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Numbers 21: The Bronze Snake

Israel defeats the king of Arad. The people grow impatient and speak against God and Moses, and venomous snakes bite them. They confess their sin, and Moses prays. God tells Moses to make a bronze snake on a pole; whoever looks at it lives. Israel journeys on, God gives water at Beer, and they defeat Sihon and Og.

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World English Bible · 35 verses

  1. 1 The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South, heard that Israel came by the way of Atharim. He fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  2. 2 Israel vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, “If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  3. 3 Yahweh listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. The name of the place was called Hormah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  4. 4 They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  5. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, there is no water, and our soul loathes this disgusting food!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  6. 6 Yahweh sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  7. 7 The people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahweh and against you. Pray to Yahweh, that he take away the serpents from us.” Moses prayed for the people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  8. 8 Yahweh said to Moses, “Make a venomous snake, and set it on a pole. It shall happen that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  9. 9 Moses made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, he lived.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  10. 10 The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in Oboth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  11. 11 They traveled from Oboth, and encamped at Iyeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrise.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  12. 12 From there they traveled, and encamped in the valley of Zered.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  13. 13 From there they traveled, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that comes out of the border of the Amorites; for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  14. 14 Therefore it is said in The Book of the Wars of Yahweh, “Vaheb in Suphah, the valleys of the Arnon,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  15. 15 the slope of the valleys that incline toward the dwelling of Ar, leans on the border of Moab.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  16. 16 From there they traveled to Beer; that is the well of which Yahweh said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  17. 17 Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, well! Sing to it,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  18. 18 the well, which the princes dug, which the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter, and with their poles.” From the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  19. 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  20. 20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looks down on the desert.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  21. 21 Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  22. 22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn away into field or vineyard. We will not drink of the water of the wells. We will go by the king’s highway, until we have passed your border.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  23. 23 Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border, but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz. He fought against Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  24. 24 Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was fortified.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  25. 25 Israel took all these cities. Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  26. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even to the Arnon.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  27. 27 Therefore those who speak in proverbs say, “Come to Heshbon. Let the city of Sihon be built and established;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  28. 28 for a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  29. 29 Woe to you, Moab! You are undone, people of Chemosh! He has given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, to Sihon king of the Amorites.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  30. 30 We have shot at them. Heshbon has perished even to Dibon. We have laid waste even to Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  31. 31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  32. 32 Moses sent to spy out Jazer. They took its villages, and drove out the Amorites who were there.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  33. 33 They turned and went up by the way of Bashan. Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  34. 34 Yahweh said to Moses, “Don’t fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people, and his land. You shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  35. 35 So they struck him, with his sons and all his people, until there were no survivors; and they possessed his land.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Numbers 21 · Preschool

Look and Live!

Name Date

Color the bronze snake on the pole. Everyone who looked at it was healed!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Moses made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, he lived.”

Numbers 21:9 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: When the people looked at the snake on the pole, God healed them. In the New Testament, Jesus said He would be lifted up like the snake (John 3:14-15).

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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