Verses 8-9 lie at the basis of John 3.14-15. Like the bronze snake, Jesus, the Son of Man, had to be lifted for the salvation of people about to die.

And the LORD said to Moses: This quote frame introduces God’s positive response to Moses’ prayer. The generic verb said may be rendered “answered” (Contemporary English Version). Good News Translation uses indirect speech here, which is a less emphatic way of communication in most languages. Translators should use direct speech, unless there is a good reason for following the Good News Translation model.

Make a fiery serpent: Fiery serpent renders the same Hebrew word translated “fiery” in verse 6 (see the comments there), so it is literally only “fiery one.” But it corresponds with the “bronze serpent” in verse 9, so Revised Standard Version adds the implied idea of serpent for clarity. In some languages to avoid confusion, it may be necessary to qualify the nature of this fiery serpent that God commands Moses to make; for example, Good News Translation says “metal snake,” and New Living Translation has “replica of a poisonous snake.” Another possible model is “image/likeness of a poisonous snake.” Contemporary English Version follows some Septuagint manuscripts and the next verse by saying “snake out of bronze,” which some languages may prefer for naturalness.

And set it on a pole: This simple text may allow for a number of different options in translation, depending on how the bronze snake is set, that is, “attached” or “fastened,” on a pole. Translators must try to visualize this scene and use the most appropriate terms available in their language. The pole, which undoubtedly was made of wood, had to be high enough for many people to see at once.

And every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live: God says the people who deliberately look at the bronze snake after poisonous snakes bite them will survive. In some languages a specific verb may be needed for sees to express that this action is deliberate, for example, Chewa has “gaze upon.” New Living Translation renders this sentence as “All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!”

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .