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The Bronze Serpent
…5and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”6So the LORDsentvenomoussnakesamong the people,and manyof the Israeliteswere bittenand died.7Then 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.…

Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Genesis 3:14,15
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thouart cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: …

Deuteronomy 8:15
Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness,wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, wherethere was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

Isaiah 14:29
Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruitshall be a fiery flying serpent.

BitBiteBitesBurningCauseDeathDieDiedIsraelIsraelitesNumbersPoison-SnakesSerpentsSnakesVenomousBitBiteBitesBurningCauseDeathDieDiedIsraelIsraelitesNumbersPoison-SnakesSerpentsSnakesVenomous1.Israel destroys the Canaanites at Hormah
4.The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents
7.They repenting are healed by a bronze serpent
10.Various journeys of the Israelites
21.Sihon is overcome
33.And Og

So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people
This phrase indicates divine intervention as a response to the Israelites' complaints and lack of faith. The sending of venomous snakes, or "fiery serpents," is a direct act of God, demonstrating His sovereignty and justice. The term "fiery" may refer to the burning sensation of the bites or the appearance of the snakes. This event occurs during the Israelites' wilderness journey, a period marked by repeated instances of rebellion and divine discipline. The wilderness itself, likely the region of the Negev or the Arabah, was known for its harsh conditions and dangerous wildlife, including snakes. This incident is a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the seriousness of sin. It also foreshadows the need for a savior, as the Israelites later seek deliverance from the consequences of their actions.

and many of the Israelites were bitten and died
The severity of the punishment is highlighted by the fact that many Israelites suffered and perished. This underscores the gravity of their sin and the holiness of God, who cannot tolerate rebellion. The death of many serves as a stark warning to the community about the cost of disobedience. This event is later referenced in the New Testament, specifically inJohn 3:14-15, where Jesus compares His crucifixion to the lifting up of the bronze serpent by Moses, providing a means of salvation for those who believe. The physical death caused by the snake bites symbolizes the spiritual death that results from sin, pointing to the need for redemption and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ for humanity's salvation.

1.The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is both just and merciful. In this passage, He acts in response to the Israelites' rebellion.

2.The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are journeying through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. They are often characterized by their complaints and lack of faith.

3.Venomous Snakes (Seraphim)
The Hebrew word used here is "seraphim," which can mean "fiery" or "burning," indicating the painful and deadly nature of the snake bites.

4.The Wilderness
The setting of the Israelites' journey, a place of testing and reliance on God.

5.The Event of Judgment
This event is a direct consequence of the Israelites' grumbling and lack of trust in God, leading to divine discipline.The Consequences of Disobedience
Disobedience and lack of faith in God can lead to severe consequences. The Israelites' grumbling led to a tangible and painful judgment.

God's Justice and Mercy
While God is just and disciplines His people, His actions are also a call to repentance and restoration. The subsequent verses show God's provision of a remedy.

The Importance of Faith
This passage foreshadows the necessity of faith for salvation, as later illustrated by Jesus' reference to the bronze serpent.

The Role of Repentance
The Israelites' acknowledgment of their sin and plea for Moses' intercession is a model for repentance and seeking God's mercy.

Symbolism of the Serpent
The serpent, often a symbol of sin and judgment, becomes a symbol of healing when lifted up, pointing to Christ's redemptive work.Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 21

What is the story of the Bronze Serpent?

Is there any historical or archaeological evidence supporting Psalm 91:10 that faithful individuals experienced literal immunity from disasters?

What is the origin of the Ancient Serpent myth?

Numbers 21:8-9 – Why would God command Moses to create a bronze serpent, seemingly at odds with prohibitions against idol-making in Exodus 20?(6)And the Lord sent fiery serpents . . . --Hebrew,the serpents, the seraphim(i.e.,the burning ones). (SeeDeuteronomy 8:15;Isaiah 14:29;Isaiah 30:6.) The word appears to denote a particular kind of serpent, as in the following verse. Some think that they were so called because of the bright fiery red upon their heads; others because of the blazing sunbeams on their scales; and others because of their inflammatory and poisonous bite. Venomous snakes are said to abound still in the Arabah.

Verse 6. -Fiery serpents,גְחָשִׁים שְׂרָפִים.Nachash is the ordinary word for serpent. The wordsaraph which seems to mean "burning one," stands (by itself) for a serpent in verse 8, and also inIsaiah 14:29;Isaiah 30:6. InIsaiah 6:2, 6 it stands for one of the symbolic beings (seraphim) of the prophet's vision. The only idea common to the two meanings (otherwise so distinct) must be that of brilliance and metallic luster. It is commonly assumed that the "fiery" serpents were so called because of the burning pain and inflammation caused by the bite, after the analogy of theπρηστῆρες andκαύσωνες of Dioscorus and AElian. But is hardly possible that Isaiah should have used the same word in such wholly dissimilar senses, and it is clear from comparison with Ezekiel's vision of the cherubim (Ezekiel 1:7) that thesaraph ofIsaiah 6:2 was so called from the burnished luster of his appearance. Even our Lord himself is described in the Apocalypse as having in the highest degree this appearance of glowing brass (Revelation 1:15;Revelation 2:18). It is further clear that thesaraph was so named from his colour, not his venom, because when Moses was ordered to make asaraph he made a serpent of brass (or rather copper), with the evident intent of imitating as closely as possible the appearance of the venomous reptile. We may conclude then with some confidence that these serpents were of a fiery red colour, resembling in this respect certain very deadly snakes in Australia, which are known as "copper snakes." Travelers speak of some such pests as still abounding in the region of the Arabah, but it is quite uncertain whether the fiery serpents of that special visitation can be identified with any existing species.

Parallel Commentaries ...


So the LORD
יְהוָ֜ה(Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

sent
וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח(way·šal·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971:To send away, for, out

poisonous snakes
הַנְּחָשִׁ֣ים(han·nə·ḥā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5175:A serpent

among the people,
בָּעָ֗ם(bā·‘ām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971:A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and many
רָ֖ב(rāḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7227:Much, many, great

of the Israelites
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃(mî·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

were bitten
וַֽיְנַשְּׁכ֖וּ(way·naš·šə·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5391:To strike with a, sting, to oppress with usury

and died.
וַיָּ֥מָת(way·yā·māṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191:To die, to kill


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OT Law: Numbers 21:6 Yahweh sent fiery serpents among the people (Nu Num.)