8467. 'Gather from it, each according to the mouth of his eating' means receiving and making it their own, each in accordance with his own ability. This is clear from the meaning of 'gathering' - when said in regard to the good of truth, which is meant by 'the manna' - as receiving; and from the meaning of 'each according to the mouth of his eating' as making their own, each in accordance with his own ability. For when 'according to the mouth of one's eating' refers to food it means in accordance with what is requisite and necessary to nourish [the body]; but when the expression refers to the good of truth it means in accordance with the ability to receive and make one's own, since 'eating' in the spiritual sense means making a thing one's own, 3168, 3513 (end), 3596, 4745.

5582. 'Turn back, buy a little food for us' means that, so as to have life, they should acquire the good of spiritual truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'buying' as acquiring and making one's own, dealt with in 4397, 5374, 5397, 5406, 5410, 5426; and from the meaning of 'food' as the good of truth, dealt with in 5340, 5342. Here the good of spiritual truth is meant, because this kind of good is the subject in what follows. That the purpose was for them to have life follows from this.