Exodus 16:15

And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.

Cross-references

Exodus 16:31 later describes manna's appearance and taste, answering the question 'What is it?' in 16:15.

Exodus 16:33 shows the manna preserved as a memorial, building on the initial discovery.

Exodus 16:4 Parallel

In Exodus 16:4, God promised to rain bread from heaven; here the people see it and receive that bread as manna.

Revelation 2:17 promises hidden manna to the overcomer — symbolically using the wilderness manna as a type of eternal heavenly sustenance.

Hebrews 9:4 Historical context

Hebrews 9:4 mentions the golden pot containing manna placed inside the Ark of the Covenant — a physical memorial of the wilderness provision.

1 Corinthians 10:3 calls the manna 'spiritual food' — interpreting the Exodus provision as a type of Christ and a warning for believers.

John 6:58 Contrast

John 6:58 reinforces the contrast: the manna from heaven was not like the true bread — those who ate it died, but believers in Jesus live forever.

John 6:49 Contrast

John 6:49 contrasts manna with Jesus: the fathers ate it and died, but those who eat the bread of life live forever.

John 6:32 Contrast

John 6:32 contrasts the physical manna with the true bread from heaven — Jesus says the Father gives what Moses did not provide.

John 6:31 Citation

John 6:31 directly quotes the miracle, with the crowd recalling that their fathers ate manna in the wilderness — a key backdrop to Jesus’ bread of life discourse.

Nehemiah 9:20 continues the manna reference, noting God's goodness in not withholding it despite Israel's rebellion — emphasizing sustained grace.

Nehemiah 9:15 recounts how God gave bread from heaven to the hungry Israelites, directly citing the manna event as evidence of His provision.

Joshua 5:12 Historical context

Joshua 5:12 records the end of the manna after entering Canaan — the provision that began in Exodus ceases as the land's produce becomes available.

Deuteronomy 8:16 echoes that manna humbled and tested Israel, reinforcing the same lesson.

Deuteronomy 8:3 teaches that manna was a test to show dependence on God's word, giving theological depth.

Numbers 21:5 shows Israel later despising this same manna as 'worthless food', contrasting with its initial gracious reception.

Matthew 4:4 Allusion

Matthew 4:4 quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, which recalls the manna to teach that God's word sustains more than bread.

Luke 11:3 Parallel

Luke 11:3's petition for daily bread directly echoes the daily manna provision taught here.

Numbers 11:7 gives a physical description of the same manna — its appearance like coriander seed.