The Meaning of Numbers 21:8 Explained

Numbers 21:8

KJV: And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

YLT: And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Make for thee a burning serpent, and set it on an ensign; and it hath been, every one who is bitten and hath seen it -- he hath lived.

Darby: And Jehovah said to Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, and looketh upon it, shall live.

ASV: And Jehovah said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a standard: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he seeth it, shall live.

What is the context of Numbers 21:8?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  said  unto Moses,  Make  thee a fiery serpent,  and set  it upon a pole:  and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten,  when he looketh  upon it, shall live. 

What does Numbers 21:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 21:1-20 - The Brazen Serpent Journeying To Pisgah
It often falls to our lot to compass the land of Edom! It is bad enough to have to fight the desert tribes, but it is harder to traverse the long circuitous route, which a little kindness on our brother's part might have rendered needless. What discouragement, heart-break and fainting we cause one another!
The story of the brazen serpent was quoted by our Lord to Nicodemus, John 3:14. It exemplifies the law that like cures like. Our Lord came in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, and as such was nailed to the tree, that the progress of sin and death might be arrested. Whosoever directs to Him the look of faith shall have everlasting life.
Near the pole-foot sprang up the brook, Numbers 21:17-18. We are reminded of the connection between the Cross and Pentecost. Spring up, O well of the Holy Spirit, in our hearts, and churches, and schools! The living water is within; summon it! [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 21

1  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

What do the individual words in Numbers 21:8 mean?

And said Yahweh to Moses Make to you a fiery [serpent] and set it on a pole and it shall be that everyone who is bitten and when he looks at and shall live
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֗ה עֲשֵׂ֤ה לְךָ֙ שָׂרָ֔ף וְשִׂ֥ים אֹת֖וֹ עַל־ נֵ֑ס וְהָיָה֙ כָּל־ הַנָּשׁ֔וּךְ וְרָאָ֥ה וָחָֽי

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֜ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֹשֶׁ֗ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
עֲשֵׂ֤ה  Make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לְךָ֙  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
שָׂרָ֔ף  a  fiery  [serpent] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂרָף  
Sense: serpent, fiery serpent.
וְשִׂ֥ים  and  set 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
נֵ֑ס  a  pole 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵס  
Sense: something lifted up, standard, signal, signal pole, ensign, banner, sign, sail.
וְהָיָה֙  and  it  shall  be  that 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כָּל־  everyone 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַנָּשׁ֔וּךְ  who  is  bitten 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: נָשַׁךְ 
Sense: to bite.
וְרָאָ֥ה  and  when  he  looks  at 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וָחָֽי  and  shall  live 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 21:8?

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