Exodus 16:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none.

NIV: Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none.

NASB: Yet it came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather, but they found none.

CSB: Yet on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they did not find any.

NLT: Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food.

KJV: And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.

NKJV: Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none.

The book of Exodus includes an important lesson: humanity has an unlimited ability to doubt, ignore, and disobey God despite the clearest signs. This generation of Israelites witnessed spectacular miracles (Exodus 12:29–31; 13:21–22; 14:21–28; 15:24–25; 16:14–15). Despite this, they routinely doubted God and ignored His instructions (Exodus 14:10–11; 15:24; 16:1–3, 19–20). This verse contains another example.

The people were told that their daily manna portion (Exodus 16:16–18) would be doubled on the sixth morning. This would be the only time when manna could be stored overnight. God's intent was for the people to rest on the seventh day. He made it clear that there would be no manna provided on the seventh morning (Exodus 16:25–26). Yet some go out to gather manna on this "Sabbath" day (Exodus 20:8–11).

Even though God's strongest statements about the Sabbath will come later (Exodus 31:12–17; 35:1–3), this disobedient response rouses His anger (Exodus 16:28).

Exodus 16:13–30 explains the miraculous provision of meat and bread during Israel's journey through the wilderness. Quail—small birds—arrive at night. In the morning, the ground is covered in a strange substance. This becomes a bread-like food for Israel, later called "manna" (Exodus 16:31). It also symbolizes their daily dependence on God—it could not be kept longer than instructed, so the people had to continually trust the Lord to provide more. To further prove this, God instructs the people to rest on the seventh day of the week.

As the recently-rescued Israelites (Exodus 14:21–31) journey on, they complain about food. God provides them with manna: a grain-like substance which miraculously appears each morning. The people are given instructions about how to gather and use manna. Only on the sixth day of the week can they collect more and keep leftovers for the following day. That seventh day is to be a time of rest, called a "sabbath."

Israel has celebrated (Exodus 15:1) their miraculous escape through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–28). They have survived their first hardship (Exodus 15:23–25). God now provides manna in response to their complaints about food. He also begins to establish the concept of the seventh-day Sabbath. Soon, the Lord will send another miracle regarding water (Exodus 17:1–7) and the people will have their first military battle (Exodus 17:8–16). Shortly after this, Moses' father-in-law will arrive and offer some helpful advice (Exodus 18).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 7/1/2025 11:48:30 PM