manna

Manna is the miraculous food described in the Hebrew Bible as provided by God to the Israelites during their 40-year wilderness wanderings after the Exodus from Egypt. It is most prominently described in the books of Exodus and Numbers, with later references in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. The term has also entered general usage to denote any unexpected divine or miraculous sustenance.

In the biblical account, manna appeared with the daily dawn and was a fine, flaky substance gathered from the ground. It is described as white, delicate as frost or coriander seed in appearance, and tasting like wafers made with honey. The people were commanded to collect a daily portion for each person, with a larger portion on the day before the Sabbath; any leftovers would spoil or breed worms if kept beyond the day. It could be ground, baked, or boiled into cakes, and it ceased when the Israelites entered the land of Canaan.

Etymology and interpretation: The word manna comes from a Hebrew root meaning “What is it?” reflecting the surprised question of the Israelites upon first finding the substance. Some scholars have proposed naturalistic explanations, such as plant-based exudates or insect secretions, but the biblical narrative describes it as a direct divine provision. In Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, manna is commonly viewed as a symbol of God's care and daily sustenance, rather than a natural food source.

Modern usage: The term manna is used metaphorically to denote nourishment supplied in times of need and has entered common language to describe unexpected or timely provision.