Numbers 21:17

New Living Translation

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

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!

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.

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 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 The Israelites traveled next to Oboth and camped there. ¹¹ Then they went on to Iye-abarim, in the wilderness on the eastern border of Moab. ¹² From there they traveled to the valley of Zered Brook and set up camp. ¹³ Then they moved out and camped on the far side of the Arnon River, in the wilderness adjacent to the territory of the Amorites. The Arnon is the boundary line between the Moabites and the Amorites. ¹⁴ For this reason The Book of the Wars of the Lord speaks of "the town of Waheb in the area of Suphah, and the ravines of the Arnon River, ¹⁵ and the ravines that extend as far as the settlement of Ar on the border of Moab." ¹⁶ From there the Israelites traveled to Beer, which is the well where the Lord said to Moses, "Assemble the people, and I will give them water." ¹⁷ There the Israelites sang this song: "Spring up, O well! Yes, sing its praises! ¹⁸ Sing of this well, which princes dug, which great leaders hollowed out with their scepters and staffs." Then the Israelites left the wilderness and proceeded on through Mattanah, ¹⁹ Nahaliel, and 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
Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, "Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great."

Genesis 16:9
The angel of the Lord said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority."

Genesis 16:11
And the angel also said, "You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears'), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress.

Genesis 21:1
The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.

Genesis 21:2
She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.

Genesis 21:4
Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.

Genesis 21:6
And Sarah declared, "God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.

Genesis 21:13
But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar's son because he is your son, too."

Genesis 21:14
So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar's shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Genesis 46:3
"I am God, the God of your father," the voice said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation.

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.