The story of the brass serpent in Numbers 21 is one of the most fascinating symbolic moments in the Old Testament. At first glance, it can seem strange or even confusing. Why would God command Moses to create a brass serpent and lift it on a pole? Why would simply looking at it heal people who had been bitten by poisonous snakes?
Yet this moment becomes deeply important in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon because it teaches powerful lessons about faith, obedience, healing, humility, and the simplicity of God’s commandments.
It also directly foreshadows Jesus Christ.
The Story in Numbers 21
After many years in the wilderness, the children of Israel became discouraged and began speaking against both God and Moses.
Numbers 21:5 (KJV) states:
“And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?”
In response, the Lord sent “fiery serpents” among the people.
The Bible does not fully explain why they were called fiery serpents. Some scholars believe the name referred to the burning pain caused by their venom. Whatever the exact meaning, many Israelites were bitten and died.
The people then repented and asked Moses to pray for them.
Numbers 21:8–9 (KJV) says:
“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.”
Was It a Cross or a Pole?
Many artistic depictions show the brass serpent mounted on a cross-shaped structure. While Christians often connect this story symbolically to the crucifixion of Christ, the biblical text itself simply describes a pole.
The King James Version says Moses placed the serpent “upon a pole.” The Hebrew wording suggests a standard, banner staff, or upright pole rather than a Roman-style crossbeam.
This distinction matters because the focus of the story is not on recreating later Christian imagery. The power was never in the shape of the object itself. The miracle came through faith in God and obedience to His command.
Why a Serpent?
The symbolism of the serpent may seem unusual because serpents are often associated with Satan in scripture. However, in this case, the brass serpent became a symbol of healing and deliverance.
Most importantly, Jesus Himself connected this story to His future crucifixion.
John 3:14–15 (KJV) says:
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Just as the Israelites had to look upon the lifted serpent to live physically, all people must look to Christ in faith to receive spiritual life.
The Book of Mormon’s Powerful Insight
The Book of Mormon gives one of the clearest explanations of why this event mattered.
Many Israelites died not because the solution was difficult, but because it was simple.
Alma 33:19–20 states:
“Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.
But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished.”
That idea becomes even more direct in 1 Nephi 17:41:
“And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.”
This is one of the most sobering details in all of scripture.
The task was not physically demanding. It did not require wealth, status, strength, education, or influence. They simply had to look.
Yet many refused.
Commentary and Symbolism
Many teachings today frequently use this story to illustrate how people sometimes reject simple divine instruction because it appears too small, too ordinary, or too easy.
Church leaders have often compared the brass serpent to simple acts of discipleship:
- Prayer.
- Scripture study.
- RepentancFollowing prophets.
- Attending church.
- Looking to Christ daily.
The lesson is not that these things are complicated. The lesson is that humans often resist simple solutions when they expect something dramatic or intellectually impressive.
It is important, however, not to overstate details that scripture itself does not explain. The Bible does not tell us exactly how the healing occurred, how many refused to look, or what the brass serpent physically resembled beyond being mounted on a pole.
A Symbol Pointing to Christ
The brass serpent story ultimately points beyond itself.
It is about Christ.
It is about trusting God even when the answer seems unexpectedly simple.
It is about humility.
It is about obedience.
And it is about whether people are willing to look upward in faith.
The image of suffering Israelites turning toward the raised serpent in the wilderness becomes a powerful symbol of all humanity. Every person is spiritually wounded by sin and mortality. The invitation to look to Christ remains just as simple today.
The tragedy in Numbers 21 was never that there was no cure.
The tragedy was that many refused to look.