Numbers 21:8 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God tells Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole; those who look at it will be healed.
The Context of Numbers 21:8
God provides a means of healing: a serpent lifted on a pole.
What Does Numbers 21:8 Mean?
Rather than simply remove the serpents, God provides a remedy through a symbolic act. Moses is commanded to create a fiery serpent image and raise it on a pole. The solution is paradoxical—the image of the very thing causing harm becomes the instrument of healing.
The healing mechanism is simple: looking at the serpent with faith. No ritual complexity is required, only the act of turning eyes toward the provided remedy. This emphasizes both God's sovereignty in providing salvation and the people's responsibility to respond in faith.
Numbers 21:8 in the Original Language
machah (מַחְלָה), 'plague' or 'sickness' — the deliverance from this plague typifies divine healing through God's prescribed remedy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 21:8
What does Numbers 21:8 mean?
God tells Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole; those who look at it will be healed.
What is the context of Numbers 21:8?
God provides a means of healing: a serpent lifted on a pole.