GUIDE TO THE SCRIPTURES
Serpent, Brazen
See also Jesus Christ; Moses

A brass serpent made by Moses at God's command to heal the Israelites who had been bitten by fiery serpents (poisonous snakes) in the wilderness (Num. 21: 8-9). This brass serpent was attached to a pole and "raised up that whosoever would look upon it might live" (Alma 33: 19-22). The Lord referred to the lifting up of the serpent in the wilderness as a symbol of himself being lifted up on the cross (John 3: 14-15). Latter-day revelation confirms the account of the fiery serpents and how the people were healed (1 Ne. 17: 41; 2 Ne. 25: 20; Hel. 8: 14-15).