And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.

EXODUS 16:14KJV
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Exodus 16:14 (KJV)

What does Exodus 16:14 mean?

Exodus 16:14 describes how, after the morning dew disappeared in the wilderness, the Israelites found a small, round substance covering the ground, as fine as frost. This verse introduces the appearance of manna, the mysterious food God provided for the Israelites during their journey in the desert.

The verse is part of the story where God responds to the Israelites’ hunger by sending them food. Moses is leading the people through the wilderness, and they are learning to trust God for daily provision. The detail about the substance being as fine as frost highlights its unusual and delicate nature, setting the stage for the Israelites’ curiosity and questions in the following verses.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 16:14

  • The word for "dew" (טַל, tal; H2919) refers to the moisture that settles on the ground overnight, which in this context disappears to reveal something new and unexpected.
  • "Small" (דַּק, daq; H1851) is used twice, emphasizing just how fine and tiny the substance was—almost like powder or dust, which would have made it easy to overlook.
  • "Frost" (כְּפֹר, kephor; H3713) is a word for the thin, icy covering that sometimes appears on the ground in the morning, helping the reader picture the manna’s delicate and scattered appearance.

Why Exodus 16:14 matters

  • This verse clears up that manna did not fall from the sky like rain but appeared after the dew vanished, making its arrival both ordinary and miraculous.
  • The emphasis on the substance’s smallness and frost-like quality shows that God’s provision sometimes comes in unexpected forms, requiring the Israelites to pay attention and gather it carefully.
  • Understanding the description here helps explain why the Israelites later ask, "What is it?" in the next verse, highlighting their unfamiliarity and the uniqueness of God’s provision.

Where else these words appear

“frost” Hebrew H3713 · used in 6 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 28:17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:
  • Ezra 1:10 Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.
  • Job 38:29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

“lay” Hebrew H7902 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 16:13 And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.
  • Leviticus 15:17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.
  • Leviticus 19:20 And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.

“small” Hebrew H1851 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 41:3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
  • Genesis 41:23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:
  • Leviticus 21:20 Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;

“dew” Hebrew H2919 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 27:28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
  • Judges 6:39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
  • Proverbs 19:12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.