Table of Contents

Foreshadows & Types

Bronze Serpent & Fiery Serpents

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The biblical fiery serpents were venomous snakes God sent to bite rebellious Israelites in the wilderness, causing fiery pain and death; to provide healing, Moses made a bronze serpent on a pole (Numbers 21), and anyone bitten who looked at it was healed, foreshadowing Jesus’ crucifixion as a judgment for sin, where looking at Him brings salvation. This bronze serpent, called Nehushtan, became an idol later but originally symbolized that the very image of death (the serpent) became the means of life when lifted up.

The Fiery Serpents (Numbers 21:4-9)
Cause: God sent them after the Israelites complained and spoke against Him and Moses.
Nature: Called “fiery” due to their burning venom or fiery color, causing extreme thirst and death.
Result: Many Israelites died from the bites.

The Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:8-9)
Divine Provision: God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole.
Healing: Anyone bitten who looked at the bronze serpent was healed, not just by the object but by their faith in God’s provision.
Symbolism: It represented sin (the serpent) being judged (bronze) and becoming the means of life when lifted up, foreshadowing Christ’s crucifixion (John 3:14-16).

New Testament Connection (John 3:14-16)
Jesus’ Analogy: Jesus explained that just as Moses lifted the serpent, He (the Son of Man) must also be lifted up (on the cross).
Fulfillment: The bronze serpent offered physical healing from a physical plague; Jesus’ crucifixion offers spiritual salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him and look to Him in faith.

The Bronze Serpent is a type of Jesus (a foreshadowing) because, like Jesus on the cross, it was a symbol of sin (the serpent) lifted up on wood, offering life to those who looked at it in faith, prefiguring how belief in the sinless Jesus, who took humanity’s sin, brings eternal life, fulfilling the promise of salvation from spiritual death.

Here’s a breakdown of the parallels:

The Problem: Poisonous snakes (representing sin/Satan’s work) bit Israelites, causing death.
The Solution: Moses made a bronze serpent and put it on a pole; looking at it brought healing.

The Parallel to Jesus:

Lifted Up: The serpent was lifted on a pole; Jesus was “lifted up” (crucified) on the cross (John 3:14).
Sin’s Likeness: The bronze serpent looked like the deadly snakes but lacked venom, just as Jesus, the sinless one, took on the likeness of sinful flesh (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Faith for Life: Israelites had to look at the bronze serpent to live; people must look to (believe in) Jesus for eternal life (John 3:14-16).
Symbol of Sin & Salvation: The serpent (sin’s penalty) became the means of salvation, just as Jesus (made sin for us) became our righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Temporary vs. Eternal: The bronze serpent offered temporary physical life, while Jesus offers eternal life.

The Bronze Serpent symbolizes Jesus as the antidote to spiritual death (sin), both lifted up (on the cross/pole) for salvation, representing God’s judgment on sin (bronze) borne by Christ, offering healing/eternal life through faith, turning the curse (serpent) into blessing, a sign of God’s love and a promise of victory over Satan, connecting physical deliverance to spiritual redemption.

Here are 25 ways the Bronze Serpent foreshadows Jesus: 

Lifting Up: Both were “lifted up” (Serpent on a pole, Jesus on the cross).
Source of Salvation: Both became the means of salvation from deadly poison/sin.
God’s Provision: Both were God’s ordained remedy for a people in crisis.
Faith Required: Looking/believing in both brought life.
Physical vs. Eternal: Serpent for physical life, Jesus for eternal life.
Judgment Made Visible: Bronze signified judgment; Jesus visibly bore it.
Curse Reversed: The curse (serpent/sin) was placed on the object (Serpent/Jesus).
Representation of Sin: Jesus became like the source of death (sin/serpent) for us.
Connection to Satan: The serpent brought venom; Jesus defeated the Serpent (Satan).
Antidote to Death: Both ended the deadly effects of the snakebite.
Divine Action: Both were direct actions by God (sending/providing).
Hope for the Hopeless: Both offered hope where only death seemed present.
Symbol of Atonement: The serpent was a stand-in for the people’s sin.
Healing Power: Both represent divine healing, though of different kinds.
A Sign: Both served as a tangible sign for belief.
God’s Love Displayed: Both demonstrate God’s love in the midst of judgment.
“Bronze” Meaning: Bronze signifies judgment/refining; Jesus judged/refined.
Focus on the Object: Salvation came by focusing on the lifted object.
“Son of Man”: Jesus links himself to the earthly “man” (serpent) in his humanity.
Victory Over Venom: Jesus conquers the venom of sin, death, and Satan.
God’s Word Fulfilled: Jesus fulfills the foreshadowing in Numbers.
From Shame to Glory: The shameful serpent becomes a symbol of glory (Jesus).
The Cross as Pole: The cross is the ultimate “pole” where salvation is found.
Eternal Life: Jesus provides what the serpent couldn’t: eternal life.
A Substitute: The serpent was a substitute for the people; Jesus is our ultimate substitute.

Bronze Serpent / Fiery Serpents

BRONZE SNAKE

The story takes place in the wilderness, just as we are in this world.  

Each of the people that were healed certainly had a testimony to remember, share and to compare.  

We are all spiritually bitten, sick, poisoned by this wilderness we are in ;snakes are everywhere and we each need healing and recovery that only God can provide.  

Jesus

When we are saved by Jesus and forgiven of our sins we come away with a testimony and a few more miles to put in…but when we keep our eyes on Him we are not overtaken by our sins ; we complain less and we bite each other less too.   

We have the ability to share, compare and thank God in a way we didn’t before we realized we were bitten and dying.  

fiery
saw-rawf’

DEFINED : The KJV translates Strong’s H8314 in the following manner: fiery serpent (3x), fiery (2x), seraphim (2x).

I . serpent, fiery serpent

poisonous serpent (fiery from burning effect of poison)

II. seraph, seraphim

majestic beings with 6 wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon God

Outline of Biblical Usage [?]

I. serpent, fiery serpent

poisonous serpent (fiery from burning effect of poison)

II. seraph, seraphim

majestic beings with 6 wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon God

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)

שָׂרָף sârâph, saw-rawf’; from H8313; burning, i.e. (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically, a saraph or symbolical creature (from their copper color):—fiery (serpent), seraph.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon [?](Jump to Scripture Index)

STRONGS H8314:

† I. שָׂרָף noun masculineIsaiah 14:29 a serpent, usually venomous (possibly from above √, from burning effect of poison); — absolute שׂ׳ Numbers 21:8 (J E; on Arabic parallels see JacobArabic Dichter ii. 93, iv. 10 f.), apposition נָחָשׁ שׂ׳ Deuteronomy 8:15, plural הַנְּחָשִׁים הַשְּׂרָפִים Numbers 21:6; a flying serpent, or dragon, שָׂרָף מְעוֺפֵף Isaiah 14:29; Isaiah 30:6.

† II. [שָׂרָף] noun masculineIsaiah 6:2 plural שְׂרָפִים seraphim (probably akin to I. שׂ׳, as beings originally mythically conceived with serpents’ bodies (serpent-deities, compare Isaiah 14:29; Isaiah 30:6), or (CheComm.) personified of lightning, compare arts. SERAPHIM, StrachanHast. DB CheEncy. Bib.; Di Marti and others compare also Egyptian guardian-griffins, called Šerref; see also כְּרוּב; on Assyrian Šarrapu (-bu), epithet of god Nergal, connected by DlWB with √ שָׂרַף, see שָׁרָב, ZimKAT 3. 415); — in OT. majestic beings with six wings, and human hands and voices, attendant upon י׳ Isaiah 6:2,6.

The Fiery Serpents :
[Num 21:4 KJV]

“And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.”

[Num 21:5 KJV]

“And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for [there is] no bread, neither [is there any] water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”

[Num 21:6 KJV]

“And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.”

[Num 21:7 KJV]

“Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”

[Num 21:8 KJV]

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”

[Num 21:9 KJV]

“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

 

 

The bronze serpent that Moses erected for Israel to save them from death is a type of Christ.

While in the wilderness the Israelites complained and murmured against God. Soon they were allowed to be bit by poisonous snakes.
Moses prayed for everyone and God told Moses to raise a bronze snake on a pole. When the Israelites looked at the snake, they were healed.

There is a lot going on here and we will take a look at some of the types that this imagery reflects.

 

 

 

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Foreshadows & Types List:

[Isa 53:11 KJV] He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Bronze Serpent / Fiery Serpents

BRONZE SNAKE


The story takes place in the wilderness, just as we are in this world.

Each of the people that were healed certainly had a testimony to remember, share and to compare.

We are all spiritually bitten, sick, poisoned by this wilderness we are in ;snakes are everywhere and we each need healing and recovery that only God can provide.


Jesus: 


When we are saved by Jesus and forgiven of our sins we come away with a testimony and a few more miles to put in…but when we keep our eyes on Him we are not overtaken by our sins ; we complain less and we bite each other less too.

We have the ability to share, compare and thank God in a way we didn’t before we realized we were bitten and dying.

 

BRONZE SNAKE
The fiery serpent being raised on a pole in the wilderness was pointed to by Jesus as a shadow proto-type of Him as savior to come.

Healing came with one condition: The Israelites had to exercise faith in the offer.


Jesus
[Jhn 3:14 KJV]

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:”

 

 

Bronze Serpent : 

Numbers 21:8-9 KJV – And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Jesus : 

[Jhn 3:15 KJV]

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”


BRONZE SNAKE
The bronze serpent was a visual representation of the wrath of God against grumbling and complaining people.

It was meant to remind them of the Garden of Eden where Satan came in the form of a serpent to tempt people with sin ( which they were committing ) and originally caused them to be cursed with suffering and death.


Jesus
Christ crucified is a visual representation of the wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who have been tempted with sin in that they die cursed at that tree.

 

 

BRONZE SNAKE
God used the fiery serpent to humble the people…

The fiery serpent was a serpent without poison ( perhaps representing sin ), harmless and not to be worshiped, and not an idol. ( originally – although later in the bible people do sin when they make it ( the object ) an idol.

The people on their own without Moses would have been afraid to make an image like this perhaps out of fear of breaking God’s laws. It became a simple method of God revealing His glory to heal the people through their faith in doing what He asked of them to do….

LATER IN BIBLE :

[2Ki 18:1 KJV]

“Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, [that] Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.”

[2Ki 18:3 KJV]

“And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.”

[2Ki 18:4 KJV]

“He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.”

Now the word Nehushtan means a thing of brass. It’s no God; it’s a thing of brass.


Jesus
Christ was a man without poison / sin, in the likeness of sinful flesh, but without sin. He was made to become sin for us…He is not an idol, because He is God’s method of dealing with sin in the world. He tests people’s faith in doing what He asks them to do…put their faith in Him.

[2Co 5:21 KJV]

“For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

[Rom 8:3 KJV]

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”

 

 

BRONZE SNAKE
In the world, people are dying from the deadly poison of sin; surrounded on all sides and bitten, complaining, etc.

Often they refuse to look at Jesus. Similar here : When they put their faith in God and what he and Moses provided for them they were healed.


Jesus
He alone is the only antidote for sin’s poison and death.

Not to be confused with Satan, Christ volunteered to die on the cross for everyone’s sins, and looking to Him will heal people and they will be saved ; although some look to Him and think He is an idol instead of the Messiah, Saviour of the world, Son of God, & God in the flesh.

[Isa 53:3 KJV]

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

 

BRONZE SNAKE
Moses prayed intercessing for the people:

[Num 21:7 KJV]

“Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”


Jesus
Jesus prayed intercessing for the people:

[Luk 23:34 KJV]

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

 

BRONZE SNAKE
God’s provision likely sounds completely crazy to the skeptic.

The lesson here is that God tests our faith in Him and His provision, not in our own remedy for sin.

Since this sounds foolish to look at the serpent, people choose to suffer. Sometimes life has to get really bad before we may even consider Jesus at a more desperate moment.


Jesus
[1Co 1:27 KJV]

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

Jesus said :

[Mat 13:15 KJV]

“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

BRONZE SNAKE
[Num 21:6 KJV]

“And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.”

It seems that our trials as people of God are not unusual…we are not to complain but to look to Jesus who took on the most suffering as a result of sin for us….

God, in His mercy, used the very thing that killed so many of them to bring them back to Him in contrition and repentance.


Jesus
[1Pe 4:12 KJV]

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:”

[1Pe 4:13 KJV]

“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

 

BRONZE SNAKE
The result of the fiery bites of the serpent : swelling, poison, etc. would be death.

They were used by God as judgement…much like Satan is God’s instrument in bringing many to Jesus.

[Rom 6:23 KJV]

“For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”


Jesus
The people didn’t have to ‘do’ anything but have faith in what they were told. God provided a free way :

[Rom 6:23 KJV]

“For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

[Eph 6:16 KJV]

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”


BRONZE SNAKE
Whosoever could be saved :

[Num 21:8 KJV]

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”


Jesus
Whosoever can be saved still :

[Jhn 3:16 KJV]

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”


BRONZE SNAKE
Whosoever could be saved :

[Num 21:8 KJV]

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”


Jesus
Whosoever can be saved still :

[Jhn 3:16 KJV]

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

 

BRONZE SNAKE
Snakes shed their skin and are sort of ‘reborn’ or born again with a new coat on them….

During this incident the people complained they had not bread or water / only light bread :

[Num 21:5 KJV]

“And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for [there is] no bread, neither [is there any] water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”


Jesus
Jesus told us we must be born again in the Spirit by believing in Him for our Salvation alone…

[2Co 5:17 KJV]

“Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

[Jhn 6:63 KJV]

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.”

[Jhn 3:7 KJV]

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

[Gal 4:29 KJV]

“But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now.”

[Jhn 6:35 KJV]

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”