Numbers 11:7 · Bible study
Numbers 11:7 Commentary: Manna's Beauty and Israel's Complaint
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does the Bible pause to describe manna's beauty in the middle of a complaint? Discover how this detail exposes the depth of ingratitude.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Manna's positive description highlights the ingratitude of Israel's complaint; God gave them something good and they rejected it.
- Key words: Manna (H4478), coriander (H1407), bdellium (H0916), the latter possibly a precious pearl or stone.
- Main debate: Whether bdellium is a gum resin or gemstone, but both imply value.
- Theological theme: Human ingratitude in the face of divine generosity; the goodness of God's gifts.
- Best use: Preaching on thankfulness, warning against complaining, and pointing to Christ as the true bread from heaven.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Now the manna resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of gum resin.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The manna was like coriander seed, and it looked like bdellium.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And the manna was like coriander seed, and the appearance thereof as the appearance of bdellium.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And the manna is as coriander seed, and its aspect as the aspect of bdolach;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the manna was as coriander seed, and its appearance as the appearance of bdellium.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Now the manna was like coriander seed, of the colour of bdellium.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y era el maná como semilla de culantro, y su color como color de bdelio.
E era o maná como semente de coentro, e sua cor como cor de bdélio.
La manne ressemblait à de la graine de coriandre, et avait l’ apparence du bdellium.
Es war aber das Man wie Koriandersamen und anzusehen wie Bedellion.
Het Man nu was als korianderzaad, en zijn verf was als de verf van den bedolah.
Or la manna era simile al seme di coriandolo e avea l’aspetto del bdellio.
A manna była jako nasienie koryjandrowe, a barwa tej jako barwa Bdelijowa.
Манна же была подобна кориандровому семени, видом, как бдолах;
（這嗎哪 彷彿芫荽 子，又 好像 珍珠。
Now the manna was like a seed of grain, like small clear drops.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Numbers 11:7
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The commentators consistently agree that this brief description serves to expose the depth of Israel's ingratitude. Calvin notes that the manna's delightful appearance and taste made the people's grumbling all the more 'unseemly and intolerable.' Clarke similarly argues that the description shows the 'iniquity of the people' in murmuring when they had 'so adequate a provision.' Gill echoes this, stating that the observation of manna's beauty is intended 'to expose the folly and ingratitude of the Israelites.' The mention of 'bdellium' (Hebrew bedolach) probably refers to a precious pearl or stone, underlining the manna's value. Thus, far from being a random digression, verse 7 is a deliberate contrast: God provided something lovely and good, yet the people complained.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The description of manna's appearance is meant to highlight the goodness of God's provision and the ingratitude of Israel's complaint.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of the description | Commentators agree that the description of manna's desirable appearance serves to highlight Israel's ingratitude. | Some (e.g., Cambridge Bible) see it as part of a secondary source (J) providing background, while others focus on its rhetorical function. |
| Meaning of bdellium (bedolach) | Bdellium is a valuable substance associated with Eden (Genesis 2:12). | Traditionally, some interpret it as a fragrant gum resin (Calvin, after Pliny), while others (Gill, Jewish tradition) see it as a precious stone or pearl. |
| Comparison with Exodus 16 | Both passages describe manna as like coriander seed. | Exodus 16 adds 'white' and 'taste like wafers with honey'; Numbers 11 adds 'like fresh oil.' These differences suggest distinct traditions or purposes. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The story of manna begins in Exodus 16, where God sends it in response to the people's hunger. Exodus 16:31 describes it as 'like coriander seed, white; and its taste was like wafers with honey.' Here, in Numbers 11, the Israelites are again complaining, not about hunger this time, but about the monotony of manna. They long for the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic of Egypt (v.5). The manna's appearance is recalled: 'like coriander seed' (small, round grains) and 'the color of bdellium.' The Hebrew word bedolach appears also in Genesis 2:12, where it is listed alongside gold and onyx as a precious commodity from the land of Havilah. Commentators debate whether bedolach is a fragrant gum resin or a gemstone like a pearl. Gill and Calvin lean toward a precious stone, perhaps a pearl, noting its whiteness and value. This association elevates the manna from mere sustenance to something beautiful and costly.
The timing is significant: the people have just witnessed God's fire at Taberah (v.3). Yet immediately they weep again. The narrative pauses to describe the manna's beauty precisely at the moment of complaint, creating a jarring contrast. As Keil & Delitzsch note, the 'mixed multitude' stirred up this lust for variety. The manna itself was not deficient; the people's hearts were. The description also reminds the reader of God's care: manna was given without their effort, appearing with the dew (v.9). This is the 'bread from heaven' (Psalm 78:24) later called 'angels' food.' In the New Testament, Jesus refers to himself as the true bread from heaven (John 6), and Revelation 2:17 promises 'hidden manna' to overcomers. The earthly manna thus becomes a type of spiritual provision.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is consistent across manuscripts, and the description is stable in translation.
Reception History
Early Christian writers such as Origen and Augustine saw the manna as a type of Christ, the true bread from heaven (John 6). The church has often read this passage during Lent as a warning against grumbling and a call to trust God's provision. Hymns about the 'hidden manna' (from Revelation 2:17) celebrate the Eucharist as spiritual nourishment. In the Reformation tradition, commentators like Calvin and Matthew Henry used the verse to expose the sin of discontent and to magnify God's generosity.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God's generous provision. The manna was beautiful and good, a gift from heaven. Its appearance like precious bdellium shows God's care in the details.
- Human discontent. Israel rejected this gift, craving what they had left behind in Egypt. Their complaint was not about need but about desire.
- The call to gratitude. The description exposes our own hearts. We often overlook daily blessings while focusing on what is missing.
Five-point outline
- The manna's description (v.7) reminds us of God's goodness.
- The people's complaint (vv.4-6) shows a focus on what they lacked.
- The contrast is stark: God gives something lovely; the people reject it.
- The root of sin is ingratitude and forgetting God's past faithfulness.
- The remedy is remembering God's provision and trusting His wisdom.
Illustration hooks
- A child given a nutritious meal but crying for candy. The meal is good; the desire is misdirected.
- Receiving a carefully chosen gift, then immediately asking for a different one. The gift's worth is ignored.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why do I feel unsatisfied even when God has given me so much?
- How can I train my heart to see God's daily provisions rather than fixate on what I do not have?
- What are the 'Egyptian foods' I still crave, old comforts or sins that God has delivered me from?
Leading a Discussion
This verse confronts us with a hard question: Do we appreciate what God has given, or do we demand something more? As you read Numbers 11:4-10, notice how the description of manna sits in the middle of complaint.
Discussion questions
- Read Numbers 11:4-10. What specific things did the people complain about? How does verse 7 describe the manna?
- Why do you think the writer included this description of manna's appearance and taste right in the middle of the complaint?
- What does this contrast reveal about the condition of Israel's hearts?
- In what ways do we today complain about God's provision, focusing on what we do not have rather than what we do?
- Read Exodus 16:31 and Psalm 78:24-25. How does the Bible describe the manna elsewhere? What does 'angels' food' suggest?
- How can remembering God's past faithfulness help us when we feel discontent?
- What practical steps can we take this week to cultivate gratitude for God's daily gifts?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 2:12 | and the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are also there. |
| Exodus 16:14 | When the dew that lay had gone, behold, on the surface of the wilderness was a small round thing, small as the frost on the ground. |
| Exodus 16:15 | When the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they didn’t know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread which Yahweh has given you to eat. |
| Exodus 16:31 | The house of Israel called its name “Manna”, and it was like coriander seed, white; and its taste was like wafers with honey. |
| I Corinthians 1:23 | but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks, |
| I Corinthians 1:24 | but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God; |
| Revelation of John 2:17 | He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows but he who receives it. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke observes that the description of the manna highlights the ingratitude of the Israelites: they murmured even though God provided abundantly. He attributes their degraded mindset to the long years of slavery in Egypt, which left them incapable of higher thoughts or generous actions.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Moses repeats the description of manna to expose how shameful Israel's grumbling was. The manna was beautiful like a precious stone and sweet to eat, yet they treated it as beneath them. Their complaint made no sense given how pleasant and easily prepared this food from heaven actually was.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible School treats this chapter as three separate stories woven together by a later editor. The manna and quails episode, Moses' complaint about bearing the people alone, and the Spirit falling on the seventy elders each came from different sources and were not originally connected at all.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight the physical appearance of the manna, comparing it to coriander seed in shape and to bdelium in color. This specific description draws attention to the manna's ordinary, seed-like look, emphasizing that God provided a tangible, everyday substance rather than something extraordinary.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that the manna's description as round like coriander and luminous like pearl or crystal highlights its beauty and value. This only magnifies the Israelites' folly and ingratitude: having such excellent, angelic food, they still despised it and craved something else.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch traces the people's craving back to the mixed multitude who brought a longing for Egypt's cheap, flavorful foods. The manna was a pleasant, sweet bread from heaven, but it lacked the sharp and sour flavors that sinful, restless human nature craves. This inward perversion made the people despise simple, clean sustenance and desire stimulating variety.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees the uprisings at Taberah and Kibroth-hattaavah as revealing a deep spiritual sickness: Israel's backward longing for Egypt is a form of heat
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry sees this scene as a double breakdown: the people grumble against God himself despite his glorious works, and Moses, their leader, collapses under the burden to the point of begging for death. Both the congregation and the prince are in desperate unrest, and nothing is in order.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley clarifies that the manna's comparison to coriander seed refers to its shape, not its black color. He identifies bdellium as likely a pearl, noting that manna's white color and round form match that gem better than tree gum.