The Meaning of Exodus 16:14 Explained

Exodus 16:14

KJV: And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.

YLT: and the lying of the dew goeth up, and lo, on the face of the wilderness a thin, bare thing, thin as hoar-frost on the earth.

Darby: And when the dew that lay round it was gone up, behold, on the face of the wilderness there was something fine, granular, fine as hoar-frost, on the ground.

ASV: And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness a small round thing, small as the hoar-frost on the ground.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when the dew  that lay  was gone up,  behold, upon the face  of the wilderness  [there lay] a small  round thing,  [as] small  as the hoar frost  on the ground. 

What does Exodus 16:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 16:13-26 - The Manna In The Wilderness
The manna was typical of Christ. See John 6:31-34. He came down from heaven to bring God's life within the reach of man. It is not enough that God has made so rich and plentiful a provision for us; we must appropriate it by our daily prayer and faith. Our Lord calls Himself "the bread of life," not only to teach us what He is in himself in relation to our soul-need, but to remind us that He must be inwardly appropriated, fed upon, and made part of our very selves. Only so can He impart strength and joy to our hearts. It was not enough that the manna, sparkling like pearls in the morning sunshine, laid within their reach, the Israelites must gather it. The dew speaks not only of the Holy Spirit, but of the dawn. There is no time like the early morning for fellowship with Jesus! You cannot have too much. Gather all you may, you will have none to spare; but if you are pressed with needful duty, a little of Christ will go a long way, you shall have no lack. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Exodus 16:14 mean?

And when lifted layer of the dew and there was on the surface of the wilderness a small round substance [as] fine as frost the ground
וַתַּ֖עַל שִׁכְבַ֣ת הַטָּ֑ל וְהִנֵּ֞ה עַל־ פְּנֵ֤י הַמִּדְבָּר֙ דַּ֣ק מְחֻסְפָּ֔ס דַּ֥ק כַּכְּפֹ֖ר הָאָֽרֶץ

וַתַּ֖עַל  And  when  lifted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
שִׁכְבַ֣ת  layer 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שִׁכְבָה  
Sense: act of lying, layer, coating.
הַטָּ֑ל  of  the  dew 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: טַל  
Sense: dew, night mist.
וְהִנֵּ֞ה  and  there  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
פְּנֵ֤י  the  surface 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הַמִּדְבָּר֙  of  the  wilderness 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
דַּ֣ק  a  small 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: דַּק  
Sense: thin, small, fine, gaunt.
מְחֻסְפָּ֔ס  round  substance 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חַסְפַּס  
Sense: (Pual) to peel, flake off (only in the participle).
דַּ֥ק  [as]  fine 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: דַּק  
Sense: thin, small, fine, gaunt.
כַּכְּפֹ֖ר  as  frost 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּפֹור 
Sense: bowl, basin.
הָאָֽרֶץ  the  ground 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.