Topical Bible: Copper Brass: Moses Made the Serpent of

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Biblical Context and Significance

Copper, often referred to as brass in some translations, holds a significant place in biblical history and symbolism. One of the most notable instances of its use is in the account of Moses crafting a serpent of brass, as recorded in the Book of Numbers. This event is pivotal in understanding the themes of judgment, repentance, and divine healing.

The Bronze Serpent

The narrative of the bronze serpent is found in Numbers 21:4-9. As the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, they grew impatient and spoke against God and Moses, lamenting their hardships and the lack of food and water. In response to their complaints and rebellion, the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, resulting in many Israelites being bitten and dying.

Recognizing their sin, the people approached Moses, confessing, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD to take the snakes away from us" (Numbers 21:7). Moses prayed for the people, and God instructed him to "Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live" (Numbers 21:8). Moses obeyed, crafting a serpent of brass and setting it upon a pole. Those who looked upon the bronze serpent were healed, demonstrating God's mercy and the power of faith and obedience.

Symbolism and Theological Implications

The bronze serpent serves as a profound symbol within the biblical narrative. It represents both judgment and salvation. The serpents were a direct consequence of the Israelites' sin, yet the means of their healing was fashioned in the likeness of the very thing that brought them suffering. This paradox highlights the transformative power of God's grace, turning an instrument of death into a symbol of life.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ references the bronze serpent in His conversation with Nicodemus, drawing a parallel to His own crucifixion: "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life" (John 3:14-15). Here, the bronze serpent prefigures Christ's redemptive work on the cross, where He bore the sins of humanity, offering salvation to all who look to Him in faith.

Historical and Cultural Context

In ancient times, copper was a widely used metal, valued for its durability and workability. The term "brass" in the biblical context often refers to an alloy of copper and tin, known today as bronze. This material was commonly used in the construction of various items, including tools, weapons, and religious artifacts.

The crafting of the bronze serpent by Moses would have required skilled workmanship, reflecting the importance of the object as a divine instrument. The use of metal in religious contexts underscores the permanence and enduring nature of God's covenant and promises.

Legacy and Influence

The account of the bronze serpent has left a lasting legacy in both religious thought and cultural symbolism. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin, the necessity of repentance, and the availability of divine healing through faith. The bronze serpent's typological connection to Christ's crucifixion further enriches its significance, illustrating the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture.

In Christian art and iconography, the bronze serpent is occasionally depicted as a symbol of healing and salvation, echoing its biblical origins and its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 21:9
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it on a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 18:4
He removed the high places, and broke the images, and cut down the groves, and broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for to those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Poison and the Antidote
... man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived ... Moses had often prayed for the
people when they had ... The command to make a brazen or copper serpent, and set ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the poison and the antidote.htm

A view of God's Glory
... rain from skies which had been like brass before; but it ... When Moses said, "I beseech
thee, show me thy glory ... His brother passed a red-hot copper bowl before his ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 54 1908/a view of gods glory.htm

Answer to the Objection of the Heathen, that it was not Right to ...
... Nor is it difficult to approach, or impossible to attain, but is very near us in
our very homes; as Moses, endowed with all wisdom ... Brass, or copper, and iron ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter x answer to the objection.htm

The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables ...
... caldron, or the Cirrh??an tripod, or the Dodonian copper. ... And do you not see Moses,
the hierophant of the truth ... practiced the art of working in brass, maimed in ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter ii the absurdity and impiety.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... was the coat of scale mail and the helmet of brass; their weapons ... they took counsel
of a Levite whom Michah had made his priest ... [The RV reads "Moses" where the ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.
... in the beginning of his invective he promises that he will avoid personalities,
and reply only about the things in question and the charges made against him ...
/.../various/life and works of rufinus with jeromes apology against rufinus /

The Iranian Conquest
... before the Trojan war,*** one thousand before Moses, and six ... As soon as the compact
was made, Angro- mainyus ... such as the frog, the scorpion, the serpent or the ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm