Numbers 21:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Moshe made a bronze snake and put it on the pole; if a snake had bitten someone, then, when he looked toward the bronze snake, he stayed alive.

Berean Standard Bible:

So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.

American Standard Version:

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon the standard: and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Moses^{H4872} made^{H6213} a serpent^{H5175} of brass^{H5178}, and put^{H7760} it upon a pole^{H5251}, and it came to pass, that if a serpent^{H5175} had bitten^{H5391} any man^{H376}, when he beheld^{H5027} the serpent^{H5175} of brass^{H5178}, he lived^{H2425}.

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Commentary for Numbers 21:9

**Themes:**
Numbers 21:9 reflects several themes:
1. **Divine Provision and Healing:** The verse illustrates God's response to the Israelites' needs, providing a means of healing for those bitten by the venomous snakes sent as a punishment for their complaints against God and Moses.
2. **Obedience and Faith:** The act of looking at the bronze serpent as instructed by God serves as a testament to the importance of faith and obedience in God's salvific acts.
3. **Symbolism of Sin and Redemption:** The bronze serpent on the pole is symbolic, prefiguring Christ's crucifixion (as later referenced in John 3:14-15), where Jesus draws a parallel between the serpent lifted up in the wilderness and his own lifting up on the cross for the salvation of humanity.

**Historical Context:**
- **The Exodus Journey:** This event occurs during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. The people have been wandering for some time, and their journey has been marked by repeated complaints and instances of rebellion against Moses and God.
- **Punishment and Repentance:** The Israelites had spoken against God and Moses, complaining about the lack of bread and water and expressing dissatisfaction with the manna provided. In response, God sent fiery serpents among the people as a punishment, which resulted in many deaths.
- **God's Mercy:** Upon the people's repentance and Moses' intercession, God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent and place it on a pole. This act of looking at the bronze serpent became the means of healing for those who were bitten, demonstrating God's mercy and willingness to provide a way out of judgment for those who turned to Him in faith.

In summary, Numbers 21:9 is set within the broader narrative of the Israelites' journey towards the Promised Land. It underscores the themes of God's provision, the necessity of faith, and the use of symbolism to foreshadow future redemption, all within the context of the Israelites' ongoing struggle with faithfulness during their 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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
3. 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.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5178
   There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נְחֹשֶׁת
   Transliteration: nᵉchôsheth
   Pronunciation: nekh-o'-sheth
   Description: for נְחוּשָׁה; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or silver); brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7760
   There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׂוּם
   Transliteration: sûwm
   Pronunciation: soom
   Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5251
   There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נֵס
   Transliteration: nêç
   Pronunciation: nace
   Description: from נָסַס; a flag; also a sail; by implication, a flagstaff; generally a signal; figuratively, a token; banner, pole, sail, (en-) sign, standard.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5391
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָשַׁךְ
   Transliteration: nâshak
   Pronunciation: naw-shak'
   Description: a primitive root; to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan; bite, lend upon usury.
   
8. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5027
   There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָבַט
   Transliteration: nâbaṭ
   Pronunciation: naw-bat'
   Description: a primitive root; to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care; (cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see.
   
10. Strong's Number: H2425
    There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָיַי
    Transliteration: châyay
    Pronunciation: khaw-yah'-ee
    Description: a primitive root (compare חָיָה); to live; causatively to revive; live, save life.