Back to Numbers 11

Numbers 11:6-10

but now we have lost our appetite. There is nothing at all except this manna to look at.” The manna was like coriander seed, and it looked like bdellium. The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. Its taste was like the taste of fresh oil. When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.

Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and Yahweh’s anger burned greatly; and Moses was displeased.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Numbers 11:6-10 sits inside this longer paragraph.

The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly; and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic; but now we have lost our appetite. There is nothing at all except this manna to look at.” The manna was like coriander seed, and it looked like bdellium. The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. Its taste was like the taste of fresh oil. When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.

Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and Yahweh’s anger burned greatly; and Moses was displeased. Moses said to Yahweh, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why haven’t I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? Have I conceived all this people? Have I brought them out, that you should tell me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which you swore to their fathers?’ Where could I get meat to give all these people? For they weep before me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. If you treat me this way, please kill me right now, if I have found favor in your sight; and don’t let me see my wretchedness.”

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    but now we have lost our appetite. There is nothing at all except this manna to look at.”

    The manna was like coriander seed, and it looked like bdellium.

    The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. Its taste was like the taste of fresh oil.

    When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.

    Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and Yahweh’s anger burned greatly; and Moses was displeased.

  • KJV King James Version

    But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

    And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.

    And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.

    And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

    Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all; we have nought save this manna to look to.' —

    Now the manna was like coriander seed, and the appearance thereof as the appearance of bdellium.

    The people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and seethed it in pots, and made cakes of it; and the taste of it was as the taste of a cake baked with oil.

    And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it. —

    And Moses heard the people weeping, family by family, every man at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased.

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Cross-references (32)

  • Exodus 16:31 (vv7–8) The house of Israel called its name “Manna”, and it was like coriander seed, white; and its taste was like wafers with honey.
  • Numbers 21:5 (vv6, 10) The people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread,…
  • Exodus 16:13-14 (v9) In the evening, quail came up and covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay around the camp. When the dew that lay had gone, behold,…
  • Genesis 2:12 (v7) and the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are also there.
  • Exodus 16:14-15 (v7) When the dew that lay had gone, behold, on the surface of the wilderness was a small round thing, small as the frost on the ground. When…
Show all 30 cross-references
  • Exodus 16:16-18 (v8) “This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded: ‘Gather of it everyone according to his eating; an omer a head, according to the number of…
  • Psalms 78:21 (v10) Therefore Yahweh heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,
  • Exodus 16:23 (v8) He said to them, “This is that which Yahweh has spoken, ‘Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to Yahweh. Bake that which you want to…
  • Numbers 11:1 (v10) The people were complaining in the ears of Yahweh. When Yahweh heard it, his anger burned; and Yahweh’s fire burned among them, and…
  • Numbers 12:3 (v10) Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth.
  • Numbers 14:1-2 (v10) All the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. All the children of Israel murmured against Moses…
  • Numbers 16:27 (v10) So they went away from the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side. Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their…
  • Numbers 20:10-13 (v10) Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Shall we bring water out of…
  • Deuteronomy 32:2 (v9) My doctrine will drop as the rain. My speech will condense as the dew, as the misty rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb.
  • Deuteronomy 32:22 (v10) For a fire is kindled in my anger, that burns to the lowest Sheol, devours the earth with its increase, and sets the foundations of the…
  • Psalms 78:23-25 (v9) Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven. He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky. Man…
  • Psalms 78:59 (v10) When God heard this, he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel,
  • Psalms 105:40 (v9) They asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of the sky.
  • Psalms 106:25 (v10) but murmured in their tents, and didn’t listen to Yahweh’s voice.
  • Psalms 106:32-33 (v10) They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes; because they were rebellious against his…
  • Psalms 139:21 (v10) Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
  • Isaiah 5:25 (v10) Therefore Yahweh’s anger burns against his people, and he has stretched out his hand against them and has struck them. The mountains…
  • Jeremiah 17:4 (v10) You, even of yourself, will discontinue from your heritage that I gave you. I will cause you to serve your enemies in the land which you…
  • Mark 3:5 (v10) When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”…
  • Mark 10:14 (v10) But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for…
  • John 6:27 (v8) Don’t work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the…
  • John 6:33-58 (v8) For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” They said therefore to him, “Lord, always give…
  • 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (v7) but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks,…
  • Revelation 2:17 (v7) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I…
  • 2 Samuel 13:4 (v6) He said to him, “Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother…

30 distinct cross-references across this passage (32 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (18 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv6–7 For the greedy lust of flesh.

For the greedy lust of flesh.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv6–10 Num 11:6 But now our soul [is] dried away:…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv6–10 Our soul; either,
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv6–10 But now our soul is dried away,.... Meaning their…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 8, 10 Our soul - Either our life, as the soul…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v7 Verse 7. The manna was as coriander seed] Probably…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv7, 10 Num 11:7-8. As coriander-seed — Not for colour, for…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 8, 10 Dry, like people quite worn out for want of…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv6, 10 But now . . . there is nothing .…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv6–10 6. Our soul is dried away — Our animal…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv6–9 6. this manna] No account has been given in…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 8, 10 (6) There is nothing at all . . .…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv6–10 Our soul is dried away. This exaggerated statement expressed…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v10 Wherefore hast Thou afflicted Thy servant?
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v6 (See Scofield "Exo 16:35").
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v10 Moses is Given Assistants
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv7, 9 coriander seed
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv6, 7, 10 11:6 The Lord had earlier provided manna and quail…
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