Bible Dictionary
Serpent, Fiery
The fiery serpents were venomous snakes sent among Israel in the wilderness as judgment for their complaints. God provided healing for those who looked at the bronze serpent Moses raised on a standard.
Biblical Usage
Those who had been bitten lived when they looked at the bronze serpent. Jesus used this event as an illustration of the lifting up of the Son of man. The bronze serpent was later preserved and destroyed by Hezekiah because it had become an object of idolatrous veneration.
Scripture References