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Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Good News Translation

Numbers 21:8

Then the Lord told Moses to make a metal snake and put it on a pole, so that anyone who was bitten could look at it and be healed.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

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

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Miracle;   Nehushtan;   Serpents;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Snake;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fulfillment;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Brass;   Ensign;   Nehushtan;   Prayer;   Seraphim;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Banner;   Cross;   Nehushtan;   Serpent;   Serpent, Brazen;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Banner;   Hezekiah;   Nehushtan;   Numbers, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Banner, Ensign, Standard;   Israel;   Jephthah;   Moses;   Numbers, Book of;   Serpent, Brazen;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Moses ;   Poison;   Serpent;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Miracles;   Seraphim;   Serpent;   Type;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Kehushtan;   Serpent;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Pole;   Serpent;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Armies;   Brazen Serpent;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Banner;   Images;   Moses;   Pentateuch;   Pole;   Serpent;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Adder;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Allegorical Interpretation;   Bat Ḳol;   Brazen Serpent;   Elohist;   Midrash Haggadah;   Nehushtan;   Simeon, Tribe of;  

Devotionals:

- Faith's Checkbook - Devotion for April 10;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
The LORD said to Moshe, Make you a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard: and it shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Make for yourself a snake and place it on a pole. When anyone is bitten and looks at it, that person will live."
English Standard Version
And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live."
New Century Version
The Lord said to Moses, "Make a bronze snake, and put it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, that person will live."
New English Translation
The Lord said to Moses, "Make a poisonous snake and set it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live."
Amplified Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten will live when he looks at it."
New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and put it on a flag pole; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, and looks at it, will live."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the Lord said vnto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it vp for a signe, that as many as are bitten, may looke vpon it, and liue.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a standard; and it will be that everyone who is bitten and looks at it, will live."
Contemporary English Version
and the Lord answered, "Make a snake out of bronze and place it on top of a pole. Anyone who gets bitten can look at the snake and won't die."
Complete Jewish Bible
and Adonai answered Moshe: "Make a poisonous snake and put it on a pole. When anyone who has been bitten sees it, he will live."
Darby Translation
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.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord said to Moses, "Make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. If anyone is bitten by a snake, that person should look at the bronze snake on the pole. Then that person will not die."
George Lamsa Translation
And the LORD said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent of brass, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass that every one who is bitten by a serpent, when he looks upon it, shall live.
Christian Standard Bible®
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover.”
Literal Translation
And Jehovah spoke to Moses, Make yourself a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that when anyone is bitten, when he sees it, he shall live.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde the LORDE vnto Moses: Make the a brasen serpente, and set it vp for a token. Who so euer is bytten, and loketh vpon it, shal lyue.
American Standard Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
And the Lord said to Moses, Make an image of a snake and put it on a rod, and anyone who has been wounded by the snakes, looking on it will be made well.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Make thee a fierie serpent, and set it vp vpon a pole: that as many as are bitten may loke vpon it, and lyue.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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.'
King James Version (1611)
And the Lord said vnto Moses, Make thee a fierie serpent, and set it vpon a pole: and it shall come to passe, that euery one that is bitten, when hee looketh vpon it, shall liue.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Moses prayed to the Lord for the people; and the Lord said to Moses, Make thee a serpent, and put it on a signal-staff; and it shall come to pass that whenever a serpent shall bite a man, every one so bitten that looks upon it shall live.
English Revised Version
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Moises preiede for the puple; and the Lord seide to hym, Make thou a serpent of bras, and sette thou it for a signe; he that is smytun and biholdith it, schal lyue.
Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Make for thee a burning [serpent], and set it on an ensign; and it hath been, every one who is bitten and hath seen it -- he hath lived.
Update Bible Version
And Yahweh said to Moses, You make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD 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, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
World English Bible
Yahweh said to Moses, Make you a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard: and it shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.
New King James Version
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live."
New Living Translation
Then the Lord told him, "Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!"
New Life Bible
The Lord said to Moses, "Make a special snake and put it up on a long piece of wood. Everyone who is bitten will live when he looks at it."
New Revised Standard
And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said Yahweh unto Moses - Make thee a like serpent, and put it upon standard, - and it shall come to pass, that, any one who is bitten, as soon as he seeth it, shall live.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to him: Make a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: whosoever being struck shall look on it, shall live.
Revised Standard Version
And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live."
THE MESSAGE
God said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it on a flagpole: Whoever is bitten and looks at it will live."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live."

Contextual Overview

4 The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road that leads to the Gulf of Aqaba, in order to go around the territory of Edom. But on the way the people lost their patience 5 and spoke against God and Moses. They complained, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We can't stand any more of this miserable food!" 6 Then the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many Israelites were bitten and died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Now pray to the Lord to take these snakes away." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the Lord told Moses to make a metal snake and put it on a pole, so that anyone who was bitten could look at it and be healed. 9 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Psalms 106:43-45, Psalms 145:8

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 18:4 - the brazen serpent Psalms 107:20 - healed Isaiah 45:22 - Look Luke 6:19 - sought Luke 24:44 - in the law John 5:46 - for

Cross-References

Genesis 19:3
He kept on urging them, and finally they went with him to his house. Lot ordered his servants to bake some bread and prepare a fine meal for the guests. When it was ready, they ate it.
Genesis 26:30
Isaac prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank.
Genesis 29:22
So Laban gave a wedding feast and invited everyone.
Genesis 40:20
On his birthday three days later the king gave a banquet for all his officials; he released his wine steward and his chief baker and brought them before his officials.
Judges 14:10
His father went to the woman's house, and Samson gave a banquet there. This was a custom among the young men.
Judges 14:12
Samson said to them, "Let me tell you a riddle. I'll bet each one of you a piece of fine linen and a change of fine clothes that you can't tell me its meaning before the seven days of the wedding feast are over." "Tell us your riddle," they said. "Let's hear it."
1 Samuel 1:22
But this time Hannah did not go. She told her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will take him to the house of the Lord , where he will stay all his life."
1 Samuel 25:36
Abigail went back to Nabal, who was at home having a feast fit for a king. He was drunk and in a good mood, so she did not tell him anything until the next morning.
2 Samuel 3:20
When Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, David gave a feast for them.
1 Kings 3:15
Solomon woke up and realized that God had spoken to him in the dream. Then he went to Jerusalem and stood in front of the Lord 's Covenant Box and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord . After that he gave a feast for all his officials.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the Lord said unto Moses,.... Out of the cloud; or, it may be, Moses went into the sanctuary, and there prayed, and the Lord answered him from between the cherubim:

make them a fiery serpent; not a real one, but the likeness of one, one that should very much resemble the fiery serpents Israel had been bitten with:

and set it upon a pole; a standard, banner, or ensign, as the word signifies; perhaps meaning one of the poles on which their ensigns were carried: the Targum of Jonathan renders it, on an high place, that so it might be seen by all in the camp:

and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live; which is very wonderful, that by looking to the figure of a serpent, men should be cured of the bites of real ones, and which bites were deadly; the virtue of healing could not come from the figure, but from God, who appointed it to be made, the Targum of Jonathan adds, that one bitten should live,

"if he directed his heart to the Word of the Lord,''

even to that divine Logos or Word of God, whose lifting up was figured hereby; see John 3:14.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Make thee a fiery serpent - i. e. a serpent resembling in appearance the reptiles which attacked the people. The resemblance was of the essence of the symbolism (compare 1 Samuel 6:5). As the brass serpent represented the instrument of their chastisement, so the looking unto it at God’s word denoted acknowledgment of their sin, longing for deliverance from its penalty, and faith in the means appointed by God for healing. In the serpent of brass, harmless itself, but made in the image of the creature that is accursed above others Genesis 3:14, the Christian fathers rightly see a figure of Him John 3:14-15 who though “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” Hebrews 7:26, was yet “made sin” 2 Corinthians 5:21, and “made a curse for us” Galatians 3:13. And the eye of faith fixed on Him beholds the manifestation at once of the deserts of sin, of its punishment imminent and deprecated, and of the method of its remission devised by God Himself.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 21:8. Make thee a fiery serpent — Literally, make thee a seraph.

And put it upon a pole — על נס al nes, upon a standard or ensign.


 
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