גַּד
coriander seed (from its furrows)
Definition
The Hebrew word גַּד (gad) refers specifically to the coriander seed, a small, round, aromatic seed used as a spice. In the Old Testament, it is used exclusively as a descriptive simile for the appearance of manna, the miraculous food God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. In Exodus 16:31, manna is described as being 'like coriander seed, white,' and in Numbers 11:7, it is again compared to coriander seed, adding that its color was like that of bdellium. The word carries no other distinct biblical meaning.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the Pentateuch within narratives about the wilderness wanderings. Its usage is purely descriptive, serving as a point of visual comparison to help the reader understand the physical appearance of manna. It appears in Exodus 16:31 and Numbers 11:7, establishing a consistent literary link between these two accounts of God's provision.
Etymology
The noun גַּד (gad) is derived from the root גָּדַד (gadad, H1413), which means 'to cut' or 'to furrow.' This etymology likely relates to the appearance of the coriander seed itself, which has a furrowed or grooved surface, or perhaps to the method of harvesting or processing the seed. The connection emphasizes a physical characteristic (being marked by cuts or lines) rather than the plant's function.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a simple noun, its biblical usage is theologically significant. It serves as a tangible, familiar descriptor for the supernatural provision of manna, grounding a miraculous event in everyday sensory experience. Understanding this comparison enriches the reading of Exodus 16 and Numbers 11 by highlighting God's care in providing not only sustenance but also a recognizable, if extraordinary, substance. It connects God's grace to the created order.
Coriander seed (Coriandrum sativum) was a common spice and medicinal plant in the ancient Near East. Its use as a simile would have been immediately understood by the original audience. The comparison to a known, small, round seed helped convey manna's size, shape, and possibly its granular texture. This cultural context makes the description of the miraculous manna more concrete and relatable.
No direct synonyms for 'coriander seed' are used in the biblical text for manna. Other descriptors for manna include: דְּבַשׁ (devash, H1706) — 'honey' (used for taste, Exo 16:31), and בְּדֹלַח (bdolach, H916) — 'bdellium' (a resin for color, Num 11:7).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →