The Meaning of Exodus 16:18 Explained

Exodus 16:18

KJV: And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

YLT: and they measure with an omer, and he who is gathering much hath nothing over, and he who is gathering little hath no lack, each according to his eating they have gathered.

Darby: And they measured with the omer: then he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little wanted nothing: they had gathered every man according to the measure of his eating.

ASV: And when they measured it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when they did mete  [it] with an omer,  he that gathered much  had nothing over,  and he that gathered little  had no lack;  they gathered  every man  according  to his eating. 

What does Exodus 16:18 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 16:18 mean?

So when they measured [it] by omers and nothing had left over he who gathered much and he who gathered little no had lack every man according to each one's need had gathered
וַיָּמֹ֣דּוּ בָעֹ֔מֶר וְלֹ֤א הֶעְדִּיף֙ הַמַּרְבֶּ֔ה וְהַמַּמְעִ֖יט לֹ֣א הֶחְסִ֑יר אִ֥ישׁ לְפִֽי־ אָכְל֖וֹ לָקָֽטוּ

וַיָּמֹ֣דּוּ  So  when  they  measured  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: מָדַד  
Sense: to measure, stretch.
בָעֹ֔מֶר  by  omers 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹמֶר 
Sense: omer.
וְלֹ֤א  and  nothing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הֶעְדִּיף֙  had  left  over 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָדַף  
Sense: to remain over, be in excess.
הַמַּרְבֶּ֔ה  he  who  gathered  much 
Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
וְהַמַּמְעִ֖יט  and  he  who  gathered  little 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָעַט  
Sense: to be or become small, be few, be diminished.
לֹ֣א  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הֶחְסִ֑יר  had  lack 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָסֵר  
Sense: to lack, be without, decrease, be lacking, have a need.
אִ֥ישׁ  every  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
לְפִֽי־  according  to 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
אָכְל֖וֹ  each  one's  need 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹכֶל  
Sense: food.
לָקָֽטוּ  had  gathered 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: לָקַט  
Sense: to pick up, gather, glean, gather up.

What are the major concepts related to Exodus 16:18?

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