Leviticus 10:9
New International Version
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come,

New Living Translation
“You and your descendants must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink before going into the Tabernacle. If you do, you will die. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation.

English Standard Version
“Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

Berean Standard Bible
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.

King James Bible
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

New King James Version
“Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations,

New American Standard Bible
“Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you do not die—it is a permanent statute throughout your generations—

NASB 1995
“Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die— it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations—

NASB 1977
“Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you may not die—it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations—

Legacy Standard Bible
“Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die—it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations—

Amplified Bible
“Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the Tent of Meeting, so that you will not die—it is a permanent statute throughout your generations—

Christian Standard Bible
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or beer when you enter the tent of meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute throughout your generations.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You and your sons are not to drink wine or beer when you enter the tent of meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute throughout your generations.

American Standard Version
Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye die not: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

Contemporary English Version
When you or your sons enter the sacred tent, you must never drink beer or wine. If you do, you will die right there! This law will never change.

English Revised Version
Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye die not: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"You and your sons must not drink any wine or liquor when you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a permanent law for generations to come.

Good News Translation
"You and your sons are not to enter the Tent of my presence after drinking wine or beer; if you do, you will die. This is a law to be kept by all your descendants.

International Standard Version
"You and your sons with you are not to drink wine—that is, any intoxicating drink—when you enter the Tent of Meeting. That way, you won't die. This is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations.

Majority Standard Bible
?You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.

NET Bible
"Do not drink wine or strong drink, you and your sons with you, when you enter into the Meeting Tent, so that you do not die, which is a perpetual statute throughout your generations,

New Heart English Bible
"Drink no wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, that you do not die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations:

Webster's Bible Translation
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

World English Bible
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“You do not drink wine and strong drink, you and your sons with you, in your going into the Tent of Meeting, and you do not die—a continuous statute throughout your generations,

Young's Literal Translation
'Wine and strong drink thou dost not drink, thou, and thy sons with thee, in your going in unto the tent of meeting, and ye die not -- a statute age-during to your generations;

Smith's Literal Translation
Wine and strong drink thou shalt not drink, thou and thy sons with thee, in your going in to the tent of appointment; and ye shall not die: a law forever to your generations.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
You shall not drink wine nor any thing that may make drunk, thou nor thy sons, when you enter into the tabernacle of the testimony, lest you die: because it is an everlasting precept through your generations :

Catholic Public Domain Version
“You shall not drink wine, nor anything that is able to inebriate you or your sons, when you enter into the tabernacle of the testimony, lest you die. For it is an everlasting precept in your generations.

New American Bible
When you are to go to the tent of meeting, you and your sons are forbidden, by a perpetual statute throughout your generations, to drink any wine or strong drink, lest you die.

New Revised Standard Version
Drink no wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons, when you enter the tent of meeting, that you may not die; it is a statute forever throughout your generations.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die; it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“You and your sons with you shall not drink wine or strong drink whenever you enter the Time Tabernacle, lest you die; it is a covenant for a lifetime for your generations:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye die not; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Ye shall not drink wine nor strong drink, thou and thy sons with thee, whensoever ye enter into the tabernacle of witness, or when ye approach the altar, so shall ye not die; it is a perpetual statute for your generations,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Restrictions for Priests
8Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come. 10You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean,…

Cross References
Ezekiel 44:21
No priest may drink wine before he enters the inner court.

Numbers 6:3
he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins.

Proverbs 31:4-5
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, / lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.

Isaiah 28:7
These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.

1 Timothy 3:3
not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Titus 1:7
As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.

Luke 1:15
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

Judges 13:4
Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean.

Judges 13:7
But he said to me, ‘Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. Now, therefore, do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death.’”

Judges 13:14
She must not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor drink any wine or strong drink, nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her.”

Jeremiah 35:6
“We do not drink wine,” they replied, “for our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us, ‘Neither you nor your descendants are ever to drink wine.

Jeremiah 35:8
And we have obeyed the voice of our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab in all he commanded us. So we have not drunk wine all our lives—neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters.

Jeremiah 35:14
The words of Jonadab son of Rechab have been carried out. He commanded his sons not to drink wine, and they have not drunk it to this very day because they have obeyed the command of their forefather. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you have not obeyed Me!

Daniel 1:8
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.


Treasury of Scripture

Do not drink wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

Do not

Numbers 6:3,20
He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried…

Proverbs 31:4,5
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: …

Isaiah 28:7
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

strong drink.

it shall be

Leviticus 3:17
It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

Jump to Previous
Age-During Cause Congregation Death Die Drink Everlasting Fermented Forever Generations Meeting Order Ordinance Perpetual Statute Strong Tabernacle Tent Throughout Whenever Wine
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Age-During Cause Congregation Death Die Drink Everlasting Fermented Forever Generations Meeting Order Ordinance Perpetual Statute Strong Tabernacle Tent Throughout Whenever Wine
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














You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink
This command is directed to Aaron and his sons, the priests, emphasizing the importance of maintaining holiness and clarity of mind while performing sacred duties. The prohibition against wine or strong drink highlights the need for sobriety in worship and service to God. In the ancient Near East, intoxicating beverages were common, but the priests were to set themselves apart, reflecting God's holiness. This command underscores the principle of being set apart for God's service, a theme that runs throughout Leviticus.

when you enter the Tent of Meeting
The Tent of Meeting, also known as the Tabernacle, was the central place of worship for the Israelites during their wilderness journey. It was where God's presence dwelt among His people, and where the priests performed their duties. Entering the Tent of Meeting required a state of ritual purity and reverence, as it was a place of divine encounter. This phrase emphasizes the sacredness of the space and the need for the priests to approach it with utmost respect and preparedness.

or else you will die
This severe consequence underscores the seriousness of the command. The holiness of God and the sanctity of the Tabernacle required strict adherence to His instructions. The death of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, earlier in Leviticus 10 serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of disobedience and irreverence. This warning reflects the broader biblical principle that sin leads to death, as seen in Romans 6:23, and highlights the need for obedience to God's commands.

this is a permanent statute
The term "permanent statute" indicates that this command was not temporary but was to be observed continually by the priestly line. It reflects the enduring nature of God's requirements for holiness and the ongoing need for the priests to maintain a standard of conduct that honors God. This concept of a lasting ordinance is seen throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing the continuity of God's covenant with His people.

for the generations to come
This phrase extends the command beyond Aaron and his immediate sons to all future generations of priests. It highlights the importance of passing down God's instructions and maintaining the integrity of worship practices. This continuity is crucial for preserving the faith and ensuring that each generation understands and upholds the standards set by God. The idea of generational faithfulness is echoed in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, where parents are instructed to teach God's commands to their children.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Aaron
The first high priest of Israel, brother of Moses, and father of Nadab and Abihu.

2. Nadab and Abihu
Sons of Aaron who offered unauthorized fire before the Lord and were consumed by fire as a result.

3. Tent of Meeting
The portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites, where the priests performed their duties.

4. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, who conveyed God's laws and instructions to Aaron and the people.

5. Israelites
The chosen people of God, who were given the Law to follow as they journeyed to the Promised Land.
Teaching Points
Sobriety in Service
The command in Leviticus 10:9 emphasizes the need for sobriety when serving God. Just as priests were to be clear-minded in their duties, Christians today are called to be sober-minded in their spiritual walk.

Reverence for God's Presence
Entering the Tent of Meeting required a state of holiness and reverence. Believers are reminded to approach God with respect and purity, recognizing the seriousness of His presence.

Generational Obedience
The statute was to be observed by future generations, highlighting the importance of teaching and maintaining God's standards across time. Christians are encouraged to pass down godly principles to their children.

Consequences of Disobedience
The severe consequence of death for disobedience underscores the seriousness of God's commands. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual consequences of disregarding God's instructions.

Spiritual Readiness
Just as priests needed to be ready to serve, Christians are called to be spiritually prepared at all times, avoiding anything that might impair their ability to discern and act according to God's will.(9) Do not drink wine.--As the command that the priests are to abstain from any intoxicating liquors when performing their sacred functions follows so closely upon the death of Nadab and Abihu, the opinion obtained as early at least as the time of Christ that there is a connection between the specific sin and the general law, that the two sons of Aaron drank wine to excess when they offered strange fire, and that the present prohibition is based upon that circumstance. Accordingly, the Apostle enjoins that a bishop "must not be given to wine," that "deacons must not be given to much wine" (1Timothy 3:2-3). A similar law existed among the ancient Greeks and Persians, enjoining the priests to abstain from wine.

Nor strong drink.--The word (sh?ch?r) here rendered strong drink, is the general name of intoxicating drinks, whether made of wheat, barley, millet, apples, dates, honey, or other fruits. One of the four intoxicating drinks which are prohibited among the Mahommedans in India is called "Sachar."

When ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation.--Better, when ye go into the tent of meeting. The Palestinian Chaldee adds here, "as thy sons did who died by the burning fire." The same precept is repeated in Ezekiel 44:21, "Neither shall any priest drink wine when they enter into the inner court." The injunction that on these particular occasions the priests are to abstain from taking it clearly implies that, ordinarily, when not going into the tent of meeting--that is, when not performing their sacred functions in the sanctuary--they were not forbidden to use it if required.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“You
אַתָּ֣ה ׀ (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

and your sons
וּבָנֶ֣יךָ (ū·ḇā·ne·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

are not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

to drink
תֵּ֣שְׁתְּ ׀ (tê·šət)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

wine
יַ֣יִן (ya·yin)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication

or strong drink
וְשֵׁכָ֞ר (wə·šê·ḵār)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7941: An intoxicant, intensely alcoholic liquor

when you enter
בְּבֹאֲכֶ֛ם (bə·ḇō·’ă·ḵem)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the Tent
אֹ֥הֶל (’ō·hel)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 168: A tent

of Meeting,
מוֹעֵ֖ד (mō·w·‘êḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4150: Appointed time, place, or meeting

or else
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

you will die;
תָמֻ֑תוּ (ṯā·mu·ṯū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

this is a perpetual
עוֹלָ֖ם (‘ō·w·lām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

statute
חֻקַּ֥ת (ḥuq·qaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2708: Something prescribed, an enactment, statute

for the generations to come.
לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (lə·ḏō·rō·ṯê·ḵem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1755: A revolution of time, an age, generation, a dwelling


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OT Law: Leviticus 10:9 Drink no wine nor strong drink you (Le Lv Lev.)
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