What is the meaning of Numbers 21:6?

So the LORD sent

God Himself initiated this judgment.

• He is not a passive observer; His direct action echoes earlier judgments like Genesis 19:24, where “the LORD rained down sulfur and fire.”

• Deuteronomy 32:39 reminds, “There is no god besides Me… I wound and I heal,” underscoring His sovereign right to discipline.

• This sending follows Israel’s grumbling in Numbers 21:4-5, showing that rebellion invites tangible consequences.

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venomous snakes

The instrument of judgment fits the sin: serpents recall Eden’s serpent of deception (Genesis 3:1-5).

• Psalm 91:13 speaks of trampling “the cobra and serpent,” a promise of protection for the obedient—highlighting the contrast here.

• In Revelation 12:9, Satan is called “that ancient serpent,” tying physical serpents to a larger spiritual lesson about sin’s deadly bite.

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among the people

The snakes invaded the camp itself, leaving no refuge.

• Numbers 14:45 records Amalekites infiltrating the camp after earlier rebellion; here, danger comes internally, not externally.

• 1 Corinthians 10:9 warns New-Covenant believers, “We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes,” applying this incident as a cautionary tale for the church community.

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and many of the Israelites

Judgment was widespread, not isolated to a few.

• Romans 3:23, “all have sinned,” mirrors the corporate dimension of guilt.

• Joshua 7:1-5 shows national impact from Achan’s sin; similarly, communal rebellion here brings communal consequences.

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were bitten and died

The result was immediate, physical death—a sobering reminder that sin’s wages are real.

• Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death.”

• Yet God’s ensuing provision of the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8-9) reveals His mercy foreshadowing Christ: John 3:14-15, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent… so the Son of Man must be lifted up.”

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summary

Numbers 21:6 records a literal, divine judgment where God sends venomous snakes to discipline a grumbling Israel. The serpents symbolize sin’s lethal bite, their presence inside the camp shows rebellion’s pervasive reach, and the resulting deaths declare that sin always leads to death. Yet, even here, God is preparing hearts for the saving lift of Christ, proving that His justice and mercy move hand in hand throughout Scripture.