Exodus 16:8

8 Then Moses said, "It is the Lord who will give you meat to eat in the evening and as much bread as you want in the morning, because he has heard how much you have complained against him. When you complain against us, you are really complaining against the Lord."

Exodus 16:8 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 16:8

And Moses said, this shall be
Which supplement may be left out: when the Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat;
cause the quails to come up, and fall about their tents: and in the morning bread to the full;
by raining it from heaven all around them: for that,
or rather "then" F11, the Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him;
it will then appear that he has heard them, and taken notice of them, by giving them bread and flesh, they complained of the want of; and yet did not resent in a way of wrath and displeasure their murmurings, but kindly, bountifully, and in a most marvellous manner provided for them, which was acting like himself, a God gracious and merciful: and what [are] we?
that we should be the objects of your resentment, and be murmured at, and complained of, who had done nothing to deserve such treatment: your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord;
not only against them, but against the Lord also; or not so much against them as against the Lord, whose messengers and ministers they were, and whom they represented, obeyed, and served; thus whatever is done to the ministers of Christ, he reckons as done to the Father, and to himself, ( Luke 10:16 ) ( 1 Thessalonians 4:8 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F11 (emvb) "testabitur se audisse", Tigurine version.

Exodus 16:8 In-Context

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt.
7 In the morning you will see the dazzling light of the Lord's presence. He has heard your complaints against him - yes, against him, because we are only carrying out his instructions."
8 Then Moses said, "It is the Lord who will give you meat to eat in the evening and as much bread as you want in the morning, because he has heard how much you have complained against him. When you complain against us, you are really complaining against the Lord."
9 Moses said to Aaron, "Tell the whole community to come and stand before the Lord, because he has heard their complaints."
10 As Aaron spoke to the whole community, they turned toward the desert, and suddenly the dazzling light of the Lord appeared in a cloud.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.