And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

JOHN 3:14KJV
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John 3:14 (KJV)

What does John 3:14 mean?

John 3:14 compares an event from Israel’s history—when Moses lifted up a bronze serpent in the wilderness so people could look at it and be healed—to what will happen to Jesus, called here the “Son of man,” who must also be “lifted up.” The verse points to Jesus being raised up in a way that brings life to others, just as the serpent did for the Israelites.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader, during a nighttime conversation about spiritual rebirth. Jesus refers to the story from Numbers 21, where Moses put a bronze serpent on a pole so that anyone bitten by snakes could look at it and live. By saying the “Son of man must be lifted up,” Jesus hints at his coming crucifixion and its purpose, using a story Nicodemus would know well.

The Greek behind John 3:14

  • ὑψόω (hypsóō, “lifted up”): This Greek word can mean to physically raise something up, but it also often carries the sense of being exalted or honored. Here, it points both to Jesus being physically lifted on the cross and to the significance of that act.
  • ὄφις (ophis, “serpent”): The Greek word for serpent directly connects this verse to the story in Numbers, making clear the parallel Jesus is drawing.
  • ἔρημος (erēmos, “wilderness”): This word refers to the desert where the Israelites wandered, grounding the comparison in a real historical setting that Nicodemus would recognize.

Why John 3:14 matters

  • John 3:14 helps clarify that Jesus’s death was not accidental or meaningless, but something that “must” happen, with a purpose tied to God’s plan.
  • The verse connects the Old Testament story to Jesus’s mission, showing that the Bible’s earlier events point forward to what Jesus would do.
  • By using a story familiar to his listener, Jesus makes his message more understandable and shows continuity between Israel’s history and his own work.

Where else these words appear

“serpent” Greek G3789 · used in 14 verses

  • Matthew 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
  • Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
  • Revelation 9:19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

“up” Greek G5312 · used in 16 verses

  • Matthew 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
  • Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
  • Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

“wilderness” Greek G2048 · used in 50 verses

  • Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
  • Mark 6:35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
  • John 11:54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

“Moses” Greek G3475 · used in 79 verses

  • Matthew 8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
  • John 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
  • Acts 21:21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.