“Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. Today you will not find anything in the field.
Parallel translations
- WEB Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to Yahweh. Today you shall not find it in the field.
- KJV And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.
- NKJV Then Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field.
- NASB Then Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field.
- NLT Moses said, “Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the Lord. There will be no food on the ground today.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Moses tells the people to eat the saved manna because today is a Sabbath to Yahweh, and none will be found in the field. The Sabbath is a gift of rest, not deprivation.
Overview
Moses frames the day positively: the Sabbath is to the Lord, a time to enjoy his provision and cease from labor. The absence of field manna underscores that God himself supplies rest. This pattern teaches Israel to trust God's prior provision and to honor the rhythm of work and rest he establishes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Exod 16:23He told them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Then set aside whatever remains and keep it until morning.’”
- Exod 16:29Understand that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day He will give you bread for two days. On the seventh day, everyone must stay where he is; no one may leave his place.”
- Neh 9:14You revealed to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments and statutes and laws through Your servant Moses.
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 16:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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