Deep Dive

Numbers 21:8

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Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.”

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 8

The armies of Israel now begin to emerge out of the wilderness, and to come into a land inhabited, to enter upon action, and take possession of the frontiers of the land of promise. A glorious campaign this chapter gives us the history of, especially in the latter part of it. Here is, I. The defeat of Arad the Canaanite (Num 21:1-3). II. The chastisement of the people with fiery serpents for their murmurings, and the relief granted them upon their submission by a brazen serpent (Num 21:4-9). III. Several marches forward, and some occurrences by the way (Num 21:10-20). IV. The celebrated conquest of Sihon king of the Amorites (Num 21:21-32), and of Og king of Bashan (Num 21:33-35), and possession taken of their land.

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 8

יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application שָׂרָף (sârâph, H8314) — burning, i.e. (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically, a saraph or symbolical… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… נֵס (nêç, H5251) — a flag; also a sail; by implication, a flagstaff; generally a signal; figuratively, a… נָשַׁךְ (nâshak, H5391) — to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… חָיַי (châyay, H2425) — to live; causatively to revive

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

John 3:14rank 24

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

Psalms 145:8rank 4

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

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