Numbers 21:17 kjv
Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:
Numbers 21:17 nkjv
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! All of you sing to it?
Numbers 21:17 niv
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! Sing about it,
Numbers 21:17 esv
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! ? Sing to it! ?
Numbers 21:17 nlt
There the Israelites sang this song: "Spring up, O well!
Yes, sing its praises!
Numbers 21 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 15:1 | Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song... | Israel's first spontaneous song of deliverance |
| Exod 17:6 | ...I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, so that the people may drink. | God provides water miraculously from a rock |
| Num 20:8 | "Take the staff, and assemble the congregation... and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water." | God's command to provide water from a rock |
| Deut 8:15 | ...who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water... | Reminder of God's wilderness provision |
| Psa 36:9 | For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. | God is the ultimate source of life |
| Psa 42:1 | As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. | Deep yearning for God, like thirst for water |
| Psa 78:15 | He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as from the great depths. | God's faithfulness in providing water in the desert |
| Psa 84:6 | As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs... | Transformative power of God in barren places |
| Psa 105:41 | He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed in rivers through the desert. | Divine provision of abundant water in dryness |
| Isa 12:3 | With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. | Joyful drawing from salvation's provision |
| Isa 35:7 | The burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water... | Transformation of wilderness by God's provision |
| Isa 41:18 | I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. | God's promise to provide water in desolate places |
| Isa 44:3 | For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring... | Water symbolizing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit |
| Jer 2:13 | for they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters... | God as the spring of life-giving water, Israel's apostasy |
| Jer 17:13 | O Yahweh, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame... the fountain of living water. | God is the wellspring of hope and life |
| Ezek 47:1 | Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold... | Water flowing from God's temple bringing life and healing |
| Joel 3:18 | ...and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of Yahweh... | Future blessing of abundant water from God's presence |
| Zec 14:8 | On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem... | Messianic era of abundant living water |
| Jn 4:10 | Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” | Jesus offers spiritual 'living water' |
| Jn 7:38 | "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’" | Christ as the source of indwelling 'living water' |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. | Christ is the spiritual rock providing water |
| Rev 7:17 | ...for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water... | Lamb (Christ) leads to springs of living water |
| Rev 21:6 | And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” | God offers free access to the water of life |
| Rev 22:1 | Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. | The eternal source of life's water |
Numbers 21 verses
Numbers 21 17 Meaning
Numbers 21:17 describes a moment of joyful worship where the Israelites sang a spontaneous song upon discovering a well in the wilderness. It expresses their anticipation and delight in God's life-giving provision, turning a physical necessity into an occasion for corporate praise. This song signals a spiritual renewal and collective acknowledgment of Yahweh's sustaining care, shifting from their recent patterns of grumbling and rebellion.
Numbers 21 17 Context
Numbers 21:17 follows a period of significant challenge for Israel in the wilderness. Having bypassed Edom and experienced judgment by fiery serpents due to their grumbling against God and Moses (Num 21:4-9), they were then healed by looking at the bronze serpent—a type of Christ (Jn 3:14-15). This moment in verse 17 marks a positive turning point. The Israelites are continuing their journey, guided by Yahweh, passing through several places (listed in Num 21:10-16) that lead them to Beer, which means "well." Historically, nomadic life in the desert depended entirely on water sources, making a well a symbol of survival and God's tangible presence. This song captures a moment of active, corporate participation in receiving God's ongoing, faithful provision after a cycle of complaint and divine intervention, suggesting a restored measure of faith and gratitude within the community.
Numbers 21 17 Word analysis
- Then: 'az (אָז). Denotes a sequential action, emphasizing that this act of singing follows specific events—their wilderness journey, the fiery serpents, and God's subsequent provision and guidance to a new place. It marks a distinct moment in their narrative.
- Israel: Yisrael (יִשְׂרָאֵל). Refers to the entire community of God's chosen people, not just a subset or leadership. This indicates a communal and unified act of worship and gratitude, in stark contrast to earlier instances of individual or subgroup murmuring.
- sang: yāšîrû (יָשִׁרוּ). From the root shir, "to sing." It implies spontaneous and communal expression of emotion, often associated with joy, praise, or deliverance. The plural form highlights the collective participation. Unlike coerced worship, this singing arises from the hearts of the people in response to perceived grace.
- this song: 'et hashshirah hazzo't (אֶת־הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת). Signifies a specific, composed lyrical piece. The mention of "this song" indicates it was notable enough to be recorded, potentially part of Israel's oral tradition and now canonized, underscoring its spiritual significance as an anthem of divine provision.
- Spring up: `alî (עֲלִי). An imperative verb, "go up," "ascend," or "arise," specifically directed to the well. It conveys an active, anticipatory command rather than a passive observation. It's an expression of fervent desire and faith for the water to emerge, reflecting the people's engagement with the miracle. This term is an immediate and active plea, transforming the physical act of water discovery into a spiritual declaration of faith in the source of provision.
- O well!: bə'ēr (בְּאֵר). The direct address to the "well" itself, making it almost personified. The well, a source of life in the arid desert, represents God's specific, tangible provision for their physical needs. In a culture reliant on water, its presence symbolized sustenance and divine favor, highlighting the profound impact of this discovery.
- Sing to it!: `anu lah (עֲנוּ לָהּ). Another imperative command, plural. `anu means "answer" or "respond," often in song or declaration. This suggests not just individual singing, but a responsive, reciprocal chorus—a call for everyone to join in and respond to the well's springing, acknowledging the divine hand behind it. It turns the finding of water into an occasion for corporate celebration and thanksgiving, implying that the act of praise contributes to the flow, not literally, but in fostering spiritual recognition and joy.
Numbers 21 17 Bonus section
- The brevity of this recorded song might suggest it's just a snippet or a refrain from a longer, more elaborate piece sung by the people.
- The fact that Israel is described as singing, as opposed to just murmuring, implies a positive shift in their disposition and spiritual condition. It reflects a corporate acknowledgment of divine grace following moments of complaint and judgment (like the fiery serpents).
- While "Spring up, O well!" sounds miraculous, Numbers 21:18 clarifies that "the princes dug the well, the nobles of the people scooped it out, with the scepter and with their staffs." This juxtaposition highlights a theology where God provides through human effort and leadership, empowering them to find and utilize His blessings. The song serves as praise for both God's leading to the water and His enablement of the people to draw it out.
- This song provides a blueprint for human response to God's provisions: not just to receive, but to acknowledge, celebrate, and actively engage in praise and thanks.
- The incident of the well can be seen as a direct illustration of the proverb "He who humbles himself shall be exalted." After being humbled by the fiery serpents and then healing, their spirit is now open to rejoicing and recognizing God's hand.
Numbers 21 17 Commentary
Numbers 21:17 marks a pivotal moment of spiritual triumph and corporate worship for Israel. Following severe discipline and divine healing, the people here engage in an unprompted act of singing. This "Song of the Well" is not just about the discovery of water, but about a renewed trust and active participation in God's provision. It is a striking contrast to their frequent complaints throughout the wilderness journey, signaling a communal shift towards faith and gratitude. The very act of singing commands the well to "spring up" and calls for collective response ("Sing to it!"), embodying both their desperation and their profound hope. It affirms Yahweh's enduring faithfulness in sustaining His people, turning a vital physical need into an opportunity for collective praise and remembrance of His sustaining power. This joyful response demonstrates a deepening understanding that life itself flows from God's presence, not just through miraculous intervention, but through every resource He provides.