197、在上古之人，就是属天人当中，“蛇”表示警醒，因而也表示他们用来保持警惕，避免受到伤害的感官部分。“蛇”的这种含义从主对门徒所说的话清楚看出来：
看哪！我差你们去，如同绵羊在豺狼中间；所以你们要谨慎如蛇，单纯如鸽子。（马太福音10:16）
从在旷野被举起的“铜蛇”也清楚看出来，“铜蛇”表示主的感官部分，唯独主是属天人，也唯独祂看顾并供养所有人。因此，凡仰望铜蛇的人都得救了。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]197. When the earliest people (whose nature was heavenly) spoke of a snake, they meant watchfulness. They also meant the sensory level of the mind, which enabled them to watch out for any evil that might otherwise hurt them. This is illustrated by the Lord's words to the disciples:
Here, I'm sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. So be shrewd as snakes and simple as doves. (Matthew 10:16)
Something similar was meant by the bronze snake lifted up in the wilderness [Numbers 21:9]. It symbolized the sensory level in the Lord — the only heavenly person and the only being who watches over and provides for everything. That is why the people who looked on the bronze snake were saved.
Potts(1905-1910) 197
197. Among the most ancient people, who were celestial men, by the "serpent" was signified circumspection, and also the sensuous part through which they exercised circumspection so as to be secure from injury. This signification of a "serpent" is evident from the Lord's words to His disciples:
Behold, I send you forth as sheep into the midst of wolves; be ye therefore prudent as serpents, and simple as doves (Matt. 10:16). And also from the "brazen serpent" that was set up in the wilderness, by which was signified the sensuous part in the Lord, who alone is the celestial man, and alone takes care of and provides for all; wherefore all who looked upon it were preserved.
Elliott(1983-1999) 197
197. With the most ancient people, who were celestial, a serpent meant being completely watchful, and so also meant their sensory perception by means of which they were to show vigilance to avoid being harmed by the evil. This is clear from the Lord's words to His disciples,
Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. Matt 10:16.And also 'the bronze serpent' which was raised up in the wilderness and which meant the Lord's Sensory Perception. He alone is Celestial Man, and He alone is completely watchful and provides for everybody. Whoever beheld it therefore was delivered.
Latin(1748-1756) 197
197. Per 'serpentem' apud antiquissimos qui fuerant caelestes homines, significabatur circumspectio; ita similiter sensuale per quod se circumspicerent ne a malis nocerentur; quod constat ex Domini verbis ad discipulos, Ecce Ego mitto vos sicut oves in medium luporum; estote ergo prudentes sicut serpentes, et simplices sicut columbae, Matth. x 16;. tum etiam per 'serpentem aeneum' qui erectus in deserto, per quem significatum Sensuale Domini, Qui solus Caelestis Homo, et solus circumspicit et providet omnibus; quare qui intuiti sunt Ipsum, servati sunt.