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Exodus 16:16,32,33
Thisis the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man,according to the number of your persons; take ye every man forthem whichare in his tents…

is a tenth
The specification of an omer being a tenth part indicates a precise measurement, reflecting the order and structure in God's instructions. The concept of a "tenth" is significant in biblical terms, often associated with tithing, which is giving a tenth of one's income or produce to God. This connection underscores the principle of dedicating a portion to God, acknowledging His sovereignty and provision.

of an ephah
An ephah is a larger unit of dry measure used in ancient Israel, roughly equivalent to about 22 liters or 5.8 gallons. By stating that an omer is a tenth of an ephah, the text provides clarity on the quantity of manna each person was to gather. This measurement system reflects the agrarian society of ancient Israel, where such units were commonly used for grains and other produce. The ephah is also mentioned in other parts of the Bible, such as in the story of Ruth, where it is used to measure barley, further illustrating its role in daily life and commerce.

• The verse opens with a simple time-word, grounding the statement in the immediate context ofExodus 16, where God miraculously provides manna for Israel each dawn (Exodus 16:13-15).

• “Now” connects the measurement note to the prior command: “Gather as much as each person needs” (Exodus 16:16). It signals that the measurement clarification is immediately relevant to obedience, just as Jesus linked precise obedience to God’s provision inMatthew 6:11 andLuke 12:24.

• An omer is introduced earlier: “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘An omer of it for each person’” (Exodus 16:16). Here the reader is reminded exactly what an omer is.

• Practical takeaway: God specifies the portion; Israel need not guess. Similarly, Noah followed precise cubits (Genesis 6:15), and Moses later builds the tabernacle “according to the pattern” (Exodus 25:9).

• God’s clarity teaches trust: provision is measured, sufficient, not random (Philippians 4:19).

• “A tenth” instantly recalls the tithe principle (Genesis 14:20;Leviticus 27:30), underscoring that God is a God of order and proportion.

• By defining the fraction, the Lord prevents confusion. Israel can instantly scale quantities—vital when feeding an entire nation (Numbers 1:46).

• Believers today learn that stewardship involves knowing both whole and part (Luke 16:10).

• The ephah becomes a standard dry measure throughout the Law (Leviticus 5:11;Ruth 2:17). By tying the smaller omer to the larger ephah, God integrates daily life with worship rituals that will later require ephahs of flour (Leviticus 6:20).

• It also levels the community: everyone measures with the same standard—no inflated or diminished baskets (Deuteronomy 25:15;Proverbs 11:1).

• Prophetic overtones arise when Ezekiel envisions restored temple offerings using ephahs (Ezekiel 45:11). God’s measures are consistent from desert to millennium.

Exodus 16:36 explains that an omer—the daily manna portion per person—equals one-tenth of an ephah. By inserting this precise ratio, God underscores His orderly provision, reinforces fair and uniform distribution, and connects wilderness living to later covenant worship. The verse reminds believers that the Lord who numbers our hairs also measures our needs and calls us to honest, proportionate stewardship in every sphere of life.

Parallel Commentaries ...