Exodus 16

Manna

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. Exodus 16:4

Jehovah, the premortal Christ, promises bread from heaven to keep Israel alive in the wilderness. Jesus later teaches that He Himself is the true bread that came down from heaven, giving life to the world.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him · the chapter heading names Him

• a type of what is in John 6:32-33 — Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven... the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven.
• a type of what is in John 6:35 — I am the bread of life.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the self-existent, covenant God of Israel (I AM)

And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. Exodus 16:10–12

The glory of Jehovah shows itself in the cloud and He speaks, promising food so Israel will know He is their God. Latter-day Saints understand this Jehovah to be the premortal Jesus Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him

Manna

Manna — "What is it?" (Hebrew man hu)

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 16:14–15

Israel did not know what the heavenly bread was, so they called it "What is it?" The Church lists this manna as a type of Christ, who said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven."

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him

• a type of what is in John 6:48-51 — Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead... I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
• alluded to by 1 Corinthians 10:3 — Paul calls the wilderness food spiritual meat, in the passage where he says the Rock was Christ.
• the same event in 1 Nephi 17:28 — Nephi recalls Israel being fed with manna in the wilderness.

Manna kept before the Testimony

And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt. Exodus 16:32–34

A pot of manna is laid up before the Testimony as a lasting witness of the bread Jehovah gave. Hebrews names this golden pot among the holy things of the ark, and the risen Christ promises the faithful 'hidden manna.'

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · a traditional type, cited

• alluded to by Hebrews 9:4 — The ark of the covenant, wherein was the golden pot that had manna.
• a type of what is in Revelation 2:17 — To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna.