God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 6:7
7The Lord became angry with Uzzah, so God killed him there for his lack of respect. He died beside 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 entire nation of Israel were celebrating in the Lord’s presence with all kinds of instruments made from cypress wood and with lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals. 6But when they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah reached out for the ark of God and grabbed it. The Lord became angry with Uzzah, so God killed him there for his lack of respect. He died beside the ark of God. 8David was angry because the Lord had struck Uzzah so violently. (That place is still called Perez Uzzah [The Striking of Uzzah] today.) 9David was afraid of the Lord that day. “How can the ark of the Lord come to my ⌞city⌟?” he asked.
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 an incense burner and put burning coals and incense in it. Then in the Lord’s presence they offered this unauthorized fire.
- 1 Samuel 6:19God struck down some of the people from Beth Shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord. He struck down 70 people. The people mourned because the Lord struck them with such a great blow.
- 1 Chronicles 13:10The Lord became angry with Uzzah and killed him for reaching for the ark. He died in God’s presence.
- 1 Chronicles 15:2Then David insisted that only the Levites carry God’s ark because the Lord had chosen them to carry his ark and to serve him forever.
- 1 Corinthians 11:30This is the reason why many of you are weak and sick and quite a number ⌞of you⌟ have died.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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