Numbers 21:17

Young's Literal Translation

Then singeth Israel this song, concerning the well -- they have answered to it:

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;

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 And the sons of Israel journey, and encamp in Oboth. ¹¹ And they journey from Oboth, and encamp in Ije-Abarim, in the wilderness that [is] on the front of Moab, at the rising of the sun. ¹² From thence they have journeyed, and encamp in the valley of Zared. ¹³ From thence they have journeyed, and encamp beyond Arnon, which [is] in the wilderness which is coming out of the border of the Amorite, for Arnon [is] the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorite; ¹⁴ therefore it is said in a book, `The wars of Jehovah,' -- `Waheb in Suphah, And the brooks of Arnon; ¹⁵ And the spring of the brooks, Which turned aside to the dwelling of Ar, And hath leaned to the border of Moab.' ¹⁶ And from thence [they journeyed] to Beer; it [is] the well [concerning] which Jehovah said to Moses, `Gather the people, and I give to them -- water.' <sup>17</sup> Then singeth Israel this song, concerning the well -- they have answered to it: <sup>18</sup> `A well -- digged it have princes, Prepared it have nobles of the people, With the lawgiver, with their staves.' And from the wilderness [they journeyed] to Mattanah, ¹⁹ and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to 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
After these things hath the word of Jehovah been unto Abram in a vision, saying, `Fear not, Abram, I [am] a shield to thee, thy reward [is] exceeding great.'

Genesis 16:9
And the messenger of Jehovah saith to her, `Turn back unto thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hands;'

Genesis 16:11
and the messenger of Jehovah saith to her, `Behold thou [art] conceiving, and bearing a son, and hast called his name Ishmael, for Jehovah hath hearkened unto thine affliction;

Genesis 21:1
And Jehovah hath looked after Sarah as He hath said, and Jehovah doth to Sarah as He hath spoken;

Genesis 21:2
and Sarah conceiveth, and beareth a son to Abraham, to his old age, at the appointed time that God hath spoken of with him;

Genesis 21:4
and Abraham circumciseth Isaac his son, [being] a son of eight days, as God hath commanded him.

Genesis 21:6
and Sarah saith, `God hath made laughter for me; every one who is hearing laugheth for me.'

Genesis 21:13
As to the son of the handmaid also, for a nation I set him, because he [is] thy seed.'

Genesis 21:14
And Abraham riseth early in the morning, and taketh bread, and a bottle of water, and giveth unto Hagar (placing [it] on her shoulder), also the lad, and sendeth her out; and she goeth on, and goeth astray in the wilderness of Beer-Sheba;

Genesis 46:3
And He saith, `I [am] God, God of thy father, be not afraid of going down to Egypt, for for a great nation I set thee there;

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.