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English Revised Version

Numbers 21:9

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Brazen Serpent;   Intercession;   Israel;   Miracles;   Salvation;   Serpent;   Symbols and Similitudes;   Types;   Scofield Reference Index - Christ Types of;   Miracles;   Serpent;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible Stories for Children;   Blindness-Vision;   Brazen Serpent;   Children;   Home;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Serpent, Brazen;   Stories for Children;   Vision;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Brass, or Copper;   Desert, Journey of Israel through the;   Miracles Wrought through Servants of God;   Salvation;   Serpents;   Types of Christ;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Miracle;   Serpents;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Snake;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fulfillment;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Brass;   Ensign;   Hezekiah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Cross;   Nehushtan;   Sacrifice;   Serpent;   Serpent, Brazen;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Banner;   Fulfill;   Hezekiah;   Nehushtan;   Numbers, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Israel;   Jephthah;   Moses;   Numbers, Book of;   Serpent, Brazen;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Moses ;   Poison;   Serpent;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Serpent of Brass;   Type;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Punon;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Kehushtan;   Serpent;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Hezeki'ah;   Nehush'tan;   Serpent;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Brass (brazen);   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Armies;   Brazen Serpent;   Serpent, Brazen;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Images;   Moses;   Pentateuch;   Pole;   Sign;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Allegorical Interpretation;   Brass;   Brazen Serpent;   Copper;   Elohist;   Metals;   Midrashim, Smaller;   Nehushtan;   Seraphim;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Moshe made a serpent of brass, and set it on the standard: and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of brass, he lived.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
So Moses made a snake of bronze, and he placed it on the pole; whenever a snake bit someone, and that person looked at the snake of bronze, he lived.
English Standard Version
So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
New Century Version
So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Then when a snake bit anyone, that person looked at the bronze snake and lived.
New English Translation
So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole, so that if a snake had bitten someone, when he looked at the bronze snake he lived.
Amplified Bible
So Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on the pole, and it happened that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.
New American Standard Bible
So Moses made a bronze serpent and put it on the flag pole; and it came about, that if a serpent bit someone, and he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So Moses made a serpent of brasse, and set it vp for a signe: and when a serpent had bitten a man, then he looked to the serpent of brasse, and liued.
Legacy Standard Bible
And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it happened, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.
Contemporary English Version
Moses obeyed the Lord . And all of those who looked at the bronze snake lived, even though they had been bitten by the poisonous snakes.
Complete Jewish Bible
Moshe made a bronze snake and put it on the pole; if a snake had bitten someone, then, when he looked toward the bronze snake, he stayed alive.
Darby Translation
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole; and it came to pass, if a serpent had bitten any man, and he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Easy-to-Read Version
So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Then when a snake bit anyone, that person looked at the bronze snake on the pole and lived.
George Lamsa Translation
So 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.
Good News Translation
So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten would look at the bronze snake and be healed.
Christian Standard Bible®
So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.
Literal Translation
And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole; and it happened, if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then made Moses a serpent of brasse, and set it vp for a token: and whan a serpent had bytten eny man, he behelde the brasen serpente, and recouered.
American Standard Version
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon the standard: and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived.
Bible in Basic English
So Moses made a snake of brass and put it on a rod; and anyone who had a snakebite, after looking on the snake of brass, was made well.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Moyses made a serpent of brasse, and set it vpon a pole: and when the serpent had bitten any man, he behelde the serpent of brasse, and lyued.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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.
King James Version (1611)
And Moses made a serpent of brasse, and put it vpon a pole, and it came to passe, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when hee beheld the serpent of brasse, he liued.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a signal-staff: and it came to pass that whenever a serpent bit a man, and he looked on the brazen serpent, he lived.
Berean Standard Bible
So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze serpent, he would recover.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Moyses made a serpent of bras, and settide for a signe; and men smytun and biholdynge it, weren heelid.
Young's Literal Translation
And Moses maketh a serpent of brass, and setteth it on the ensign, and it hath been, if the serpent hath bitten any man, and he hath looked expectingly unto the serpent of brass -- he hath lived.
Update Bible Version
And Moses made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the standard: and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze, he lived.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
World English Bible
Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it on the standard: and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of brass, he lived.
New King James Version
So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
New Living Translation
So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!
New Life Bible
So Moses made a brass snake and put it up on the long piece of wood. If a snake bit any man, he would live when he looked at the brass snake.
New Revised Standard
So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon the standard, - and it came to pass - that if the serpent had bitten any man, as soon as he directed his look unto the serpent of bronze, he lived.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Moses therefore made a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: which when they that were bitten looked upon, they were healed.
Revised Standard Version
So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
THE MESSAGE
So Moses made a snake of fiery copper and put it on top of a flagpole. Anyone bitten by a snake who then looked at the copper snake lived.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.

Contextual Overview

4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to 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, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 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. 8 And the LORD 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. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon the standard: and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

A serpent of: 2 Kings 18:4, John 3:14, John 3:15, John 12:32, Romans 8:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21

when he: Isaiah 45:22, Zechariah 12:10, John 1:29, Hebrews 12:2, 1 John 3:8

he lived: John 6:40, Romans 1:17, Romans 5:20, Romans 5:21

Reciprocal: Psalms 107:20 - healed Luke 6:19 - sought John 5:46 - for

Cross-References

Genesis 16:1
Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Genesis 17:20
And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 21:1
And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
Genesis 21:3
And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
Genesis 21:5
And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
Genesis 21:6
And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh; every one that heareth will laugh with me.
Genesis 21:13
And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
Genesis 21:14
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
Genesis 21:23
now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
Genesis 21:24
And Abraham said, I will swear.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Moses made a serpent of brass,.... Which was the most proper metal to make it of, that it might resemble the fiery serpents, whether of a golden or scarlet colour: and Diodorus Siculus d speaks of some of the colour of brass, whose bite was immediately followed with death, and by which, if anyone was struck, he was seized with terrible pains, and a bloody sweat flowed all over him; and this was chosen also, because being burnished and bright, could be seen at a great distance, and with this metal Moses might be furnished from Punon, the next station to this, where they now were, Zalmonah, as appears from Numbers 33:42 a place famous for brass mines, and which Jerom e says, in his time, was a little village, from whence brass metal was dug, by such that were condemned to the mines:

and put it upon a pole; as he was directed:

and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived: which was very marvellous, and the more so, if what physicians say is true, as Kimchi relates f, that if a man bitten by a serpent looks upon a piece of brass he dies immediately: the lifting up of this serpent on a pole for such a purpose was a figure of the lifting up of Christ, either upon the cross, or in the ministry of the word, that whosoever looks unto him by faith may have healing, Numbers 33:42- :,where this type or figure is largely explained: the station the Israelites were now at, when this image was made, is called Zalmonah, which signifies an image, shadow, or resemblance, as the brazen serpent was; from Mount Hor, where they were last, to this place, according to Bunting g, were twenty eight miles: this serpent did not remain in the place where it was set, but was taken with them, and continued until the days of Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18:4.

d Bibliothec. l. 17. p. 560. e De locis Heb. fol. 91. G. f Sepher Sherash. rad. נחש g Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. 83.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 21:9. And Moses made a serpent of brass — נחש נחשת nechash nechosheth. Hence we find that the word for brass or copper comes from the same root with nachash, which here signifies a serpent, probably on account of the colour; as most serpents, especially those of the bright spotted kind, have a very glistening appearance, and those who have brown or yellow spots appear something like burnished brass: but the true meaning of the root cannot be easily ascertained.

On the subject of the cure of the serpent-bitten Israelites, by looking at the brazen serpent, there is a good comment in the book of Wisdom, Apoch. Wis 16:4-12, in which are these remarkable words: "They were admonished, having a sign of salvation, (i. e., the brazen serpent,) to put them in remembrance of the commandments of thy law. For he that turned himself towards It was not saved by the THING that he saw, but by THEE, that art the Saviour of all." To the circumstance of looking at the brazen serpent in order to be healed, our Lord refers, John 3:14-15: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." The brazen serpent was certainly no type of Jesus Christ; but from our Lord's words we may learn,

1. That as the serpent was lifted up on the pole or ensign, so Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross.

2. That as the Israelites were to look at the brazen serpent, so sinners must look to Christ for salvation.

3. That as God provided no other remedy than this looking for the wounded Israelites, so he has provided no other way of salvation than faith in the blood of his Son.

4. That as he who looked at the brazen serpent was cured and did live, so he that believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall not perish, but have eternal life.

5. That as neither the serpent, nor looking at it, but the invisible power of GOD healed the people, so neither the cross of Christ, nor his merely being crucified, but the pardon he has bought by his blood, communicated by the powerful energy of his Spirit, saves the souls of men.

May not all these things be plainly seen in the circumstances of this transaction, without making the serpent a type of Jesus Christ, (the most exceptionable that could possibly be chosen,) and running the parallel, as some have done, through ten or a dozen particulars?


 
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