Exodus 16:20
New International Version
However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

New Living Translation
But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.

English Standard Version
But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

Berean Standard Bible
But they did not listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it became infested with maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

King James Bible
Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

New King James Version
Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

New American Standard Bible
But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank; and Moses was angry with them.

NASB 1995
But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them.

NASB 1977
But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them.

Legacy Standard Bible
But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them.

Amplified Bible
But they did not listen to Moses, and some left a supply of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul and rotten; and Moses was angry with them.

Christian Standard Bible
But they didn’t listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. Therefore Moses was angry with them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But they didn’t listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and smelled. Therefore Moses was angry with them.

American Standard Version
Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and became foul: and Moses was wroth with them.

Contemporary English Version
Some of them disobeyed, but the next morning what they kept was stinking and full of worms, and Moses was angry.

English Revised Version
Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But some of them didn't listen to Moses. They kept part of it until morning, and it was full of worms and smelled bad. So Moses was angry with them.

Good News Translation
But some of them did not listen to Moses and saved part of it. The next morning it was full of worms and smelled rotten, and Moses was angry with them.

International Standard Version
But they did not listen to Moses—some people left part of it until morning, and it produced maggots and smelled bad, so Moses got angry at them.

Majority Standard Bible
But they did not listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it became infested with maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

NET Bible
But they did not listen to Moses; some kept part of it until morning, and it was full of worms and began to stink, and Moses was angry with them.

New Heart English Bible
Notwithstanding they did not listen to Moses, but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and became foul: and Moses was angry with them.

Webster's Bible Translation
Notwithstanding, they hearkened not to Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and became offensive; and Moses was wroth with them.

World English Bible
Notwithstanding they didn’t listen to Moses, but some of them left of it until the morning, so it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they have not listened to Moses, and some of them leave of it until morning, and it brings up worms and stinks; and Moses is angry with them.

Young's Literal Translation
and they have not hearkened unto Moses, and some of them do leave of it till morning, and it bringeth up worms and stinketh; and Moses is wroth with them.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they heard not to Moses; and the men will leave from it till morning, and it will rot with worms, and it will stink: and Moses will be angry with them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they hearkened not to him, but some of them left until the morning, and it began to be full of worms, an it putrefied, and Moses was angry with them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they did not listen to him, but they left some of it behind until morning, and it began to swarm with worms, and it putrefied. And Moses became angry against them.

New American Bible
But they did not listen to Moses, and some kept a part of it over until morning, and it became wormy and stank. Therefore Moses was angry with them.

New Revised Standard Version
But they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul. And Moses was angry with them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Notwithstanding they listened not to Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms and stank; and Moses was angry with them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they did not listen to Moshe and they left some of it, each man, for the morning, and it caused crawling worms and it stank, and Moshe was angry with them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and rotted; and Moses was wroth with them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But they did not hearken to Moses, but some left of it till the morning; and it bred worms and stank: and Moses was irritated with them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Manna and Quail from Heaven
19Then Moses said to them, “No one may keep any of it until morning.” 20But they did not listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it became infested with maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. 21Every morning each one gathered as much as was needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.…

Cross References
Numbers 11:4-6
Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat? / We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. / But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!”

Numbers 11:31-34
Now a wind sent by the LORD came up, drove in quail from the sea, and brought them near the camp, about two cubits above the surface of the ground, for a day’s journey in every direction around the camp. / All that day and night, and all the next day, the people stayed up gathering the quail. No one gathered less than ten homers, and they spread them out all around the camp. / But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck them with a severe plague. ...

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 78:17-32
But they continued to sin against Him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High. / They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved. / They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness? ...

Psalm 106:13-15
Yet they soon forgot His works and failed to wait for His counsel. / They craved intensely in the wilderness and tested God in the desert. / So He granted their request, but sent a wasting disease upon them.

John 6:26-27
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. / Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”

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.”

1 Corinthians 10:1-5
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. / They all ate the same spiritual food ...

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:31-34
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ / For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. / But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. ...

Luke 12:15-21
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” / Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ...

Luke 12:29-31
And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it. / For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. / But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.

Hebrews 3:7-11
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. ...

Hebrews 3:16-19
For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? ...

Hebrews 4:1-2
Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. / For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.


Treasury of Scripture

Notwithstanding they listened not to Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

bred worms

Matthew 6:19
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Luke 12:15,33
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth…

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

and Moses

Numbers 12:3
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Numbers 16:15
And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

Mark 3:5
And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Jump to Previous
Angry Attention Bred Evil Foul Full Hearken Hearkened However Kept Leave Maggots Morning Moses Notwithstanding Offensive Paid Part Rotted Stank Stinketh Worms Wroth
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Angry Attention Bred Evil Foul Full Hearken Hearkened However Kept Leave Maggots Morning Moses Notwithstanding Offensive Paid Part Rotted Stank Stinketh Worms Wroth
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














But they did not listen to Moses
This phrase highlights the recurring theme of disobedience and lack of faith among the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "listen" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just hearing but obeying. In the context of the Exodus narrative, this disobedience reflects a deeper spiritual struggle. Despite witnessing God's miracles, the Israelites often faltered in their trust. This serves as a reminder of the human tendency to doubt and the importance of faithfulness to divine instructions.

and some people left part of it until morning
The phrase underscores the specific act of disobedience regarding the collection of manna. The Hebrew word for "left" is "נוֹתַר" (notar), meaning to leave behind or reserve. This action was contrary to God's command to gather only enough manna for each day, except before the Sabbath. The Israelites' decision to keep some until morning reveals a lack of trust in God's provision. It serves as a lesson on the importance of relying on God's daily sustenance and not hoarding out of fear or doubt.

and it became infested with maggots and began to smell
This vivid description of the manna's decay symbolizes the consequences of disobedience. The Hebrew word for "maggots" is "תּוֹלָע" (tola), which can also mean worm or grub. The rapid spoilage of the manna serves as a tangible sign of God's displeasure and a reminder of the futility of human efforts when they go against divine instructions. It illustrates the principle that God's commands are not arbitrary but are designed for the well-being of His people.

So Moses was angry with them
Moses' anger reflects righteous indignation, a response to the people's persistent lack of faith and obedience. The Hebrew word for "angry" is "קָצַף" (qatsaph), which conveys a strong emotional response. Moses, as God's appointed leader, was frustrated by the people's failure to trust in God's provision. This highlights the burden of leadership and the challenges faced by those who guide others in faith. It also serves as a call to patience and perseverance in the face of repeated human failings.

(20) It bred worms.--On the Sabbath it bred no worms (Exodus 16:24), so that we must view the result spoken of as a punishment for disobedience, not as produced naturally. Neither of the natural mannas is subject to any very rapid decomposition.

Verse 20. - It bred worms. This was a supernatural, not a natural result. It served as a sort of punishment of the disobedient, and effectually checked the practice of laying up in store.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But they did not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

listen
שָׁמְע֣וּ (šā·mə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

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

some people
אֲנָשִׁ֤ים (’ă·nā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

left
וַיּוֹתִ֨רוּ (way·yō·w·ṯi·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3498: To jut over, exceed, to excel, to remain, be left, to leave, cause to abound, preserve

part of
מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ (mim·men·nū)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

it until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

morning,
בֹּ֔קֶר (bō·qer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

and it became full of
וַיָּ֥רֻם (way·yā·rum)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise

maggots
תּוֹלָעִ֖ים (tō·w·lā·‘îm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8438: The crimson-grub, of the color, from it, cloths dyed therewith

and began to smell.
וַיִּבְאַ֑שׁ (way·yiḇ·’aš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 887: To smell bad, to be offensive

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

was angry
וַיִּקְצֹ֥ף (way·yiq·ṣōp̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7107: To crack off, burst out in rage

with them.
עֲלֵהֶ֖ם (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Law: Exodus 16:20 Notwithstanding they didn't listen to Moses (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 16:19
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