Numbers 21:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for 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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The people came to Moshe and said, "We sinned by speaking against ADONAI and against you. Pray to ADONAI that he rid us of these snakes." Moshe prayed for the people,

Berean Standard Bible:

Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people.

American Standard Version:

And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against Jehovah, and against thee; pray unto Jehovah, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Therefore the people^{H5971} came^{H935} to Moses^{H4872}, and said^{H559}, We have sinned^{H2398}, for we have spoken^{H1696} against the LORD^{H3068}, and against thee; pray^{H6419} unto the LORD^{H3068}, that he take away^{H5493} the serpents^{H5175} from us. And Moses^{H4872} prayed^{H6419} for the people^{H5971}.

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Commentary for Numbers 21:7

Numbers 21:7 is set within the broader context of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. The book of Numbers recounts the census of the Israelites, the laws they are to follow, and the challenges they face as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. In this particular verse, the people are dealing with a direct consequence of their disobedience and complaints against God and Moses.

The historical context of this verse is significant. The Israelites, having witnessed the mighty acts of God in Egypt and at the Red Sea, are now wandering in the wilderness, often grumbling against Moses and God due to the hardships they face. Their journey is marked by a series of rebellions and God's responses to their lack of faith.

In Numbers 21:5-6, the people speak against God and Moses, despising the manna provided and expressing dissatisfaction with their situation. As a result, God sends fiery serpents among the people, and many are bitten and die. This calamity leads the people to recognize their sin and to seek Moses's intercession.

The themes present in this verse include the seriousness of sin, especially speaking against God and His chosen leaders; the need for repentance and intercession; and the role of Moses as mediator between God and the people. The people's acknowledgment of their sin is clear: "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee." Their plea for Moses to pray for them underscores their understanding that they need a mediator to approach God on their behalf. Moses's response—immediate prayer for the people—demonstrates his role as intercessor and leader, as well as the power of prayer in mitigating divine judgment.

This moment of crisis and repentance foreshadows the future need for a greater Mediator, as Jesus Christ is later described in the New Testament as the one who intercedes for humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). The incident also prefigures the lifting up of the bronze serpent on a pole by Moses, by which those bitten could be healed by looking upon it (Numbers 21:8-9), an act that Jesus Himself compares to His crucifixion (John 3:14-15).

In summary, Numbers 21:7 captures a poignant moment of national repentance and the necessity of prayerful intercession, highlighting the themes of sin, confession, and the role of a mediator, all within the historical narrative of Israel's wilderness wanderings.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
2. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
4. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2398
   There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָטָא
   Transliteration: châṭâʼ
   Pronunciation: khaw-taw'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6419
   There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּלַל
   Transliteration: pâlal
   Pronunciation: paw-lal'
   Description: a primitive root; to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray; intreat, judge(-ment), (make) pray(-er, -ing), make supplication.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5493
   There are 283 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סוּר
   Transliteration: çûwr
   Pronunciation: soor
   Description: or שׂוּר; (Hosea 9:12), a primitive root; to turn off (literal or figurative); be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), [idiom] grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, [idiom] be sour, take (away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5175
    There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָחָשׁ
    Transliteration: nâchâsh
    Pronunciation: naw-khawsh'
    Description: from נָחַשׁ; a snake (from its hiss); serpent.