Bronze Snake

BRONZE SNAKE. Numbers 21:4-9 records how the people of Israel complained against Moses and against God, who in judgment sent venomous snakes against them. When the people confessed their sin, Moses made a “bronze snake” (kjv “serpent of brass”), set it on a pole, and in effect said, “Look and live.” Those who looked recovered. This bronze snake later was worshiped, but Hezekiah scornfully called it “Nehushtan” (which 2Kgs.18.4 niv footnote describes as sounding like the Hebrew for “bronze” and “snake” and “unclean thing”) and destroyed it. This bronze snake was a type of our Lord bearing our sins on the cross (John.3.14-John.3.16).