Christian Standard Bible
2 Samuel 6:7
7Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God.
2 Samuel 6:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.
Context of 2 Samuel 6:7
5David and the whole house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all kinds of fir wood instruments, lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals. 6When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled. Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God. 8David was angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place Outburst Against Uzzah, as it is today. 9David feared the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?”
Read all of 2 Samuel 62 Samuel 6:7 word by word
וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֤ף יְהוָה֙ בְּעֻזָּ֔ה וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ שָׁ֛ם הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עַל־הַשַּׁ֑ל וַיָּ֣מָת שָׁ֔ם עִ֖ם אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- was kindledחָרָהchârâh · to be incensedH2734
- against Uzzahעֻזָּא‛ûzzâ' ‛ûzzâh · UzzahH5798
- and Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- smoteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
- errorשַׁלshal · faultH7944
- and there he diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- by the arkאֲרוֹן'ârôn 'ârôn · arkH727
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 6:7
- Leviticus 10:1Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own firepan, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and presented unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them to do.
- 1 Samuel 6:19God struck down the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord. He struck down seventy persons. The people mourned because the Lord struck them with a great slaughter.
- 1 Chronicles 13:10Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had reached out to the ark. So he died there in the presence of God.
- 1 Chronicles 15:2Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:30This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 6:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Smote him there for his error - Uzzah sinned through ignorance and precipitancy; he had not time to reflect, the oxen suddenly stumbled; and, fearing lest the ark should fall, he suddenly stretched out his hand to prevent it. Had he touched the ark with impunity, the populace might have lost their respect for it and its sacred service, the example of Uzzah must have filled them with fear and sacred reverence; and, as to Uzzah, no man can doubt of his…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7For his error - The Hebrew is difficult, and some prefer the reading of the parallel passage, “because ask” 1 Chronicles 13:10.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-11Verses 6-11 Uzzah was struck dead for touching the ark. God saw presumption and irreverence in Uzzah's heart. Familiarity, even with that which is most awful, is apt to breed contempt. If it were so great a crime for one to lay hold on the ark of the covenant who had no right to do so, what is it for those to lay claim to the privileges of the covenant that come not up to the terms of it? Obed-edom opened his doors without fear, knowing the ark was a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7took hold of the ark: Uzzah likely acted with good intentions and responded quickly. However, by touching the ark, he disobeyed God’s command (see Exodus 19:12–13; Numbers 4:15). As a result, he received the same punishment as the people of Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6:19). Later, David had the Levites carry the ark into Jerusalem, following God’s instructions (see 1 Chronicles 15:2, 13–15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-86-8. they came to Nachon's threshing-floor--or Chidon's (1Ch 13:9). The Chaldee version renders the words, "came to the place prepared for the reception of the ark," that is, near the city of David (2Sa 6:13). the oxen shook it--or, "stumbled" (1Ch 13:9). Fearing that the ark was in danger of being overturned, Uzzah, under the impulse of momentary feeling, laid hold of it to keep it steady. Whether it fell and crushed him, or some sudden disease attacked…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 6:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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