Numbers 21:6 (GNV)

Passage

Wherefore the Lord sent fierie serpents among ye people, which stung the people: so that many of the people of Israel died.

Nearby Context

Numbers 21:4 After, they departed from the mount Hor by the way of the red Sea, to compasse the land of Edom: and the people were sore grieued because of the way.

Numbers 21:5 And the people spake against God and against Moses, saying, Wherefore haue ye brought vs out of Egypt, to die in the wildernesse? for here is neither bread nor water, and our soule lotheth this light bread.

Numbers 21:6 Wherefore the Lord sent fierie serpents among ye people, which stung the people: so that many of the people of Israel died.

Numbers 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses and said, We haue sinned: for wee haue spoken against the Lord, and against thee: pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from vs: and Moses prayed for the people.

Numbers 21:8 And the Lord said vnto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it vp for a signe, that as many as are bitten, may looke vpon it, and liue.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wherefore", "lord", "sent", "fierie", "serpents", "people", and "stung". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wherefore" and "lord", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "And the people spake against God and..." into verse 7's "Therefore the people came to Moses and...", so "wherefore" and "lord" belong inside that flow. In Numbers context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "wherefore" and "lord" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.