Leviticus 10:1
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command.

King James Bible
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 King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on the fire and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.

NASB 1995
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.

NASB 1977
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans and put fire in them. Then they placed incense on it and offered strange fire before Yahweh, which He had not commanded them.

Amplified Bible
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective [ceremonial] censers, put fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange (unauthorized, unacceptable) fire before the LORD, [an act] which He had not commanded them to do.

Christian Standard Bible
Aaron’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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Aaron’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.

American Standard Version
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them.

Contemporary English Version
Nadab and Abihu were two of Aaron's sons, but they disobeyed the LORD by burning incense to him on a fire pan, when they were not supposed to.

English Revised Version
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his fire pan, put live coals in it, added incense, and presented it to the LORD. But this fire was not holy, because the LORD had not commanded them to present it.

International Standard Version
Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own censer, placed fire in it, covered it with incense, and brought it into the LORD's presence as unauthorized fire that he had never prescribed for them.

Majority Standard Bible
Now Aaron?s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command.

NET Bible
Then Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his fire pan and put fire in it, set incense on it, and presented strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them to do.

New Heart English Bible
And the two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, each took his censer and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

World English Bible
Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, each take his censer, and put fire in them, and put incense on it, and bring strange fire near before YHWH, which He has not commanded them;

Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, take each his censer, and put in them fire, and put on it perfume, and bring near before Jehovah strange fire, which He hath not commanded them;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, will take each his censer, and give in them fire, and put upon it incense, and bring before Jehovah strange fire, which he commanded them not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Nadab and Abiu, the sons of Aaron, taking their censers, put fire therein, and incense on it, offering before the Lord strange fire: which was not commanded them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, picking up their censers, placed fire in them and incense upon them, offering in the sight of the Lord a strange fire, such as was not instructed of them.

New American Bible
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers and, putting incense on the fire they had set in them, they offered before the LORD unauthorized fire, such as he had not commanded.

New Revised Standard Version
Now Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his censer, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered unholy fire before the LORD, such as he had not commanded them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
AND Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire therein and laid incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, not at its appointed time, and not as he had commanded them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the sons of Ahron, Nadab and Abihu, took each man his censer and they placed fire in them and they placed incense in them and brought strange fire before LORD JEHOVAH, which He had not commanded them at that time.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abiud, took each his censer, and put fire therein, and threw incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which the Lord did not command them,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sin of Nadab and Abihu
1Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. 2So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.…

Cross References
Numbers 3:4
Nadab and Abihu, however, died in the presence of the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai. And since they had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

Numbers 26:61
but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.

Exodus 30:9
On this altar you must not offer unauthorized incense or a burnt offering or grain offering; nor are you to pour a drink offering on it.

Exodus 30:34-38
The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures, / and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. / Grind some of it into fine powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. ...

Exodus 24:1
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance.

Exodus 24:9-11
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, / and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. / But God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank.

1 Chronicles 24:2
But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

2 Chronicles 26:16-21
But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. / Then Azariah the priest, along with eighty brave priests of the LORD, went in after him. / They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.” ...

Deuteronomy 4:2
You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.

Deuteronomy 17:3
and going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven—which I have forbidden—

1 Samuel 2:12-17
Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD / or for the custom of the priests with the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling / and plunge it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. And the priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. ...

1 Kings 13:1-5
Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD. / And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, “O altar, O altar, this is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and upon you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and human bones will be burned upon you.’” / That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, “The LORD has spoken this sign: ‘Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.’” ...

Isaiah 1:11-15
“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. / When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts? / Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. ...

Jeremiah 7:31
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.

Ezekiel 22:26
Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Nadab

Leviticus 16:1
And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;

Leviticus 22:9
They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the LORD do sanctify them.

Exodus 6:23
And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

censer

Leviticus 16:12
And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:

Exodus 27:3
And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.

Exodus 38:3
And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basons, and the fleshhooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass.

put incense

Exodus 30:1-9,34-36
And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it…

Exodus 31:11
And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

Exodus 37:29
And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.

strange

Leviticus 9:24
And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Leviticus 16:12
And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:

Numbers 16:18,46
And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron…

which

Exodus 30:9
Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.

Deuteronomy 4:2
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 12:32
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Jump to Previous
Aaron Abihu Abi'hu Added Censer Censers Command Commanded Contrary Either Fire Firepans Incense Laid Nadab Offered Orders Perfume Placed Putting Strange Therein Thereon Unauthorized Unholy Vessels
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Aaron Abihu Abi'hu Added Censer Censers Command Commanded Contrary Either Fire Firepans Incense Laid Nadab Offered Orders Perfume Placed Putting Strange Therein Thereon Unauthorized Unholy Vessels
Leviticus 10
1. Aadab and Abihu, for offering strange fire, are burnt by fire
6. Aaron and his sons are forbidden to mourn for them
8. The priests are forbidden wine when they are to go into the tabernacle
12. The law of eating the holy things
16. Aaron's excuse for transgressing thereof














Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu
The mention of "Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu" immediately sets the stage for a significant event in the priestly lineage. Nadab and Abihu were the eldest sons of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel, and nephews of Moses. Their position was one of great privilege and responsibility, as they were part of the priestly family chosen to serve in the tabernacle. Historically, the priesthood was a sacred office, and those who held it were expected to adhere strictly to God’s commands. The Hebrew names "Nadab" and "Abihu" mean "generous" and "he is my father," respectively, which may reflect the expectations placed upon them as leaders and representatives of the people before God.

took their censers
The "censers" were vessels used to hold burning coals and incense, integral to the worship practices in the tabernacle. In the Hebrew context, the censer (מַחְתָּה, "machtah") was a tool of mediation between the divine and the human, symbolizing the prayers of the people rising to God. The act of taking their censers indicates a deliberate action, suggesting that Nadab and Abihu were fully aware of their actions and the sacredness of the items they were handling.

put fire in them and added incense
The process of putting "fire in them and added incense" was a ritual act meant to create a fragrant offering to the Lord. In the ancient Near Eastern context, incense was often used in religious ceremonies to symbolize the presence of the divine and to purify the space. The Hebrew word for incense, קְטֹרֶת ("qetoreth"), is associated with the idea of a pleasing aroma, which was meant to be acceptable to God. This act was supposed to be done according to specific divine instructions, highlighting the importance of obedience in worship.

and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD
The phrase "unauthorized fire" (אֵשׁ זָרָה, "esh zarah") is critical in understanding the gravity of Nadab and Abihu's actions. The term "unauthorized" implies that the fire was not sanctioned by God, suggesting a deviation from the prescribed method of worship. In the conservative Christian perspective, this act represents a serious breach of divine command, emphasizing the holiness of God and the necessity of approaching Him with reverence and obedience. The "fire" symbolizes the presence and power of God, and offering it in an unauthorized manner was a direct affront to His holiness.

contrary to His command
The phrase "contrary to His command" underscores the disobedience of Nadab and Abihu. In the Hebrew text, the word for "command" (צִוָּה, "tzivah") conveys the idea of a direct order or decree from God. This highlights the importance of following God's instructions precisely, as they are expressions of His will and character. The historical context of Leviticus is one of establishing a covenant relationship between God and His people, where obedience to His commands was paramount. This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disregarding God's holiness and authority.

X.

(1) And Nadab and Abihu.--Immediately after the Divine manifestation of God's acceptance of the services connected with the institution of the priesthood, and whilst the congregation are still giving utterance to their profound expressions of thankfulness and joy, the assembled people see a most daring act of sacrilege committed by two of the five newly-installed priests, and have to witness the most awful punishment which befals the offenders. The offenders are the two eldest sons of Aaron, who had received the high distinction to be invited to accompany their father and Moses to the summit of the hallowed mount (Exodus 24:1); the lesson to the Israelites being that the priests, though mediators between God and the people, are beset with the same infirmities as the laity, and must not presume upon their office.

Took either of them his censer.--The sin of Nadab and Abihu was of a complicated nature, and involved and consisted of several transgressions:--(1) They each took his own censer, and not the sacred utensil of the sanctuary. (2) They both offered it together, whereas the incense was only to be offered by one. (3) They presumptuously encroached upon the functions of the high priest; for according to the Law the high priest alone burnt incense in a censer. (Sec Leviticus 16:12-13; Numbers 17:11.) The ordinary priests only burnt it on the golden altar in the holy place (Exodus 30:7-8), or on the brazen altar as a part of the memorial. (See Leviticus 2:2-3; Leviticus 2:16, &c.) The case of Korah and his company was an exception, since it was ordered by Moses for an especial purpose (Numbers 16:6-25). (4) They offered the incense at an unauthorised time, since it was apart from the morning and evening sacrifice. . . .

Verse 1. - Nadab and Ahibu are said to have each taken his censer. This is the first time that the word used in the original is translated "censer." It means any vessel or pan that will hold embers or tinder (see Exodus 25:38; Exodus 37:23; Exodus 38:3). They put fire therein, and put incense thereon. No doubt they used the incense ordered in Exodus 30:34. They are not found fault with for the incense, but for the fire that they used. They offered strange fire, that is, fire not taken from the altar of burnt offering, which they might have feared to approach after the miracle that had occurred. In chapter Leviticus 16:12 it is ordered that, on the Day of Atonement, the incense fire should be taken from the brazen altar, and this was no doubt the rule on all occasions, though the law has not been recorded.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now Aaron’s
אַ֠הֲרֹן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

sons
בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

Nadab
נָדָ֨ב (nā·ḏāḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5070: Nadab -- an Israelite name

and Abihu
וַאֲבִיה֜וּא (wa·’ă·ḇî·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 30: Abihu -- 'he is father', a son of Aaron

took
וַיִּקְח֣וּ (way·yiq·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

their censers,
מַחְתָּת֗וֹ (maḥ·tā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4289: A fireholder, censer, snuff dish

put
וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ (way·yit·tə·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

fire
אֵ֔שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

in them,
בָהֵן֙ (ḇā·hên)
Preposition-b | Pronoun - third person feminine plural
Strong's 2004: They

placed
וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ (way·yā·śî·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

incense
קְטֹ֑רֶת (qə·ṭō·reṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7004: Smoke, odor of (burning) sacrifice, incense

on them,
עָלֶ֖יהָ (‘ā·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and offered
וַיַּקְרִ֜בוּ (way·yaq·ri·ḇū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

unauthorized
זָרָ֔ה (zā·rāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2114: To turn aside, to be a, foreigner, strange, profane, to commit adultery

fire
אֵ֣שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

before
לִפְנֵ֤י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD,
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

contrary to
לֹ֦א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

His command.
צִוָּ֖ה (ṣiw·wāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order


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OT Law: Leviticus 10:1 Nadab and Abihu the sons of Aaron (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 9:24
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