Hidden Manna
"Hidden manna" is a promise Christ gives to faithful believers in Revelation 2:17. It likely points to the spiritual nourishment, fellowship, and final reward found in him, though interpreters differ on the exact imagery.
At a Glance
"Hidden manna" is a promise Christ gives to faithful believers in Revelation 2:17. It likely points to the spiritual nourishment, fellowship, and final reward found in him, though interpreters differ on the exact imagery.
Description
Hidden manna is the symbolic gift Christ promises to "the one who conquers" in Revelation 2:17. The image builds on God’s provision of manna for Israel in the wilderness and may allude to the memorial jar of manna associated with the tabernacle. In context, the phrase stands as a contrast to pagan compromise and likely signifies the true sustenance and reward that come from the Lord rather than from idolatrous participation in the world’s system. Faithful evangelical interpretation should avoid dogmatism about the exact detail of the symbol, since Revelation uses rich imagery, but the safest conclusion is that hidden manna refers to God’s gracious provision for his faithful people in Christ, whether understood mainly as present spiritual nourishment, future eschatological reward, or a combination of both.