God’s Word Translation
Leviticus 10:1
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.
Leviticus 10:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
- New International Version (NIV)Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.
Context of Leviticus 10:1
Aaron’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. 2A fire flashed from the Lord and burned them, and they died in the presence of the Lord. 3Moses said to Aaron, “This is exactly what the Lord said: ‘I will show my holiness among those who come to me. I will show my glory to all the people.’ ” Aaron was speechless.
Read all of Leviticus 10Leviticus 10:1 word by word
וַיִּקְח֣וּ בְנֵֽי־אַ֠הֲרֹן נָדָ֨ב וַאֲבִיה֜וּא אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ בָהֵן֙ אֵ֔שׁ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלֶ֖יהָ קְטֹ֑רֶת וַיַּקְרִ֜בוּ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֵ֣שׁ זָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א צִוָּ֖ה אֹתָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Nadabנָדָבnâdâb · NadabH5070
- and Abihuאֲבִיהוּא'ăbîyhû' · AbihuH30
- the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
- tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- eitherאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- of them his censerמַחְתָּהmachtâh · censerH4289
- and putנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
- fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- thereinהֵןhên · they(fem.)H2004
- and putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- incenseקְטֹ֫רֶתqeţôreth · incenseH7004
- thereon, and offeredקָרַבqârab · to present: bringH7126
- strangeזוּרzûr · be a strangerH2114
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- which he commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
Cross-references for Leviticus 10:1
- Leviticus 16:1The Lord spoke to Moses after Aaron’s two sons had come into the Lord’s presence and died.
- Leviticus 22:9The priests must do what I order, or their sin will bring them death because they dishonored a holy offering. I am the Lord, who sets them apart as holy.
- Exodus 6:23Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon. She gave birth to Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
- Exodus 24:1The Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 of Israel’s leaders come up the mountain to me and worship at a distance.
- Exodus 28:1⌞The Lord continued,⌟ “Out of all the Israelites, bring your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar to you. They will serve me as priests.
- Numbers 3:3These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.
- Numbers 26:61But Nadab and Abihu had died because they offered unauthorized fire in the Lord’s presence.
- Leviticus 16:12He will take an incense burner full of burning coals from the altar, which is in the Lord’s presence, and two handfuls of finely ground, sweet-smelling incense. He will bring them up to the canopy.
- Exodus 27:3“Make all the utensils for it out of bronze: pots for taking away the altar’s ashes, also shovels, bowls, forks, and incense burners.
- Exodus 38:3He made all the utensils out of bronze: pots, shovels, bowls, forks, and incense burners.
- Numbers 16:6Korah, you and all your followers must do this tomorrow: Take incense burners,
- Hebrews 9:4It contained the gold incense burner and the ark of the Lord’s promise. The ark was completely covered with gold. In the ark were the gold jar filled with manna, Aaron’s staff that had blossomed, and the tablets on which the promise was written.
- Exodus 30:1⌞The Lord continued,⌟ “Build an altar out of acacia wood for burning incense.
- Exodus 31:11the anointing oil, and the sweet-smelling incense for the holy place. They will make all these things as I commanded you.”
- Exodus 37:29He also had a perfumer make the holy oil to be used for anointing and for the pure, sweet-smelling incense.
- Exodus 40:27He burned sweet-smelling incense on it, following the Lord’s instructions.
Commentaries on Leviticus 10:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1And Nadab and Abihu - took either of them his censer - The manner of burning incense in the temple service was, according to the Jews, as follows: - "One went and gathered the ashes from off the altar into a golden vessel, a second brought a vessel full of incense, and a third brought a censer with fire, and put coals on the altar, and he whose office it was to burn the incense strewed it on the fire at the command of the governor. At the same time all…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Nadab and Abihu - The two elder sons of Aaron Exodus 6:23; Numbers 3:2, who were among those invited to accompany Moses when he was going up Mount Sinai, but who were “to worship afar off,” and not “come near the Lord.” Exodus 24:1-2. Censer - See Exodus 25:38 note. Strange fire - The point of their offence is evidently expressed in this term. This may very probably mean that the incense was lighted at an unauthorized time. And we may reasonably unite…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The sin and death of Nadab and Abihu. (1-2) Aaron and his sons forbidden to mourn for Nadab and Abihu. (3-7) Wine forbidden to the priests when in the service of the tabernacle. (8-11) Of eating the holy things. (12-20) Verses 1-2 Next to Moses and Aaron, none were more likely to be honourable in Israel than Nadab and Abihu. There is reason to think that they were puffed up with pride, and that they were heated with wine. While the people were prostrate…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu (Exodus 6:23): These were Aaron's oldest sons who had gone with Moses and the seventy elders to Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:1, 9). They also saw the great theophany (appearance of God) there. They died without male children (see also Exodus 28:1; Numbers 3:2–4; 26:60–61; 1 Chronicles 6:3; 24:1–2). censers: These were fire pans or trays for holding hot coals. They sprinkled incense on them (Exodus 30:34–38; see also Leviticus…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-201. the sons of Aaron, &c.--If this incident occurred at the solemn period of the consecrating and dedicating the altar, these young men assumed an office which had been committed to Moses; or if it were some time after, it was an encroachment on duties which devolved on their father alone as the high priest. But the offense was of a far more aggravated nature than such a mere informality would imply. It consisted not only in their venturing unauthorized…Read the comment
Topics related to Leviticus 10:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Leviticus 10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- 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
Commentaries