Numbers 21 · Verse 17

Numbers 21:17

Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:
Numbers 21:17, King James Version

Numbers 21:17 in other translations

BSBThen Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well, all of you sing to it!
WEBThen Israel sang this song: “Spring up, well! Sing to it,
ASVThen sang Israel this song: Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:
YLTThen singeth Israel this song, concerning the well--they have answered to it:
DARBYThen Israel sang this song, Rise up, well! sing unto it:
BBEThen Israel gave voice to this song: Come up, O water-spring, let us make a song to it:
WebsterThen Israel sung this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye to it:

What does Numbers 21:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 21:17-18
17-18. 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 of God.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Spring 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 Exo 15:1 (note), etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 21:10-20

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…

Read the full comment on Numbers 21:10-20 →

Numbers 21:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אָ֚ז'azthenH227
יָשִׁ֣ירya.Shirit sangH7891
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַשִּׁירָ֖הha.shi.Rahthe songH7892
הַזֹּ֑אתha.Zot<the> thisH2063
עֲלִ֥י'a.Lispring upH5927
בְאֵ֖רve.'ErO wellH875
עֱנוּ\־'e.nu-singH6030
לָֽהּ\׃Lahof <the> it

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 21:17

  • Psalms 105:2

    Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

  • Judges 5:1

    Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,

  • Psalms 106:12

    Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

  • James 5:13

    Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

  • Isaiah 12:1-2

    And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

  • Isaiah 12:5

    Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

  • Exodus 15:1-2

    Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
sang.
Ex 15:1,2; Jud 5:1; Ps 105:2; 106:12; Isa 12:1,2,5; Jas 5:13
Spring up. Heb. ascend. sing ye. or answer.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 21:16

    And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.

  • Numbers 21:17

    Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:

  • Numbers 21:18

    The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:

Read all of Numbers 21

Numbers 21:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces cantó Israel esta canción: Sube, oh pozo; á él cantad:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors Israël chanta ce cantique: Monte, puits! Chantez-lui:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Damals sang Israel dieses Lied: Herauf, Brunnen! Singet ihm zu!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tunc cecinit Israël carmen istud: Ascendat puteus. Concinebant: