Numbers 21:8
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”
Numbers 21:8 in 7 translations
- KJVKing James Version
- And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
- DRADouay–Rheims
- And the Lord said to him: Make brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: whosoever being struck shall look on it, shall live.
- ASVAmerican Standard Version
- And Jehovah said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a standard: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he seeth it, shall live.
- DARBYDarby
- And Jehovah said to Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, and looketh upon it, shall live.
- WEBThe World English Bible
- Yahweh said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard: and it shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.
- YLTYoung's Literal Translation
- And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Make for thee a burning serpent, and set it on an ensign; and it hath been, every one who is bitten and hath seen it ; he hath lived.
- BPVBiblePics Version
- The Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole; everyone who is bitten will live if they look at it."
Context: Numbers 21
6And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
7Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
8And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
9And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
10And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth.
About Numbers 21: The Bronze Serpent
The Israelites defeat King Sihon and King Og, but they also complain and are punished with fiery serpents.
Commentary
In Numbers 21, the Israelites are on their journey to the Promised Land, and they are growing increasingly impatient and discontented with the Lord. They complain about the lack of food and water, and they even go so far as to speak against God and Moses. In response, God sends fiery serpents to bite the people, and many of them die. When the people repent and cry out to Moses for help, God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Anyone who looks at the bronze serpent will be healed.