Numbers

Numbers 21:4–9

⁴Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,^c 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.

Footnotes

c 21:4 Or the Sea of Reeds

Read all of Numbers 21

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Numbers 21:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then they set out	וַיִּסְע֞וּ	way·yis·‘ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5265 pull out or up, set out, journey
from Mount	הָהָר֙	hā·hār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
Hor	מֵהֹ֤ר	mê·hōr	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H2023 Hor
along the route	דֶּ֣רֶךְ	de·reḵ	Noun - common singular construct	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
to the Red	ס֔וּף	sūp̄	Noun - masculine singular	H5488 reeds, rushes
Sea	יַם־	yam-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3220 sea
in order to bypass	לִסְבֹ֖ב	lis·ḇōḇ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5437 turn about, go around, surround
the land	אֶ֣רֶץ	’e·reṣ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H776 earth, land
of Edom	אֱד֑וֹם	’ĕ·ḏō·wm	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H123 name of a condiment
But the people	הָעָ֖ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
grew impatient	וַתִּקְצַ֥ר	wat·tiq·ṣar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7114 be short
on the journey	בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃	bad·dā·reḵ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner

Numbers 21:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and spoke	וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר	way·ḏab·bêr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1696 speak
against God	בֵּֽאלֹהִים֮	bê·lō·hîm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
and against Moses	וּבְמֹשֶׁה֒	ū·ḇə·mō·šeh	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
Why	לָמָ֤ה	lā·māh	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
have you led us up	הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙	he·‘ĕ·lî·ṯu·nū	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural; first person common plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
out of Egypt	מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם	mim·miṣ·ra·yim	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians
to die	לָמ֖וּת	lā·mūṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H4191 die
in the wilderness	בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר	bam·miḏ·bār	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4057 mouth
There is no	אֵ֥ין	’ên	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
bread	לֶ֙חֶם֙	le·ḥem	Noun - masculine singular	H3899 bread, food
or water	מַ֔יִם	ma·yim	Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine
and we	וְנַפְשֵׁ֣נוּ	wə·nap̄·šê·nū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common plural	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
detest	קָ֔צָה	qā·ṣāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H6973 feel a loathing, abhorrence, sickening dread
this wretched	הַקְּלֹקֵֽל׃	haq·qə·lō·qêl	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7052 insubstantial
food	בַּלֶּ֖חֶם	bal·le·ḥem	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3899 bread, food

Numbers 21:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So the LORD	יְהוָ֜ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
sent	וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח	way·šal·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
venomous	הַשְּׂרָפִ֔ים	haś·śə·rā·p̄îm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8314 a serpent
snakes	הַנְּחָשִׁ֣ים	han·nə·ḥā·šîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H5175 serpent
among	בָּעָ֗ם	bā·‘ām	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
and many	רָ֖ב	rāḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H7227 much, many, great
of the Israelites	מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃	mî·yiś·rā·’êl	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
were bitten	וַֽיְנַשְּׁכ֖וּ	way·naš·šə·ḵū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5391 bite
and died	וַיָּ֥מָת	way·yā·māṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die

Numbers 21:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the people	הָעָ֨ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
came	וַיָּבֹא֩	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Moses	מֹשֶׁ֜ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
and said	וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
We have sinned	חָטָ֗אנוּ	ḥā·ṭā·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural	H2398 miss
by	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
speaking	דִבַּ֤רְנוּ	ḏib·bar·nū	Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common plural	H1696 speak
against the LORD	בַֽיהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
and against you	וָבָ֔ךְ	wā·ḇāḵ	Conjunctive waw; Preposition; second person masculine singular
Intercede	הִתְפַּלֵּל֙	hiṯ·pal·lêl	Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine singular	H6419 intervene, interpose
with	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
so He will take	וְיָסֵ֥ר	wə·yā·sêr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular	H5493 turn aside
the snakes	הַנָּחָ֑שׁ	han·nā·ḥāš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5175 serpent
away from us	מֵעָלֵ֖ינוּ	mê·‘ā·lê·nū	Preposition-m; first person common plural	H5921 height
So Moses	מֹשֶׁ֖ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
interceded	וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל	way·yiṯ·pal·lêl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6419 intervene, interpose
for	בְּעַ֥ד	bə·‘aḏ	Preposition	H1157 separation
the people	הָעָֽם׃	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people

Numbers 21:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the LORD	יְהוָ֜ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
said	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Moses	מֹשֶׁ֗ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
Make	עֲשֵׂ֤ה	‘ă·śêh	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H6213 do, make
a fiery serpent	שָׂרָ֔ף	śā·rāp̄	Noun - masculine singular	H8314 a serpent
and mount	וְשִׂ֥ים	wə·śîm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H7760 put, place, set
it	אֹת֖וֹ	’ō·ṯōw	Direct object marker; third person masculine singular	H853 mark of the accusative
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
a pole	נֵ֑ס	nês	Noun - masculine singular	H5251 standard, ensign, signal, sign
When anyone	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
who is bitten	הַנָּשׁ֔וּךְ	han·nā·šūḵ	Article; Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular	H5391 bite
looks at it	וְרָאָ֥ה	wə·rā·’āh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H7200 see
he will live	וָחָֽי׃	wā·ḥāy	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H2421 live

Numbers 21:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Moses	מֹשֶׁה֙	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
made	וַיַּ֤עַשׂ	way·ya·‘aś	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
a bronze	נְחֹ֔שֶׁת	nə·ḥō·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H5178 copper, bronze
snake	נְחַ֣שׁ	nə·ḥaš	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5175 serpent
and mounted	וַיְשִׂמֵ֖הוּ	way·śi·mê·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singular	H7760 put, place, set
it on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
a pole	הַנֵּ֑ס	han·nês	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5251 standard, ensign, signal, sign
If	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
anyone who	אִ֔ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
was bitten	נָשַׁ֤ךְ	nā·šaḵ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5391 bite
looked	וְהִבִּ֛יט	wə·hib·bîṭ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H5027 look
at	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the bronze	הַנְּחֹ֖שֶׁת	han·nə·ḥō·šeṯ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5178 copper, bronze
snake	הַנָּחָשׁ֙	han·nā·ḥāš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5175 serpent
he would live	וָחָֽי׃	wā·ḥāy	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H2421 live