The Meaning of Exodus 16:4 Explained

Exodus 16:4

KJV: 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.

YLT: And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Lo, I am raining to you bread from the heavens -- and the people have gone out and gathered the matter of a day in its day -- so that I try them whether they walk in My law, or not;

Darby: Then said Jehovah to Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather the daily need on its day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.

ASV: Then said Jehovah unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Exodus 16:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 16:1-12 - Murmuring For Food Rebuked
Moses made a double promise to the Israelites in God's name. In the evening they were to have flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full. But before these gifts could be received, notice must be taken of their conduct toward the two brothers, whose authority had been impugned by the events of the morning. Hence the appearance of the divine glory in the cloud, Exodus 16:10. After this a vast flight of quails, a migratory bird which often crosses the Red Sea at this very spot, fell to the ground in the near neighborhood of the Hebrew camp, and lay there in an exhausted condition, which allowed of their being captured by the hand. How striking are those words: "The Lord heareth your murmurings!" We should remember them, when next we are tempted to doubt God's love and to complain of His dealings with us. Let God's faithful servants take courage; He will vindicate them. [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 16:4 mean?

And said Yahweh to Moses behold I will rain for you bread from heaven and shall go out the people and gather a certain quota - every day that I may test them whether they will walk in My law or not
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה הִנְנִ֨י מַמְטִ֥יר לָכֶ֛ם לֶ֖חֶם מִן־ הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְיָצָ֨א הָעָ֤ם וְלָֽקְטוּ֙ דְּבַר־ י֣וֹם בְּיוֹמ֔וֹ לְמַ֧עַן אֲנַסֶּ֛נּוּ הֲיֵלֵ֥ךְ בְּתוֹרָתִ֖י אִם־ לֹֽא

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
הִנְנִ֨י  behold 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
מַמְטִ֥יר  I  will  rain 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָטַר  
Sense: to rain.
לָכֶ֛ם  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
לֶ֖חֶם  bread 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם  heaven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
וְיָצָ֨א  and  shall  go  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
הָעָ֤ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וְלָֽקְטוּ֙  and  gather 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: לָקַט  
Sense: to pick up, gather, glean, gather up.
דְּבַר־  a  certain  quota 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
י֣וֹם  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
בְּיוֹמ֔וֹ  every  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
לְמַ֧עַן  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
אֲנַסֶּ֛נּוּ  I  may  test  them 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָסָה  
Sense: to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test.
הֲיֵלֵ֥ךְ  whether  they  will  walk 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בְּתוֹרָתִ֖י  in  My  law 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.