The Meaning of Exodus 16:21 Explained

Exodus 16:21

KJV: And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.

YLT: And they gather it morning by morning, each according to his eating; when the sun hath been warm, then it hath melted.

Darby: And they gathered it every morning, every man as much as he could eat; and when the sun became hot, it melted.

ASV: And they gathered it morning by morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they gathered  it every morning,  every man  according  to his eating:  and when the sun  waxed hot,  it melted. 

What does Exodus 16:21 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 16:21 mean?

So they gathered it morning by morning every man as his mouth his meal and when became hot the sun then it melted
וַיִּלְקְט֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ בַּבֹּ֣קֶר בַּבֹּ֔קֶר אִ֖ישׁ כְּפִ֣י אָכְל֑וֹ וְחַ֥ם הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ וְנָמָֽס

וַיִּלְקְט֤וּ  So  they  gathered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: לָקַט  
Sense: to pick up, gather, glean, gather up.
בַּבֹּ֣קֶר  morning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
בַּבֹּ֔קֶר  by  morning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
אִ֖ישׁ  every  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
כְּפִ֣י  as  his  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
אָכְל֑וֹ  his  meal 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹכֶל  
Sense: food.
וְחַ֥ם  and  when  became  hot 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָמַם  
Sense: to be hot, become warm.
הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ  the  sun 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.
וְנָמָֽס  then  it  melted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָסַס  
Sense: to dissolve, melt.