Intertextuality Pair

John 3:14 → Numbers 21:8-9

Allusion

Later text

John 3:14BSB

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

Earlier text

Numbers 21:8-9BSB

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.
Walk the Square · a single-voice walk of this pair around the Clowney square8:52

Significance

Primary analogy: looking at the bronze serpent brought physical life; looking in faith at the crucified Son of Man brings eternal life. Secondary parallel: Israel's sin/judgment requiring a divine remedy mirrors humanity's predicament. "Lifted up" (ὑψόω) carries a double sense — crucifixion and exaltation — the exaltation register being drawn in from Isaiah's Suffering Servant language rather than from Numbers 21 itself. First of three "lifted up" sayings in John (cf. 8:28; 12:32).

Found via
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type
Allusion
Connection Method(s)
Typology

▸ The Bronze Serpent

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