Key Spices and Their Uses in Scripture

In the Bible, coriander (Hebrew: gad, Coriandrum sativum) is most famously mentioned in

Exodus 16:31 and Numbers 11:7

where it is used to describe the appearance of manna — the miraculous bread

provided by God to the Israelites in the wilderness.

Manna was described as white like coriander seed and tasting

like wafers made with honey.

This comparison helped the Israelites recognize and remember the divine

provision, using a familiar plant they knew from their

Egyptian and surrounding cultures.

Biblical and Cultural Context

Exodus 16:31: “It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey”

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  Numbers 11:7: “It resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of gum resin”