God & Savior

Numbers 21:4-9

4Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey 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 LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and 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. 8Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” 9So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.
Numbers 21:4-9
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Original language and places

Reference data from open datasets, shown as published by their sources. Word-by-word English is a literal guide, not a translation.

Verse 4

Original language (Hebrew)

וַיִּסְע֞וּ מֵהֹ֤ר הָהָר֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יַם־ס֔וּף לִסְבֹ֖ב אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ אֱד֑וֹם וַתִּקְצַ֥ר נֶֽפֶשׁ־הָעָ֖ם בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃

  1. וַיִּסְע֞וּvai.yis.'U“and they set out”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural · from נָסַע · “to set out” · Strong's H5265
  2. מֵהֹ֤רme.Hor“from Hor”
    Preposition + Noun, proper name of a place · from הֹר · “(Mount )Hor” · Strong's H2023G
  3. הָהָר֙ha.Har“the mountain”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from הַר · “mount” · Strong's H2022G
  4. דֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekh“[the] direction of”
    Noun, both genders, singular, construct · from דֶּ֫רֶךְ · “road” · Strong's H1870K
  5. יַם־yam-“[the] sea of”
    Noun, masculine, singular, construct · from יָם · “sea” · Strong's H3220G
  6. ס֔וּףSuf“reed[s]”
    Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from סוּף · “Red( Sea)” · Strong's H5488G
  7. לִסְבֹ֖בlis.Vo“to go around”
    Preposition + Verb, qal, infinitive construct, common · from סָבַב · “surround” · Strong's H5437H
  8. אֶת־'et-“<obj.>”
    Particle, direct object marker · from אֵת · “[Obj.]” · Strong's H0853
  9. אֶ֣רֶץ'E.retz“[the] land of”
    Noun, feminine, singular, construct · from אֶ֫רֶץ · “country; planet” · Strong's H0776G
  10. אֱד֑וֹם'e.Dom“Edom”
    Noun, proper name of a man · from אֱדוֹם · “Edom” · Strong's H0123G
  11. וַתִּקְצַ֥רva.tik.Tzar“and it became short”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, feminine, singular · from קָצֵר · “be short” · Strong's H7114A
  12. נֶֽפֶשׁ־ne.fesh-“[the] self of”
    Noun, feminine, singular, construct · from נֶ֫פֶשׁ · “myself” · Strong's H5315I
  13. הָעָ֖םha.'Am“the people”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from עַם · “people” · Strong's H5971A
  14. בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ba.Da.rekh“on the way”
    Preposition with article + Noun, both genders, singular, absolute · from דֶּ֫רֶךְ · “road” · Strong's H1870K
Places named in this verse

Verse 5

Original language (Hebrew)

וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר הָעָ֗ם בֵּֽאלֹהִים֮ וּבְמֹשֶׁה֒ לָמָ֤ה הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם לָמ֖וּת בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין לֶ֙חֶם֙ וְאֵ֣ין מַ֔יִם וְנַפְשֵׁ֣נוּ קָ֔צָה בַּלֶּ֖חֶם הַקְּלֹקֵֽל׃

  1. וַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.Ber“and it spoke”
    Conjunction + Verb, piel, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from דָבַר · “speak” · Strong's H1696G
  2. הָעָ֗םha.'Am“the people”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from עַם · “people” · Strong's H5971A
  3. בֵּֽאלֹהִים֮be.lo.Him“against God”
    Preposition + Noun, masculine, plural, absolute · from אֱלֹהִים · “God” · Strong's H0430G
  4. וּבְמֹשֶׁה֒u.ve.mo.Sheh“and against Moses”
    Conjunction + Preposition + Noun, proper name of a man · from מֹשֶׁה · “Moses” · Strong's H4872
  5. לָמָ֤הla.Mah“<to> why?”
    Preposition + Pronoun, interrogative · from מָה · “what?” · Strong's H4100
  6. הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙he.'e.li.Tu.nu“have you brought up us”
    Verb, hiphil, perfect, 2nd person, masculine, plural + Suffix, pronominal, 1st person, both genders, plural · from עָלָה · “establish” · Strong's H5927H
  7. מִמִּצְרַ֔יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yim“from Egypt”
    Preposition + Noun, proper name of a place · from מִצְרַ֫יִם · “Egypt” · Strong's H4714G
  8. לָמ֖וּתla.Mut“to die”
    Preposition + Verb, qal, infinitive construct, common · from מוּת · “to die” · Strong's H4191
  9. בַּמִּדְבָּ֑רba.mid.Bar“in the wilderness”
    Preposition with article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from מִדְבָּר · “wilderness” · Strong's H4057B
  10. כִּ֣יki“for”
    Particle · from כִּי · “for” · Strong's H3588A
  11. אֵ֥ין'ein“there not”
    Noun, masculine, singular, construct · from אַ֫יִן · “nothing” · Strong's H0369
  12. לֶ֙חֶם֙le.chem“[is] food”
    Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from לֶ֫חֶם · “food(eating)” · Strong's H3899G
  13. וְאֵ֣יןve.'Ein“and there not”
    Conjunction + Noun, masculine, singular, construct · from אַ֫יִן · “nothing” · Strong's H0369
  14. מַ֔יִםMa.yim“[is] water”
    Noun, masculine, plural, absolute · from מַי · “water” · Strong's H4325G
  15. וְנַפְשֵׁ֣נוּve.naf.She.nu“and self our”
    Conjunction + Noun, feminine, singular, construct + Suffix, pronominal, 1st person, both genders, plural · from נֶ֫פֶשׁ · “myself” · Strong's H5315I
  16. קָ֔צָהKa.tzah“it loathes”
    Verb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, feminine, singular · from קוּץ · “to loathe” · Strong's H6973
  17. בַּלֶּ֖חֶםba.Le.chem“<in> the food”
    Preposition with article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from לֶ֫חֶם · “food(eating)” · Strong's H3899G
  18. הַקְּלֹקֵֽל׃ha.ke.lo.Kel“<the> worthless”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from קְלֹקֵל · “worthless” · Strong's H7052
Places named in this verse

Verse 6

Original language (Hebrew)

וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח יְהוָ֜ה בָּעָ֗ם אֵ֚ת הַנְּחָשִׁ֣ים הַשְּׂרָפִ֔ים וַֽיְנַשְּׁכ֖וּ אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וַיָּ֥מָת עַם־רָ֖ב מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

  1. וַיְשַׁלַּ֨חvay.sha.Lach“and he sent”
    Conjunction + Verb, piel, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from שָׁלַח · “depart” · Strong's H7971G
  2. יְהוָ֜הYah.weh“Yahweh”
    Noun, proper name, title · from יהוה · “LORD” · Strong's H3068G
  3. בָּעָ֗םba.'Am“among the people”
    Preposition with article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from עַם · “people” · Strong's H5971A
  4. אֵ֚ת'et“<obj.>”
    Particle, direct object marker · from אֵת · “[Obj.]” · Strong's H0853
  5. הַנְּחָשִׁ֣יםha.ne.cha.Shim“the snakes”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, plural, absolute · from נָחָשׁ · “serpent” · Strong's H5175
  6. הַשְּׂרָפִ֔יםha.se.ra.Fim“the saraphs”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, plural, absolute · from שָׂרָף · “serpent” · Strong's H8314A
  7. וַֽיְנַשְּׁכ֖וּvay.na.she.Khu“and they bit”
    Conjunction + Verb, piel, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural · from נָשַׁךְ · “to bite” · Strong's H5391A
  8. אֶת־'et-“<obj.>”
    Particle, direct object marker · from אֵת · “[Obj.]” · Strong's H0853
  9. הָעָ֑םha.'Am“the people”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from עַם · “people” · Strong's H5971A
  10. וַיָּ֥מָתvai.Ya.mot“and it died”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from מוּת · “to die” · Strong's H4191
  11. עַם־'am-“a people”
    Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from עַם · “people” · Strong's H5971A
  12. רָ֖בrav“numerous”
    Adjective, masculine, singular, absolute · from רַב · “many” · Strong's H7227A
  13. מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃mi.Yis.ra.'El“from Israel”
    Preposition + Noun, proper name of a place · from יִשְׂרָאֵל · “Israel” · Strong's H3478

Verse 7

Original language (Hebrew)

וַיָּבֹא֩ הָעָ֨ם אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֜ה וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ חָטָ֗אנוּ כִּֽי־דִבַּ֤רְנוּ בַֽיהוָה֙ וָבָ֔ךְ הִתְפַּלֵּל֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה וְיָסֵ֥ר מֵעָלֵ֖ינוּ אֶת־הַנָּחָ֑שׁ וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּעַ֥ד הָעָֽם׃

  1. וַיָּבֹא֩vai.ya.Vo'“and it came”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from בּוֹא · “come” · Strong's H0935G
  2. הָעָ֨םha.'Am“the people”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from עַם · “people” · Strong's H5971A
  3. אֶל־'el-“to”
    Preposition · from אֶל · “to(wards)” · Strong's H0413
  4. מֹשֶׁ֜הmo.Sheh“Moses”
    Noun, proper name of a man · from מֹשֶׁה · “Moses” · Strong's H4872
  5. וַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.Ru“and they said”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural · from אָמַר · “to say” · Strong's H0559
  6. חָטָ֗אנוּcha.Ta.nu“we have sinned”
    Verb, qal, perfect, 1st person, common, plural · from חָטָא · “to sin” · Strong's H2398
  7. כִּֽי־ki-“for”
    Particle · from כִּי · “for” · Strong's H3588A
  8. דִבַּ֤רְנוּdi.Bar.nu“we have spoken”
    Verb, piel, perfect, 1st person, common, plural · from דָבַר · “speak” · Strong's H1696G
  9. בַֽיהוָה֙ba.Yah.weh“against Yahweh”
    Preposition + Noun, proper name, title · from יהוה · “LORD” · Strong's H3068G
  10. וָבָ֔ךְva.Vakh“and against <the> you”
    Conjunction + Preposition with article + Suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, singular · from Os2m · “you” · Strong's H9031
  11. הִתְפַּלֵּל֙hit.pa.Lel“pray”
    Verb, hithpael, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular · from פָּלַל · “to pray” · Strong's H6419
  12. אֶל־'el-“to”
    Preposition · from אֶל · “to(wards)” · Strong's H0413
  13. יְהוָ֔הYah.weh“Yahweh”
    Noun, proper name, title · from יהוה · “LORD” · Strong's H3068G
  14. וְיָסֵ֥רve.ya.Ser“so may he remove”
    Conjunction + Verb, hiphil, jussive, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from סוּר · “remove” · Strong's H5493G
  15. מֵעָלֵ֖ינוּme.'a.Lei.nu“from on <the> us”
    Preposition + Preposition with article + Suffix, pronominal, 1st person, both genders, plural · from עַל · “upon” · Strong's H5921A
  16. אֶת־'et-“<obj.>”
    Particle, direct object marker · from אֵת · “[Obj.]” · Strong's H0853
  17. הַנָּחָ֑שׁha.na.Chash“the snake[s]”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from נָחָשׁ · “serpent” · Strong's H5175
  18. וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥לvai.yit.pa.Lel“and he prayed”
    Conjunction + Verb, hithpael, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from פָּלַל · “to pray” · Strong's H6419
  19. מֹשֶׁ֖הmo.Sheh“Moses”
    Noun, proper name of a man · from מֹשֶׁה · “Moses” · Strong's H4872
  20. בְּעַ֥דbe.'Ad“for”
    Adjective, cardinal number, both genders, singular, construct · from בַּ֫עַד · “about|through|for” · Strong's H1157
  21. הָעָֽם׃ha.'Am“the people”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from עַם · “people” · Strong's H5971A

Verse 8

Original language (Hebrew)

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה עֲשֵׂ֤ה לְךָ֙ שָׂרָ֔ף וְשִׂ֥ים אֹת֖וֹ עַל־נֵ֑ס וְהָיָה֙ כָּל־הַנָּשׁ֔וּךְ וְרָאָ֥ה אֹת֖וֹ וָחָֽי׃

  1. וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.mer“and he said”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from אָמַר · “to say” · Strong's H0559
  2. יְהוָ֜הYah.weh“Yahweh”
    Noun, proper name, title · from יהוה · “LORD” · Strong's H3068G
  3. אֶל־'el-“to”
    Preposition · from אֶל · “to(wards)” · Strong's H0413
  4. מֹשֶׁ֗הmo.Sheh“Moses”
    Noun, proper name of a man · from מֹשֶׁה · “Moses” · Strong's H4872
  5. עֲשֵׂ֤ה'a.Seh“make”
    Verb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular · from עָשָׂה · “make(OBJECT)” · Strong's H6213H
  6. לְךָ֙le.Kha“for <the> yourself”
    Preposition with article + Suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, singular · from Os2m · “you” · Strong's H9031
  7. שָׂרָ֔ףsa.Raf“a saraph”
    Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from שָׂרָף · “serpent” · Strong's H8314A
  8. וְשִׂ֥יםve.Sim“and put”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular · from שׂוּם · “make” · Strong's H7760A
  9. אֹת֖וֹ'o.To“<obj.> it”
    Particle, direct object marker + Suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from אֵת · “[Obj.]” · Strong's H0853
  10. עַל־'al-“on”
    Preposition · from עַל · “upon” · Strong's H5921A
  11. נֵ֑סNes“a standard”
    Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from נֵס · “ensign” · Strong's H5251H
  12. וְהָיָה֙ve.ha.Yah“and it will be”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from הָיָה · “to be” · Strong's H1961
  13. כָּל־kol-“every”
    Noun, masculine, singular, construct · from כֹּל · “all” · Strong's H3605
  14. הַנָּשׁ֔וּךְha.na.Shukh“<the> [one who] is bitten”
    Definite article + Verb, qal, participle (passive), masculine, singular, absolute · from נָשַׁךְ · “to bite” · Strong's H5391A
  15. וְרָאָ֥הve.ra.'Ah“and he will see”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from רָאָה · “see” · Strong's H7200G
  16. אֹת֖וֹ'o.To“<obj.> it”
    Particle, direct object marker + Suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from אֵת · “[Obj.]” · Strong's H0853
  17. וָחָֽי׃va.Chai“and he will live”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from חָיָה · “to live” · Strong's H2421

Verse 9

Original language (Hebrew)

וַיַּ֤עַשׂ מֹשֶׁה֙ נְחַ֣שׁ נְחֹ֔שֶׁת וַיְשִׂמֵ֖הוּ עַל־הַנֵּ֑ס וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־נָשַׁ֤ךְ הַנָּחָשׁ֙ אֶת־אִ֔ישׁ וְהִבִּ֛יט אֶל־נְחַ֥שׁ הַנְּחֹ֖שֶׁת וָחָֽי׃

  1. וַיַּ֤עַשׂvai.Ya.'as“and he made”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from עָשָׂה · “make(OBJECT)” · Strong's H6213H
  2. מֹשֶׁה֙mo.Sheh“Moses”
    Noun, proper name of a man · from מֹשֶׁה · “Moses” · Strong's H4872
  3. נְחַ֣שׁne.Chash“a snake of”
    Noun, masculine, singular, construct · from נָחָשׁ · “serpent” · Strong's H5175
  4. נְחֹ֔שֶׁתne.Cho.shet“bronze”
    Noun, feminine, singular, absolute · from נְחֹ֫שֶׁת · “bronze” · Strong's H5178A
  5. וַיְשִׂמֵ֖הוּvay.si.Me.hu“and he put it”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular + Suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from שׂוּם · “make” · Strong's H7760A
  6. עַל־'al-“on”
    Preposition · from עַל · “upon” · Strong's H5921A
  7. הַנֵּ֑סha.Nes“the standard”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from נֵס · “ensign” · Strong's H5251H
  8. וְהָיָ֗הve.ha.Yah“and it was”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from הָיָה · “to be” · Strong's H1961
  9. אִם־'im-“if”
    Particle · from אִם · “if” · Strong's H0518A
  10. נָשַׁ֤ךְna.Shakh“it had bitten”
    Verb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from נָשַׁךְ · “to bite” · Strong's H5391A
  11. הַנָּחָשׁ֙ha.na.Chash“the snake”
    Definite article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from נָחָשׁ · “serpent” · Strong's H5175
  12. אֶת־'et-“<obj.>”
    Particle, direct object marker · from אֵת · “[Obj.]” · Strong's H0853
  13. אִ֔ישׁ'Ish“anyone”
    Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from אִישׁ · “anyone” · Strong's H0376I
  14. וְהִבִּ֛יטve.hi.Bit“and he looked”
    Conjunction + Verb, hiphil, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from נָבַט · “to look” · Strong's H5027
  15. אֶל־'el-“to”
    Preposition · from אֶל · “to(wards)” · Strong's H0413
  16. נְחַ֥שׁne.Chash“[the] snake of”
    Noun, masculine, singular, construct · from נָחָשׁ · “serpent” · Strong's H5175
  17. הַנְּחֹ֖שֶׁתha.ne.Cho.shet“<the> bronze”
    Definite article + Noun, feminine, singular, absolute · from נְחֹ֫שֶׁת · “bronze” · Strong's H5178A
  18. וָחָֽי׃va.Chai“and he lived”
    Conjunction + Verb, qal, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from חָיָה · “to live” · Strong's H2421
  • Places: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0. Coordinates from OpenStreetMap (ODbL) are left out. Source (version 7eb18a5)
  • Hebrew and Aramaic words: STEP Bible (STEPBible.org), based on work at Tyndale House, Cambridge. CC BY 4.0. Source (version ed476a8)