Keraia
Exodus 16

Exodus 16:3

Manna and Quail from Heaven · Exodus 16:1–21
Read Exodus 16

Translations

Modern
“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”
Traditional
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
Literal
And the sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of YHWH in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of flesh, when we ate bread to the full. For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Latin
Dixeruntque filii Israël ad eos: Utinam mortui essemus per manum Domini in terra Ægypti, quando sedebamus super ollas carnium, et comedebamus panem in saturitate: cur eduxistis nos in desertum istud, ut occideretis omnem multitudinem fame?

Original

Hebrew
English
“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”

Notes

Exodus 16:3

ate our fill of bread: The Israelites had been oppressed slaves in Egypt. Their complaint did not match the reality of their suffering.

One danger of complaining is that it can blind people to the truth. It can make the past seem better than it really was.

Faith responds differently. Faith is thankful for what God has already done and trusts him for what he will do in the future.

Exodus 16:1–36

God demonstrated care for his people by providing manna and quail as food for them.

Exodus 15:22–18:27

On the journey from the sea to Mount Sinai, God continued to care for the people's needs. During the events where he rescued them, he showed his power. Here, he showed that he cares about their basic needs.

Theme notes and profiles

Moses Bread from Heaven Complaints

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Deuteronomy, Book of Moses Mount, Mountain Tamarisk

Topics

Aaron: Murmured Against, by the People Evil for Good: Israelites, to Moses Infidelity: General Scriptures Concerning Ingratitude: Israelites to Moses Israel: Complained for Food Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Through the Wilderness of Sin: Murmuring for Bread Manna: Given: when Israel Murmured for Bread Moses: Character of Meekness of Moses: People Complain Against Moses and Aaron Murmuring of Israelites Against Moses Murmuring: Israelites Servant: Bond: Degrading Influences of Bondage Exemplified by Cowardice The Diet of the Jews in Egypt Trouble: Food