Numbers 21:5

21:5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread or water, and we ¹  detest this worthless ²  food.”

Psalms 78:27-30

78:27 He rained down meat on them like dust,

birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores. ³ 

78:28 He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp,

all around their homes.

78:29 They ate until they were stuffed; ⁴ 

he gave them what they desired.

78:30 They were not yet filled up, ⁵ 

their food was still in their mouths,

Psalms 106:15

106:15 He granted their request,

then struck them with a disease. ⁶ 

Proverbs 27:7

27:7 The one whose appetite ⁷  is satisfied loathes honey,

but to the hungry mouth ⁸  every bitter thing is sweet.

[21:5]  ¹ tn Heb “our souls.”

[21:5]  ² tn The Israelites’ opinion about the manna was clear enough – “worthless.” The word used is קְלֹקֵל (qÿloqel, “good for nothing, worthless, miserable”).

[78:27]  ³ tn Heb “and like the sand of the seas winged birds.”

[78:29]  ⁴ tn Heb “and they ate and were very satisfied.”

[78:30]  ⁵ tn Heb “they were not separated from their desire.”

[106:15]  ⁶ tn Heb “and he sent leanness into their being.”

[27:7]  ⁷ tn Traditionally, “soul” (so KJV, ASV). The Hebrew text uses נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) here for the subject – the full appetite [“soul”]. The word refers to the whole person with all his appetites. Here its primary reference is to eating, but it has a wider application than that – possession, experience, education, and the like.

[27:7]  ⁸ tn Here the term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, traditionally, “soul”) is used again, now in contrast to describe the “hungry appetite” (cf. NRSV “ravenous appetite”), although “hungry mouth” might be more idiomatic for the idea. Those whose needs are great are more appreciative of things than those who are satisfied. The needy will be delighted even with bitter things.