Numbers 21:17

Contemporary English Version

That's also the same well the Israelites sang about in this song: Let's celebrate! The well has given us water.

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Then sang Yisra'el this song: Spring up, well; sing you to it:

King James Version
Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:

Lexham English Bible
Then Israel sang this song, "Arise, well water! Sing to it!

English Standard Version
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—

New Century Version
Then the Israelites sang this song: "Pour out water, well! Sing about it.

New English Translation
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well, sing to it!

Amplified Bible
Then Israel sang this song, "Spring up, O well! Sing to it,

New American Standard Bible
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! Sing to it!

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Israel sang this song, Rise vp wel, sing ye vnto it.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Israel sang this song:"Spring up, O well! Sing to it!

Complete Jewish Bible
Then Isra'el sang this song: "Spring up, oh well! Sing to the well

Darby Translation
Then Israel sang this song, Rise up, well! sing unto it:

Easy-to-Read Version
Then the Israelites sang this song: "Well, flow with water! Sing about it!

George Lamsa Translation
Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye to it:

Good News Translation
At that time the people of Israel sang this song: "Wells, produce your water; And we will greet it with a song—

Christian Standard Bible®
Then Israel sang this song:

Literal Translation
Then Israel sang this song: Spring up, O well, sing to it;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sange Israel this songe, and they sange one after another ouer the well:

American Standard Version
Then sang Israel this song: Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:

Bible in Basic English
Then Israel gave voice to this song: Come up, O water-spring, let us make a song to it:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then Israel sang this song: Spryng vp well, syng ye vnto it:

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then sang Israel this song: Spring up, O well--sing ye unto it--

King James Version (1611)
Then Israel sang this song, Spring vp O well, Sing ye vnto it:

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Then Israel sang this song at the well, Begin to sing of the well;

English Revised Version
Then sang Israel this song: Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:

Berean Standard Bible
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well, all of you sing to it!

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thanne Israel soong this song, The pit stie;

Young's Literal Translation
Then singeth Israel this song, concerning the well -- they have answered to it:

Update Bible Version
Then sang Israel this song: Spring up, O well; you sing to it:

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Israel sung this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye to it:

World English Bible
Then sang Israel this song: Spring up, well; sing you to it:

New King James Version
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! All of you sing to it--

New Living Translation
There the Israelites sang this song: "Spring up, O well! Yes, sing its praises!

New Life Bible
Then Israel sang this song: "Come up, O well! Sing to it!

New Revised Standard
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then, sang Israel this song, - Spring thou up, O well! Respond ye thereunto;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Israel sung this song: Let the well spring up. They sung thereto:

Revised Standard Version
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! --Sing to it! --

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! Sing to it!

Contextual Overview

¹⁰ As the Israelites continued their journey to Canaan, they camped at Oboth, ¹¹ then at Iye-Abarim in the desert east of Moab, ¹² and then in the Zered Gorge. ¹³ After that, they crossed the Arnon River gorge and camped in the Moabite desert bordering Amorite territory. The Arnon was the border between the Moabites and the Amorites. ¹⁴ A song in The Book of the Lord 's Battles mentions the town of Waheb with its creeks in the territory of Suphah. It also mentions the Arnon River, ¹⁵ with its valleys that lie alongside the Moabite border and extend to the town of Ar. ¹⁶ From the Arnon, the Israelites went to the well near the town of Beer, where the Lord had said to Moses, "Call the people together, and I will give them water to drink." ¹⁷ That's also the same well the Israelites sang about in this song: Let's celebrate! The well has given us water. ¹⁸ With their royal scepters, our leaders pointed out where to dig the well. The Israelites left the desert and camped near the town of Mattanah, ¹⁹ then at Nahaliel, and then at Bamoth.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

sang: Exodus 15:1, Exodus 15:2, Judges 5:1, Psalms 105:2, Psalms 106:12, Isaiah 12:1, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 12:5, James 5:13

Spring up: Heb. ascend

sing ye: or answer

Reciprocal: Isaiah 26:1 - this song Isaiah 27:2 - sing Hosea 2:15 - she shall sing

Cross-References

Genesis 15:1
Later the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision, "Abram, don't be afraid! I will protect you and reward you greatly."

Genesis 16:9
The angel said, "Go back to Sarai and be her slave.

Genesis 21:1
The Lord was good to Sarah and kept his promise.

Genesis 21:2
Although Abraham was very old, Sarah had a son exactly at the time God had said.

Genesis 21:4
and when the boy was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, just as the Lord had commanded.

Genesis 21:6
and Sarah said, "God has made me laugh. Now everyone will laugh with me.

Genesis 21:13
but the son of the slave woman is also your son, and I will make his descendants into a great nation."

Genesis 21:14
Early the next morning Abraham gave Hagar an animal skin full of water and some bread. Then he put the boy on her shoulder and sent them away. They wandered around in the desert near Beersheba,

Genesis 46:3
God said, "I am God, the same God your father worshiped. Don't be afraid to go to Egypt. I will give you so many descendants that one day they will become a nation.

Exodus 3:7
The Lord said: I have seen how my people are suffering as slaves in Egypt, and I have heard them beg for my help because of the way they are being mistreated. I feel sorry for them,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then Israel sang this song,.... Being affected with the free favour and good will of God towards them:

spring up, O well; for the springing up of which they prayed in faith, believing in the promise of God, that it would spring up; and so encouraged one another not only to believe it, but even to sing on account of it before it actually did:

sing ye unto it; or on account of it praise the Lord for it; or "answer to it" m, it being their manner to sing their songs by responses, or alternately.

m ענו לה "respondete ei", Montanus; "alternis canite ei", Tigurine version, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This song, recognized by all authorities as dating from the earliest times, and suggested apparently by the fact that God in this place gave the people water not from the rock, but by commanding Moses to cause a well to be dug, bespeaks the glad zeal, the joyful faith, and the hearty cooperation among all ranks, which possessed the people. In after time it may well have been the water-drawing song of the maidens of Israel.

Numbers 21:18

By the direction of the lawgiver - Some render, with the lawgiver’s scepter; i. e. under the direction and with the authority of Moses; compare Genesis 49:10, and note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 21:17. Spring up, O well, &c. — This is one of the most ancient war songs in the world, but is not easily understood, which is commonly the case with all very ancient compositions, especially the poetic. Exodus 15:1; Exodus 15:1, &c.