Lexical Summary Abihu: Abihu Original Word: אֲבִיהוּא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Abihu From 'ab and huw'; father (i.e. Worshipper) of Him (i.e. God); Abihu, a son of Aaron -- Abihu. see HEBREW 'ab see HEBREW huw' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ab and hu Definition "he is father," a son of Aaron NASB Translation Abihu (12). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲבִיהוּא proper name, masculine (he is father) a son of Aaron Exodus 6:23; Exodus 24:1,9; Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 10:1 7t. Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning Abihu (“He is my father” or “My father is He”) appears twelve times in the Old Testament and is always identified as the second-born son of Aaron and Elisheba (Exodus 6:23). Genealogical Placement • Father: Aaron, the first high priest of Israel Abihu and Nadab are grouped together in all genealogical lists (Numbers 3:2; 1 Chronicles 6:3; 1 Chronicles 24:1). Priestly Calling and Early Service Abihu was designated for priestly ministry from the outset. Exodus 28:1 records the divine call: “Bring near to you your brother Aaron and his sons with him—Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar—so that they may minister as priests to Me.” Prior to their formal consecration, Abihu and his brother were privileged to ascend Sinai with Moses, Aaron, and the elders: “Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel” (Exodus 24:9-10). This extraordinary experience underscored their responsibility to minister in holiness. The Sin of “Strange Fire” Leviticus 10:1-2 recounts the defining event of Abihu’s life: “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his own censer, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them to offer. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.” The phrase “unauthorized fire” (ʾēš zārâ) indicates self-willed worship that disregarded the specific divine ordinance that altar fire be taken from the altar of burnt offering (compare Leviticus 6:12-13). Their act occurred immediately after the inaugural tabernacle service (Leviticus 9), highlighting the gravity of departing from God’s revealed pattern at the very outset of Israel’s corporate worship. Immediate Consequences 1. Death by divine fire demonstrated God’s holiness. Long-Term Theological Significance • Holiness of Worship: Abihu’s fate established a permanent standard that acceptable worship must align with explicit divine revelation. Liturgical and Legal Aftermath Numbers 3 and 4 reorganize Levitical duties, assigning Kohathites the care of holy objects; Leviticus 16 underscores the need for Aaron to enter the Most Holy Place “at the proper time” and “with blood,” all in view of the precedent set by Nadab and Abihu’s unauthorized entry. The chronicler (1 Chronicles 24:1-2) again notes their death “before the LORD” as the rationale for the subsequent twenty-four priestly divisions. Typological Reflection The consuming fire that judged Abihu anticipates the cross where judgment fell upon the sinless Substitute. The difference is profound: Christ offered Himself “once for all” according to the Father’s command, satisfying divine holiness rather than violating it (Hebrews 10:10-14). Practical Lessons for Believers • Sound worship must be regulated by Scripture, not personal preference. Abihu, though mentioned only a dozen times, serves as a lasting witness to the seriousness with which God regards His worship and the necessity of coming to Him on His terms alone. Forms and Transliterations אֲבִיה֑וּא אֲבִיה֔וּא אביהוא וַאֲבִיה֑וּא וַאֲבִיה֔וּא וַאֲבִיה֕וּא וַאֲבִיה֛וּא וַאֲבִיה֜וּא וַאֲבִיה֣וּא וַאֲבִיהוּא֙ ואביהוא ’ă·ḇî·hū ’ăḇîhū aviHu vaaviHu wa’ăḇîhū wa·’ă·ḇî·hūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 6:23 HEB: נָדָב֙ וְאֶת־ אֲבִיה֔וּא אֶת־ אֶלְעָזָ֖ר NAS: him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar KJV: him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, INT: bore Nadab and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar Exodus 24:1 Exodus 24:9 Exodus 28:1 Leviticus 10:1 Numbers 3:2 Numbers 3:4 Numbers 26:60 Numbers 26:61 1 Chronicles 6:3 1 Chronicles 24:1 1 Chronicles 24:2 12 Occurrences |
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