Hebrew man, from the question Israel asked when they first saw it: man hu — "What is it?" (Exodus 16:15). The bread-like food God rained from heaven each morning (except the Sabbath) to feed Israel during the 40 years of wilderness wandering. Described as "a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground... like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey" (Exodus 16:14, 31). Each Israelite gathered about an omer (approx. 2 quarts or 3 liters) per day; on the sixth day they gathered double for the Sabbath. Extra manna collected on a weekday spoiled overnight; Sabbath manna did not. Israel ate it for 40 years until they entered Canaan and ate of its produce (Joshua 5:12).
Manna teaches daily dependence on God. Five lessons. (1) Daily bread. Jesus' prayer line "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11) draws directly on manna imagery. God provides enough for today, not stockpiles for next year. The anxious believer hoards; the trusting believer receives his day's portion and trusts for tomorrow's. (2) Weekly rhythm. The manna enforced Sabbath: six days gathering, one day of rest. Nobody could fake Sabbath observance — on the sixth day the double portion kept, on every other day leftover spoiled. God literally trained Israel's appetite into a weekly rhythm. (3) Grumbling and testing. Israel tired of manna and craved meat (Numbers 11), revealing the discontented heart that every generation of believers wrestles. What God gave was enough; Israel demanded more. Paul: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11). (4) Memorial. A jar of manna was kept in the Ark (Exodus 16:33-34, Hebrews 9:4) as a perpetual reminder of God's provision. We forget God's past faithfulness faster than we think; physical memorials, testimonies, and intentional remembrance fight that amnesia. (5) Christ the true manna. Jesus: "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever" (John 6:49-51). Every Lord's Supper is a commemorative meal of the true manna.