Numbers 21:6
4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
7 Therefore 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.
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.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.
- KJV
- And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
- WEB
- The LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died.
- ASV
- And Jehovah sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
- DARBY
- Then Jehovah sent fiery serpents among the people, which bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
- BLB
- And YHWH sent among the people fiery serpents, and they bit the people; and many people of Israel died.
- ÅB
- Da sendte Herren seraf-slanger[^2] inn iblant folket, og de bet folket; og der døde meget folk av Israel.
- OTB
- Da sendte Herren brennende slanger blant folket, og de bet folket, så mange israelitter døde.
- B1930
- Da sendte Herren seraf-slanger inn iblandt folket, og de bet folket; og der døde meget folk av Israel. / < brennende d.e. giftige slanger.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Corinthians 10:9
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 8:15
Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
Read in contextJeremiah 8:17
For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.
Read in contextAmos 9:3–4
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:
Read in contextIsaiah 30:6
The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
Read in contextIsaiah 14:29
Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.
Read in contextGenesis 3:14–15
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Read in context