Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clearImportance=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV)Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Just watch me make food rain down from the sky for you all. Then the people will be able to go out every day and gather enough for that day so that I can test them: Will they obey my law or not?
Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
BrLXXΕἶπε δὲ Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ὕω ὑμῖν ἄρτους ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ· καὶ ἐξελεύσεται ὁ λαὸς, καὶ συλλέξουσι τὸ τῆς ἡμέρας εἰς ἡμέραν, ὅπως πειράσω αὐτοὺς εἰ πορεύσονται τῷ νόμῳ μου, ἢ οὔ· (Eipe de Kurios pros Mōusaʸn, idou egō huō humin artous ek tou ouranou; kai exeleusetai ho laos, kai sullexousi to taʸs haʸmeras eis haʸmeran, hopōs peirasō autous ei poreusontai tōi nomōi mou, aʸ ou; )
BrTrAnd the Lord said to Moses, Behold, I will rain bread upon you out of heaven: and the people shall go forth, and they shall gather their daily portion for the day, that I may try them whether they will walk in my law or not.
ULTAnd Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold me make bread rain down from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather the portion of a day each day, so that I may test them: Will they walk in my law or not?
USTYahweh said to Moses, “Watch what I am going to do. I am going to send bread from the sky for you. When I do that, the people must go out of their tents every day and gather enough to eat on that day. When I do that, I will find out whether they will obey me or not.
BSB § Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.
WEBBEThen the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from the sky for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
NETThen the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people will go out and gather the amount for each day, so that I may test them. Will they walk in my law or not?
LSVAnd YHWH says to Moses, “Behold, I am raining bread from the heavens for you—and the people have gone out and gathered the matter of a day in its day—so that I try them whether they walk in My law or not;
FBVThe Lord told Moses, “Just watch! I'm going to rain down bread from heaven for you! Each day the people are to go out and collect enough for that day. I'm going to test them by this to find out whether they'll follow my instructions or not.
T4TYahweh said to Moses/me, “Listen to what I am going to do. I am going to send something from the sky that will take the place of bread for all of you. When I do that, the people must go out of their tents every day and gather just enough to eat on that day. When I do that, I will find out whether they will obey my instructions or not.
LEBAnd Yahweh said to Moses, “Look, I am going to rain down for you bread from the heavens, and the people will go out and gather enough for the day on its day; in that way I will test them: Will they go according to my law or not?
BBEThen the Lord said to Moses, See, I will send down bread from heaven for you; and the people will go out every day and get enough for the day's needs; so that I may put them to the test to see if they will keep my laws or not.
JPSThen said the LORD unto Moses: 'Behold, I will cause to rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or not.
ASVThen said Jehovah unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.
DRAAnd the Lord said to Moses: Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you: let the people go forth, and gather what is sufficient for every day: that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law, or not.
YLTAnd Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Lo, I am raining to you bread from the heavens — and the people have gone out and gathered the matter of a day in its day — so that I try them whether they walk in My law, or not;
DrbyThen said Jehovah to Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather the daily need on its day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.
RVThen said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
WbstrThen said the LORD to Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.
KJB-1769¶ Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.[fn]
16.4a certain…: Heb. the portion of a day in his day
KJB-1611¶ [fn]Then said the LORD vnto Moses, Behold, I will raine bread from heauen for you: and the people shall goe out, and gather a certaine rate euery day, that I may proue them, whether they will walke in my Law, or no. (Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)
BshpsThen sayde the Lorde vnto Moyses: Beholde, I wyll rayne bread from heauen to you, and the people shall go out & gather a certaine rate euery day, that I may proue them whether they wyll walke in my lawe, or no. (Then said the Lord unto Moses: Behold, I will rain bread from heaven to you, and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law, or no.)
GnvaThen sayd the Lord vnto Moses, Behold, I wil cause bread to rayne from heauen to you, and the people shall goe out, and gather that that is sufficient for euery day, that I may proue them, whether they wil walke in my Law or no. (Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will cause bread to rain from heaven to you, and the people shall go out, and gather that that is sufficient for every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my Law or no. )
CvdlThe sayde ye LORDE vnto Moses: beholde I wyl rayne you bred from heauen, and let the people go out, and gather daylie, what they nede, that I maye proue whether they walke in my lawe or not. (The said ye/you_all LORD unto Moses: behold I will rain you bred from heaven, and let the people go out, and gather daily, what they nede, that I may prove whether they walk in my law or not.)
WyclForsothe the Lord seide to Moises, Lo! Y schal reyne to you looues fro heuene; the puple go out, that it gadere tho thingis that sufficen bi ech day; that Y asaie the puple, whethir it goith in my lawe, ether nai. (Forsothe the Lord said to Moses, Lo! I shall reyne to you loaves from heaven; the people go out, that it gather those things that sufficen by each day; that I asaie the people, whether it goeth/goes in my law, ether nai.)
LuthDa sprach der HErr zu Mose: Siehe, ich will euch Brot vom Himmel regnen lassen, und das Volk soll hinausgehen und sammeln täglich, was es des Tages bedarf, daß ich‘s versuche, ob es in meinem Gesetz wandele oder nicht. (So spoke the/of_the LORD to Mose: See, I will you bread from_the heaven regnen lassen, and the people should hinausgehen and sammeln daily, what/which it the dayss bedarf, that ich‘s versuche, ob it in my law wandele or not.)
ClVgDixit autem Dominus ad Moysen: Ecce ego pluam vobis panes de cælo: egrediatur populus, et colligat quæ sufficiunt per singulos dies: ut tentem eum utrum ambulet in lege mea, an non.[fn] (Dixit however Master to Moysen: Behold I pluam to_you panes about cælo: egrediatur populus, and colligat which sufficiunt through singulos days: as tentem him utrum ambulet in lege mea, an non. )
16.4Ecce pluam, etc. ORIG., homil. 8 in Exod. Vellem primo super hanc scripturam cum Judæis habere sermonem, quibus credita sunt eloquia Dei, quid illis videatur de eo quod dicit: Sex diebus continuis colligetis, die autem sexta duplum. Apparet ergo sextum diem nominari qui ante sabbatum ponitur; sabbatum autem septimus dies est. Quæro ergo qua die cœpit manna dari? et volo comparare Dominicam nostram cum sabbato Judæorum. Ex Scriptura enim apparet quia die Dominica primum datur manna, sex diebus continuis collectum; septima, quæ est sabbatum, cessatur. Quia ergo in die Dominica pluit Deus manna, et non in sabbato, intelligant Judæi jam tunc prælatam esse Dominicam nostram suo sabbato; et indicatum est quod non in ipso Dei gratia ad eos descenderit de cœlo, et panis cœlestis, qui est sermo Dei, ad eos non pervenerit; unde Ose. 3: Diebus multis sedebunt filii Isræl sine rege, sine principe, sine hostia, sine sacrificio, sine sacerdote. In nostra autem Dominica semper Dominus pluit manna, id est cœlestia verba quæ nobis læta sunt. Illi infelices suspirant etiam manna sicut patres eorum, et non merentur accipere; non enim possunt manducare quod est minutum sicut semen coriandri, et candidum sicut pruina. Nihil enim in verbo Dei minutum, subtile et spirituale sentiunt, sed totum pingue et crassum. Incrassatum est enim cor populi hujus. Interpretatio quoque nominis hujus hoc sonat. Manna enim interpretatur Quid est hoc? Ipsa vis nominis ad discendum invitat, ut cum audis legem Dei recitari, inquiras semper et dicas doctoribus, Quid est hoc? Tu ergo si vis manducare manna, et suscipere verbum Dei, scito minutum esse et valde subtile, sicut semen coriandri: habet enim aliquid oleris quo nutrire et recreare possit infirmos. Infirmus enim olus manducat Rom. 14.. Habet enim aliquid et rigoris, et ideo ut pruina; candoris autem et dulcedinis plurimum. Quid est candidius, splendidius eruditione divina? quid dulcius, suavius eloquiis Dei, quæ sunt super mel et favum? Panes. Manna scilicet: locutio est qua panis pro alimento ponitur; amat autem Scriptura pluraliter magis panes quam singulariter dicere panem. Ut tentem. Tentatio ista probatio est, non ad peccatum seductio; nec ideo probantur, ut Deus non noverit: sed ipsos ipsis ostendit quo humiliores fiant ad petendum adjutorium et ad noscendam Dei gratiam.
16.4Behold pluam, etc. ORIG., homil. 8 in Exod. Vellem primo over hanc scripturam when/with Yudæis habere conversation, to_whom he_believesa are elobecause of_God, quid illis videatur about eo that he_says: Sex days continuis colligetis, day however sexta duplum. Apparet therefore sextum diem nominari who before sabbatum putsur; sabbatum however the_seventh days it_is. Quæro therefore which day cœpit manna dari? and volo comparare Dominicam nostram when/with sabbato Yudæorum. From Scriptura because apparet because day Dominica primum datur manna, sex days continuis collectum; septima, which it_is sabbatum, cessatur. Because therefore in day Dominica pluit God manna, and not/no in sabbato, intelligant Yudæi yam tunc prælatam esse Dominicam nostram his_own sabbato; and inlet_him_sayum it_is that not/no in ipso of_God gratia to them descenderit about cœlo, and bread cœlestis, who it_is sermo of_God, to them not/no pervenerit; whence Ose. 3: Diebus multis sedebunt children Isræl without rege, without principe, without hostia, without sacrificio, without sacerdote. In nostra however Dominica always Master pluit manna, id it_is cœlestia words which us læta are. Illi infelices suspirant also manna like patres their, and not/no merentur accipere; not/no because possunt manducare that it_is minutum like seed coriandri, and candidum like pruina. Nihil because in verbo of_God minutum, subtile and spirituale sentiunt, but totum pingue and crassum. Incrassatum it_is because heart of_the_people huyus. Interpretatio too nominis huyus this sonat. Manna because interpretatur What it_is hoc? Ipsa you_want nominis to discendum invitat, as when/with audis legem of_God recitari, inquiras always and dicas doctoribus, What it_is hoc? Tu therefore when/but_if you_want manducare manna, and suscipere the_word of_God, scito minutum esse and valde subtile, like seed coriandri: habet because aliquid oleris quo nutrire and recreare possit infirmos. Infirmus because olus manducat Rom. 14.. Habet because aliquid and rigoris, and ideo as pruina; candoris however and dulcedinis plurimum. What it_is candidius, splendidius eruditione divina? quid dulcius, suavius eloquiis of_God, which are over mel and favum? Panes. Manna scilicet: locutio it_is which bread for alimento putsur; amat however Scriptura pluraliter magis panes how singulariter dicere panem. Ut tentem. Tentatio ista probatio it_is, not/no to peccatum seductio; but_not ideo probantur, as God not/no noverit: but themselves ipsis ostendit quo humiliores fiant to petendum adyutorium and to noscendam of_God gratiam.
God speaks of food coming down from heaven as if it were rain. If your readers would not understand what this image means in this context, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. Alternatively, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “make bread come down from heaven like rain” or “make bread fall to you from the sky”
Like several other events recorded in Scripture, the Bible’s account of the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai includes an abundance of geographical references, yet it remains one of the most hotly debated topics among scholars, and numerous theories have been offered. The vast majority of geographical references provided in the story are disputed, including the place where the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, the location of Mount Sinai (see Proposed Locations for Mount Sinai map), and the various stops along the Israelites’ journey. A few locations have been established with some degree of scholarly consensus, but even these are not without opposing viewpoints. Amidst this incredible diversity of opinion, however, a single verse provides one of the most helpful clues for weighing the merits of one viewpoint over another: “By the way of Mount Seir it takes eleven days to reach Kadesh-barnea from Horeb” (Deuteronomy 1:2). For those who assume the Bible’s account to be trustworthy, this verse appears to require the following for any theory to be considered viable: 1) Kadesh-barnea and Mount Sinai must have been located at a distance from each other that could reasonably have been expected to take eleven days for an entire nation of people with small children, flocks, equipment, and perhaps even elderly members to travel on foot; and 2) the pace established by this distance over eleven days should most likely be considered the typical pace for the Israelites as they traveled from place to place along the other parts of the journey. This two-pronged test clearly strains many of the theories put forth to this point, especially when one factors in the time references given for the start of the journey (Exodus 12:6; Numbers 33:3), the middle of the journey (Exodus 16:1; Numbers 33:8), and the end of the journey (Exodus 19:1). In short, the journey from Rameses to the Wilderness of Sin took 31 days, since it included the 15th day of the second month, and the rest of the journey took another 16 days, assuming they arrived at Mount Sinai on the 15th day (not the first day, etc.) of the third month. Along with these criteria, a theory’s overall congruence with other established geographical and archeological data should bolster its credibility over other proposals. Another consideration is the extreme similarity between the events at Rephidim (Exodus 17) and the events at Kadesh-barnea (Numbers 20:1-13; 27:12-14; Deuteronomy 32:51; Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28), raising the question of whether Rephidim (meaning “resting places”) is in fact Kadesh-barnea. With these things in mind, the map below proposes a route for the exodus that meets virtually all of these criteria. A careful analysis and explanation of all the elements of the map is far beyond the scope of this article, but a few key points should be noted. The term Red Sea, in addition to referring to what we now regard it, must have also applied to the interconnected lakes and marshlands that lay along what is now the Suez Canal. Also, the portion of the journey that passed through the wilderness for three days without water (Exodus 15:22; Numbers 33:8) may have been comprised of a partial first day, a full second day, and a partial third day, much like Jesus’ time in the tomb is reckoned as three days in Matthew 12:40. Most notably, Mount Sinai is placed on this map at Gebel Khashm et-Tarif, which is appropriately located near, but not in, Midian (Exodus 3:1; 18:5; Numbers 10:29-30). It is also located 89 miles from Kadesh-barnea (assuming Kadesh is at Tall al-Quderat), which establishes a reasonable pace of 7.6 miles (12.2 km) per day to travel between them in 11 days. This lines up well with several known sources of water along that route (e.g., `Ain Qedeis [Hazar-addar?], Tamilat Suwelima [Hor-haggiggad?], and the spring at Kuntillet al-Girafi [unknown ancient identification]). This general pace then synchronizes very well with the timetable and distances required by this map for the other parts of the journey. The distance from Rameses to the Wilderness of Sin (where it is located here) could be completed in under 26 days, leaving an acceptable buffer of about 5 days for the parting of the Red Sea and perhaps a slower pace through the Wilderness of Shur/Etham. The entire journey took about 60 days, and the journey from the Wilderness of Sin to Mount Sinai took about 29 days. This leaves an acceptable buffer of time to complete the rest of the journey (about 16 days of travel) with a very adequate two weeks of extra time for Jethro to visit Moses and the Israelites to do battle with the Amalekites (Exodus 17-18). It should be noted that this timetable generally assumes (but does not necessarily require) that travel continued on sabbath days, but Scripture does not make clear whether travel was prohibited as work prior to the giving of the law at Mount Sinai.
