English Standard Version
Numbers 21:17
17Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
Numbers 21:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:
- New International Version (NIV)Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well! Sing about it,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well! All of you sing to it—
- New Living Translation (NLT)There the Israelites sang this song: “Spring up, O well! Yes, sing its praises!
Context of Numbers 21:17
15and the slope of the valleys that extends to the seat of Ar, and leans to the border of Moab." 16And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, "Gather the people together, so that I may give them water." Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!— 18the well that the princes made, that the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter and with their staffs." And from the wilderness they went on to Mattanah, 19and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,
Read all of Numbers 21Numbers 21:17 word by word
אָ֚ז יָשִׁ֣יר יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את עֲלִ֥י בְאֵ֖ר עֱנוּ־לָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Numbers 21:17
- Exodus 15:1Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, "I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
- Judges 5:1Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:
- Psalms 105:2Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!
- Psalms 106:12Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.
- Isaiah 12:1You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.
- James 5:13Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
Commentaries on Numbers 21:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Spring up, O well, etc. - This is one of the most ancient war songs in the world, but is not easily understood, which is commonly the case with all very ancient compositions, especially the poetic. See the remarks Exodus 15:1; (note), etc.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17This song, recognized by all authorities as dating from the earliest times, and suggested apparently by the fact that God in this place gave the people water not from the rock, but by commanding Moses to cause a well to be dug, bespeaks the glad zeal, the joyful faith, and the hearty cooperation among all ranks, which possessed the people. In after time it may well have been the water-drawing song of the maidens of Israel. Numbers 21:18 By the direction…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-20Verses 10-20 We have here the removes of the children of Israel, till they came to the plains of Moab, from whence they passed over Jordan into Canaan. The end of their pilgrimage was near. "They set forward." It were well if we did thus; and the nearer we come to heaven, were so much the more active and abundant in the work of the Lord. The wonderful success God granted to his people, is here spoken of, and, among the rest, their actions on the river…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-18The location of Beer is unknown (compare Isaiah 15:8). The short poem in this passage describes the digging of a new well. It shows the joy the people felt. In a dry region, a new source of water was a great blessing. The poem says that princes and leaders dug the well. It also says they used scepters and staffs, which were symbols of authority. This may suggest that the digging of the well was part of a special or joyful ceremony.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-1817-18. Then Israel sang--This beautiful little song was in accordance with the wants and feelings of travelling caravans in the East, where water is an occasion both of prayer and thanksgiving. From the princes using their official rods only, and not spades, it seems probable that this well was concealed by the brushwood or the sand, as is the case with many wells in Idumea still. The discovery of it was seasonable, and owing to the special interposition…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 21:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries