Lexical Summary gad: Fortune, troop Original Word: גַּד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance coriander From gadad (in the sense of cutting); coriander seed (from its furrows) -- coriander. see HEBREW gadad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originperhaps from gadad Definition coriander NASB Translation coriander (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. גַּד noun masculine coriander (Late Hebrew גִּיד, Aramaic גִּידָּא; connection with above √ dubious; see further LöwNo. 155) — זֶרַע גַּד Exodus 16:31; Numbers 11:7, simile of manna. Topical Lexicon Botanical Identity Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is an annual herb of the parsley family, prized in the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds for its aromatic seeds. The small, round, off-white seeds have a sweet citrus-like fragrance and were easily ground into powder to flavor breads, stews, and sweets. Its familiarity in both Egypt and Canaan provides the backdrop for the biblical comparison that follows. Scripture Occurrences Exodus 16:31: “Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.” Numbers 11:7: “Now the manna resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like gum resin.” The term appears only in these two descriptions of manna. Culinary and Domestic Context in the Ancient Near East Coriander was cultivated along the Nile and traded throughout the Levant. In Egyptian tombs, whole seeds have been discovered beside bread loaves, indicating its role as a staple flavoring agent. Its delicate sweetness explains why the wilderness provision is likened to “wafers made with honey.” By invoking a common household spice, the text invites Israel to recognize the heavenly bread as both familiar and otherworldly—accessible yet miraculous. Theological Significance in the Provision of Manna The coriander analogy highlights God’s care in terms the people could taste and see. Each dawn, seeds of grace lay on the ground waiting to be gathered, underscoring daily dependence: Typological and Christological Implications Jesus identifies Himself as the true fulfillment of the wilderness bread: “My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world… I am the bread of life” (John 6:32-35). The seed-like form of manna anticipates the Seed who would fall to the ground and die (John 12:24), bringing forth life for many. As coriander seeds were ground and baked into fragrant wafers, so Christ’s suffering becomes the sweet aroma of salvation (Ephesians 5:2). Liturgical and Devotional Uses A jar of manna was placed “before the Testimony” (Exodus 16:33-34) as a perpetual sign. Each time worshipers approached the sanctuary they were reminded that spiritual life flows from God’s initiative, not human effort. Early Christian writers drew on the coriander comparison to teach the sweetness of Scripture: just as Israel ground, baked, and tasted the gift, believers must gather, meditate, and obey the Word daily (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). Historical and Cultural Insights Archaeology attests to coriander’s presence in Palestinian sites dating to the Late Bronze Age, supporting the narrative setting. The spice’s light color explains the detail “white like coriander seed,” while its rounded shape matches the Hebrew imagery of something delicate yet tangible. Egyptian medical papyri list coriander among digestive aids, suggesting the Lord provided bread that was both nourishing and gentle for a wilderness diet. Lessons for Christian Ministry 1. Daily Provision: Ministry that invites people to meet the Lord every morning mirrors the manna rhythm (Lamentations 3:22-23). Summary Strong’s Hebrew 1407 appears only to liken manna to the familiar coriander seed, a culinary staple that becomes a theological lens. Through this imagery Scripture portrays God’s faithfulness, prefigures Christ, and instructs His people in gratitude, obedience, and ongoing reliance on the bread that endures to eternal life. Forms and Transliterations גַּ֖ד גַּד֙ גד gad gaḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 16:31 HEB: וְה֗וּא כְּזֶ֤רַע גַּד֙ לָבָ֔ן וְטַעְמ֖וֹ NAS: it manna, and it was like coriander seed, KJV: thereof Manna: and it [was] like coriander seed, INT: he seed coriander white taste Numbers 11:7 |
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