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So the Lord sent among the people seraph[a] serpents, which bit(A) the people so that many of the Israelites died. Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray to the Lord to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, and the Lord said to Moses: Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 21:6 Seraph: the Hebrew name for a certain species of venomous snake; etymologically the word might signify “the fiery one.” Compare the winged throne guardians in Is 6:2, 6; see also Is 14:29; 30:6.
  2. 21:8 Everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover: in the Gospel of John this scene is regarded as a type for the crucifixion of Jesus (Jn 3:14–15).

Then the Lord sent venomous snakes(A) among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.(B) The people came to Moses(C) and said, “We sinned(D) when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord(E) will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed(F) for the people.

The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole;(G) anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”

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