Bible Strands
Exodus 16:18
When they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall. Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator reports the Israelites gathering manna in the wilderness after God supplied it daily. Moses has just commanded them to collect a specific daily portion, and the people are measuring their harvests.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיָּמֹדּוּ (va/yi.mo.du) means "they measured," and the noun עֹמֶר ('o.mer) denotes the standard omer container used for this measurement. The text states that neither the abundant gatherer nor the scarce gatherer experienced surplus or lack when measured by this standard.
The thread — This pattern of exact provision appears in 2 Corinthians 8:14, where Paul observes that present surplus meets present need so that mutual need is satisfied in turn. The narrative establishes a baseline for equitable distribution that later biblical writers apply to communal resource sharing.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to accept that daily provision meets exact need without generating surplus or shortfall. It demands reliance on immediate sufficiency rather than accumulation for future security.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 8:14 At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. This way there will be equality.