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Numbers 21:6-9

Yahweh sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died. The people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahweh and against you. Pray to Yahweh, that he take away the serpents from us.” Moses prayed for the people.

Yahweh 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.” Moses made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, he lived.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Yahweh sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died.

    The people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahweh and against you. Pray to Yahweh, that he take away the serpents from us.” Moses prayed for the people.

    Yahweh 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.”

    Moses made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, he lived.

  • KJV King James Version

    And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

    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.

    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.

    And 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.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

    And the people came to Moses, and said: 'We have sinned, because 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.

    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 seeth it, shall live.'

    And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon the pole; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived.

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Science (2)

Historical claims about the natural world, weighed against the scientific record.

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Contradictions (1)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

  • To kill or not to kill

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Cross-references (48)

  • John 3:14 (v8) As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
  • John 3:14-15 (v9) As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish,…
  • John 6:40 (v9) This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise…
  • Hebrews 12:2 (v9) looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and…
  • 2 Kings 18:4 (v9) He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had…
Show all 48 cross-references
  • 1 Corinthians 10:9 (v6) Let’s not test Christ, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents.
  • John 12:32 (v9) And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
  • Isaiah 45:22 (v9) “Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
  • Psalms 106:43-45 (v8) He rescued them many times, but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity. Nevertheless he regarded…
  • Jeremiah 8:17 (v6) “For, behold, I will send serpents, adders among you, which will not be charmed; and they will bite you,” says Yahweh.
  • Acts 8:24 (v7) Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”
  • Romans 8:3 (v9) For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for…
  • Deuteronomy 8:15 (v6) who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with venomous snakes and scorpions, and thirsty ground where there was no water; who…
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 (v9) For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
  • Romans 1:17 (v9) For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”
  • Romans 5:20-21 (v9) The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; that as sin reigned in death, even…
  • Exodus 8:8 (v7) Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat Yahweh, that he take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let…
  • Numbers 11:2 (v7) The people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire abated.
  • Psalms 78:34 (v7) When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
  • Amos 9:3-4 (v6) Though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out there; and though they be hidden from my sight in the…
  • Zechariah 12:10 (v9) I will pour on David’s house, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to me whom…
  • 1 John 3:8 (v9) He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might…
  • Exodus 8:28 (v7) Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to Yahweh your God in the wilderness, only you shall not go very far away. Pray…
  • Psalms 145:8 (v8) Yahweh is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.
  • Isaiah 30:6 (v6) The burden of the animals of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, of the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying…
  • 1 Kings 13:6 (v7) The king answered the man of God, “Now intercede for the favor of Yahweh your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again.”…
  • Isaiah 14:29 (v6) Don’t rejoice, O Philistia, all of you, because the rod that struck you is broken; for out of the serpent’s root an adder will emerge, and…
  • John 1:29 (v9) The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
  • Genesis 20:7 (v7) Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for…
  • Exodus 9:27-28 (v7) Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. Yahweh is righteous, and I and my people are…
  • Exodus 32:11 (v7) Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, “Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought out of the land of…
  • Exodus 32:30 (v7) On the next day, Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. Now I will go up to Yahweh. Perhaps I shall make atonement for…
  • Numbers 14:17-20 (v7) Now please let the power of the Lord be great, according as you have spoken, saying, ‘Yahweh is slow to anger, and abundant in loving…
  • Deuteronomy 9:20 (v7) Yahweh was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him. I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.
  • Deuteronomy 9:26-29 (v7) I prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Lord Yahweh, don’t destroy your people and your inheritance that you have redeemed through your greatness,…
  • 1 Samuel 12:19-23 (v7) All the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to…
  • 1 Samuel 15:24 (v7) Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words, because I feared the people, and…
  • 1 Samuel 15:30 (v7) Then he said, “I have sinned; yet please honor me now before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may…
  • Job 42:8 (v7) Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and…
  • Job 42:10 (v7) Yahweh turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends. Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before.
  • Psalms 106:23 (v7) Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, so that he…
  • Jeremiah 15:1 (v7) Then Yahweh said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not turn toward this people. Cast them out of my sight,…
  • Jeremiah 37:3 (v7) Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Pray…
  • Hosea 5:15 (v7) I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.”
  • Matthew 27:4 (v7) saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”
  • Romans 10:1 (v7) Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.
  • James 5:16 (v7) Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is…
  • Genesis 3:14-15 (v6) Yahweh God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. You…

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (17 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 For they that were stung therewith, were so inflamed…

For they that were stung therewith, were so inflamed with the heat thereof, that they died.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv6–7 Num 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 Such there were many in this wilderness, Deu 8:15,…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv6–9 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people,....…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 Fiery serpents - There were many such in this…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 Verse 6. Fiery serpents] הנחשים השרפים hannechashim hasseraphim. I…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv6, 8 Num 21:6. Fiery serpents — Hebrew, נחשׁים, nechashim, the…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv6, 8 Fiery serpents - The epithet Deu 8:15; Isa 14:29;…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 Fiery serpents. They are so called, because they that…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv6–7 The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people--That part…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv6–9 FIERY SERPENTS AND THE BRAZEN SERPENT, Num_21:6-9.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 6. fiery serpents] The Heb. words are both substantives,…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 (6) And the Lord sent fiery serpents . .…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv6–9 Fiery serpents, Nachash is the ordinary word for serpent.…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v9 (See Scofield "Gen 3:14"). The serpent is a symbol…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv6, 8 we have spoken against Yahweh and you
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv6–7 21:6 This whole region provided (and still provides) habitat…
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