the sons of Israel had seen it, they said one to another: “Manhu?” which means “What is this?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them: “This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

New American Bible
On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, “What is this?” for they did not know what it was. But Moses told them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

New Revised Standard Version
When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, Manna-ho? (What is it?) For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the children of Israel saw, and they said, each man to his brother, “What is this? What is it?”, because they did not know what it was. Moshe said to them, “This is the bread that LORD JEHOVAH gives you to eat.”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another: 'What is it?'--for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them: 'It is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, What is this? for they knew not what it was; and Moses said to them,

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Manna and Quail from Heaven
…14When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground. 15When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. 16This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Each one is to gather as much as he needs. You may take an omer for each person in your tent.’ ”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

John 6:31-35
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” / Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. / For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ...

John 6:49-51
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. / This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. / I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

Nehemiah 9:20
You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst.

Psalm 78:24-25
He rained down manna for them to eat; He gave them grain from heaven. / Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance.

1 Corinthians 10:3
They all ate the same spiritual food

Numbers 11:7-9
Now the manna resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of gum resin. / The people walked around and gathered it, ground it on a handmill or crushed it in a mortar, then boiled it in a cooking pot or shaped it into cakes. It tasted like pastry baked with fine oil. / When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it.

Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Psalm 105:40
They asked, and He brought quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

John 6:58
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

Numbers 11:6
But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!”

Deuteronomy 8:16
He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers had not known, in order to humble you and test you, so that in the end He might cause you to prosper.

Matthew 4:4
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

John 6:32
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

Revelation 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.

Treasury of Scripture

And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they knew not what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

Exodus 16:31,33
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…

Deuteronomy 8:3,16
And 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…

Joshua 5:12
And 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.

this is

Exodus 16:4
Then 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.

Numbers 21:5
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

Proverbs 9:5
Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Jump to Previous

Bread Children Eat Idea Israel Israelites Manna Moses Wist

Jump to Next

Bread Children Eat Idea Israel Israelites Manna Moses Wist

Exodus 16

1. The Israelites come to Sin, and murmur for want of bread
4. God promises them bread and meat from heaven, and they are rebuked
13. Quail and manna are sent
16. The ordering of manna
25. It was not to be found on the Sabbath
32. An omer of it is preserved

Berean Study Bible

When the Israelites saw it
This phrase marks a pivotal moment of divine revelation and provision. The Israelites, having left Egypt, were in a wilderness where sustenance was scarce. The Hebrew word for "saw" (רָאָה, ra'ah) implies more than just physical sight; it suggests perception and understanding. This moment is a call to recognize God's providence, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible, reminding believers to see beyond the physical and perceive God's hand in their lives.

they asked one another, 'What is it?'
The Hebrew phrase "מָן הוּא" (man hu) translates to "What is it?" This question reflects the Israelites' confusion and curiosity. The term "manna" is derived from this question, symbolizing the mysterious and miraculous nature of God's provision. Historically, this moment underscores the human tendency to question and seek understanding of God's works, encouraging believers to trust in God's provision even when it is not immediately comprehensible.

For they did not know what it was
This statement highlights the Israelites' lack of understanding and experience with God's miraculous provision. The Hebrew word for "know" (יָדַע, yada) often implies intimate knowledge or experience. This lack of knowledge serves as a reminder of the newness of God's ways to the Israelites, who were transitioning from a life of slavery to one of faith and dependence on God. It encourages believers to embrace the unknown with faith, trusting in God's wisdom and timing.

So Moses told them
Moses, as the leader and prophet, acts as the intermediary between God and the people. His role is crucial in guiding the Israelites to understand and accept God's provision. This phrase emphasizes the importance of spiritual leadership and guidance in helping believers interpret and apply God's word in their lives. It also reflects the responsibility of leaders to communicate God's truth clearly and faithfully.

'It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.'
This declaration by Moses is profound in its simplicity and assurance. The "bread" (לֶחֶם, lechem) symbolizes sustenance and life, pointing to God's provision for physical needs. The phrase "the LORD has given" underscores the divine origin of this provision, emphasizing God's grace and generosity. This bread from heaven prefigures the spiritual nourishment found in Christ, the "bread of life" (John 6:35). It serves as a reminder that God provides for both physical and spiritual needs, inviting believers to rely on Him for sustenance and life.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) It is manna.--This is certainly a wrong translation. The words of the original, man hu, must either be rendered, as in the LXX. And the Vulg., "What is this ?" Or, as by Kimchi, Knobel, Gesenius, Kurtz, and others, "This is a gift." It is against the former rendering that man does not mean "what" in Hebrew, but only in Chaldee, and that "what is this" would be a very strange name to give to a substance. Against the latter it may be said that neither is man found elsewhere in Hebrew in the sense of "a gift;" but it has that sense in Arabic; and in Hebrew manan is "to give."

This is the bread--i.e., the promised bread. (See Exodus 16:4.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. - They said one to another, this is manna. Rather, "this is a gift." To suppose that they recognised the substance as one known to them in Egypt under the name of menu or mennu, is to make this clause contradict the next. To translate "what is this?" gives good sense, but is against grammar, since the Hebrew for "what" is not man but mah. The Septuagint translators (who render τί ἐστι τοῦτο) were probably deceived by their familiarity with the Chaldee, in which man corresponds to "what." Not knowing what to call the substance, the Israelites said one to another, "it is a gift" - meaning a gift from heaven, God's gift (compare verse 8); and afterwards, in consequence of this, the word man (properly "gift") became the accepted name of the thing.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

When the Israelites
בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

saw it,
וַיִּרְא֣וּ (way·yir·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

they asked
וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

one
אִ֤ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

another,
אָחִיו֙ (’ā·ḥîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

“What
מָ֣ן (mān)
Interrogative
Strong's 4478: Manna (a kind of bread)

is it?”
ה֔וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

For
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they did not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

know
יָדְע֖וּ (yā·ḏə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3045: To know

what
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

it was.
ה֑וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

So Moses
מֹשֶׁה֙ (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

told them,
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“It
ה֣וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is the bread
הַלֶּ֔חֶם (hal·le·ḥem)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has given
נָתַ֧ן (nā·ṯan)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you to eat.
לְאָכְלָֽה׃ (lə·’āḵ·lāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 402: Food, eating

Links

Exodus 16:15 NIV
Exodus 16:15 NLT
Exodus 16:15 ESV
Exodus 16:15 NASB
Exodus 16:15 KJV

Exodus 16:15 BibleApps.com
Exodus 16:15 Biblia Paralela
Exodus 16:15 Chinese Bible
Exodus 16:15 French Bible
Exodus 16:15 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Exodus 16:15 When the children of Israel saw it (Exo. Ex)