Numbers 21:8
6 So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.
7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people.
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.”
9 So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.
10 Then the Israelites set out and camped at Oboth.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.”
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- The LORD said to Moses, “Make a venomous snake, and set it on a pole. It shall happen that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- 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.
- BLB
- And YHWH said to Moses, “Make for yourself a fiery serpent and set it on a pole; and it shall come to pass [that] anyone who is bitten, and he looks at it, he shall live.”
- ÅB
- Da sa Herren til Moses: Gjør deg en seraf-slange og sett den på en stang, så skal hver den som er bitt og ser på den, få leve.
- OTB
- Herren sa til Moses: «Lag en brennende slange og sett den på en stang; alle som blir bitt og ser på den, skal leve.»
- B1930
- Da sa Herren til Moses: Gjør dig en seraf-slange og sett den på en stang, så skal hver den som er bitt og ser på den, få leve.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
John 3:14
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
Read in contextPsalms 106:43–45
Many times He rescued them, but they were bent on rebellion and sank down in their iniquity.
Read in contextPsalms 145:8
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.
Read in context