Bible Strands
Exodus 16:20
But they did not listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it became infested with maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites in the wilderness after the initial manna provision, commanding them not to store any until morning. The people ignore the instruction, and Moses confronts them when the hoarded portion spoils.
The words — שָמְעוּ (sha.me.'U) literally means "they listened" or obeyed, while וַ/יּוֹתִ֨רוּ (va/i.yo.Ti.ru) translates to "they left over" or kept for later. These verbs record the direct disobedience to the daily gathering command.
The thread — The spoilage of hoarded food parallels Matthew 6:19, where stored earthly treasures are destroyed by moth and rust. Moses' anger at the disobedience mirrors his reaction in Numbers 16:15 and Jesus' response to hardness of heart in Mark 3:5.
Why it lands — The text records that stored manna became maggot-infested and foul, establishing a concrete consequence for ignoring timely instruction. It requires readers to abandon self-directed accumulation and accept daily provision as given.
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
Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
Cross-references
- Numbers 16:15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not regard their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them or mistreated a single one of them.”
- Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
- Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.
- Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
- Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
- Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
- Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
- Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- James 5:2 Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes.
- Numbers 12:3 Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.