How Much Manna Was Gathered Per Person?
The story of manna, the miraculous food provided by God to the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness, is one of the most remarkable accounts of divine provision in the Bible. Beyond the spiritual lessons, there is also a fascinating practical aspect: the amount of manna that each person was to gather daily.
Biblical Instructions for Gathering Manna
According to the account in Exodus 16, God gave very specific instructions to the Israelites regarding the gathering of manna. Each person, whether male or female, was to gather a specific portion—“an omer for each person” (Exodus 16:16).
An omer is a biblical measure of volume, roughly equivalent to 2.3 liters or about 2.2 quarts. This daily ration was considered sufficient to meet the basic nutritional needs of each individual.
God’s instructions emphasized equality and sufficiency: no one was to gather more than their share, and everyone was to receive enough to survive. This guidance ensured that the provision was fair and that the community relied on God’s daily supply, rather than attempting to hoard resources.
The Gathering Process
Every morning, the Israelites would find manna covering the ground like dew. They were instructed to go out and gather enough for their household. Remarkably, if they attempted to save manna for the next day, it would rot and breed worms, except on the day before the Sabbath, when double the portion could be gathered and it would remain fresh (Exodus 16:19–26). This pattern reinforced the importance of daily dependence on God and trust in His provision.
Practical Implications
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Individual Portioning: Each person received roughly 2.3 liters of manna per day. For a family of four, that would amount to approximately 9.2 liters collected each morning.
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Sufficiency: The amount was designed to sustain life. There is no record of anyone being hungry if they adhered to God’s instructions.
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Miraculous Preservation: The manna had unusual properties. It could be cooked or eaten raw and had a taste described as “like wafers made with honey” (Exodus 16:31).
Lessons from the Portion Size
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Dependence on God: The fixed daily portion taught the Israelites to rely on God for their needs each day rather than hoarding.
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Trust and Obedience: Attempting to gather more than the assigned portion led to spoilage, showing that obedience brought blessing while disobedience led to waste.
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Equity and Community Care: Everyone, regardless of status, received the same amount, emphasizing fairness and shared responsibility.
Conclusion
The amount of manna gathered per person was precise and intentional. With an omer per person per day, God ensured that the Israelites had enough to sustain themselves while also teaching valuable lessons about reliance, obedience, and community fairness. The story of manna continues to resonate as a symbol of daily provision and the spiritual principle of trusting in divine care.
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