Numbers 26:61
New International Version
But Nadab and Abihu died when they made an offering before the LORD with unauthorized fire.)

New Living Translation
But Nadab and Abihu died when they burned before the LORD the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded.

English Standard Version
But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.

King James Bible
And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

New King James Version
And Nadab and Abihu died when they offered profane fire before the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

NASB 1995
But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

NASB 1977
But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
But Nadab and Abihu died [in the presence of God] when they offered [in their ceremonial censers] strange [unholy, unacceptable, unauthorized] fire before the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
but Nadab and Abihu died when they presented unauthorized fire before the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
but Nadab and Abihu died when they presented unauthorized fire before the LORD.

American Standard Version
And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
But Nadab and Abihu had died when they offered fire that was unacceptable to the LORD.

English Revised Version
And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Nadab and Abihu had died because they offered unauthorized fire in the LORD's presence.

Good News Translation
Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unholy fire to the LORD.

International Standard Version
But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire in the LORD's presence.

Majority Standard Bible
but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.

NET Bible
But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

World English Bible
Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Nadab dies—Abihu also—in their bringing strange fire near before YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
and Nadab dieth -- Abihu also -- in their bringing near strange fire before Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Nadab will die, and Abihu, in their bringing near strange fire before Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Of whom Nadab and Abiu died, when they had offered the strange fire before the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Of these, Nadab and Abihu died, when they had offered strange fire before the Lord.

New American Bible
But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unholy fire before the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Nadab and Abihu died when they brought strange fire before LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Nadab and Abiud died when they offered strange fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sina.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Levites Numbered
60Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were born to Aaron, 61but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD. 62The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.…

Cross References
Leviticus 10:1-2
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. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.

Exodus 6:23
And Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

1 Chronicles 24:1-2
These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. / But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

Leviticus 16:1
Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the LORD.

Hebrews 7:11-12
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? / For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

1 Samuel 2:28
And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites.

Exodus 28:1
“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.

Hebrews 5:1-4
Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. / He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness. / That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. ...

1 Chronicles 6:3
The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Exodus 29:9
Wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons and tie headbands on them. The priesthood shall be theirs by a permanent statute. In this way you are to ordain Aaron and his sons.

Hebrews 9:6-7
When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. / But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

1 Kings 2:27
So Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and thus fulfilled the word that the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli.

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.

Hebrews 10:11
Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

1 Chronicles 9:19
Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives from the Korahites were assigned to guard the thresholds of the Tent, just as their fathers had been assigned to guard the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

those that

Numbers 1:49
Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

Numbers 3:39
All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

Numbers 4:27,48
At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens…

they were not

Numbers 1:49
Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

because

Numbers 18:20-24
And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel…

Numbers 35:2-8
Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them…

Deuteronomy 10:9
Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.

Jump to Previous
Abihu Abi'hu Death Died Dieth Offered Offering Overtook Presented Strange Unauthorized Unholy
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Abihu Abi'hu Death Died Dieth Offered Offering Overtook Presented Strange Unauthorized Unholy
Numbers 26
1. The sum of all Israel is taken in the plains of Moab
52. The law of dividing among them the inheritance of the land
57. The families and number of the Levites
63. None but Caleb and Joshua was left of those who were numbered at Sinai














but Nadab and Abihu died
Nadab and Abihu were the sons of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel. Their deaths are recorded in Leviticus 10:1-2, where they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD. This event underscores the seriousness of approaching God with reverence and obedience. Their deaths serve as a warning about the consequences of disobedience and the holiness required in worship. The incident highlights the importance of following God's commands precisely, as deviation can lead to severe consequences.

when they offered unauthorized fire
The "unauthorized fire" refers to an offering that was not commanded by God. In the context of the Levitical priesthood, specific instructions were given for offerings and sacrifices. Nadab and Abihu's actions were a direct violation of these instructions, demonstrating a lack of respect for God's holiness and authority. This act of presumption is often seen as a symbol of human attempts to approach God on their own terms, rather than His. The incident emphasizes the need for adherence to divine instructions in worship practices.

before the LORD
The phrase "before the LORD" indicates the presence of God, particularly in the tabernacle, where His glory dwelt among the Israelites. This setting underscores the gravity of Nadab and Abihu's actions, as they were performed in the direct presence of God. The tabernacle was a sacred space, and any act of disobedience there was especially egregious. This phrase also serves as a reminder of God's omnipresence and the need for holiness in His presence, a theme that runs throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament to the New Testament teachings on the holiness of God and the reverence due to Him.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Nadab and Abihu
Sons of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel. They were consecrated as priests but died because they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, an act of disobedience and irreverence.

2. Aaron
The brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. He was the father of Nadab and Abihu and played a significant role in leading the Israelites in worship and sacrifices.

3. Unauthorized Fire
This refers to the offering made by Nadab and Abihu that was not commanded by God. It symbolizes disobedience and a lack of reverence for God's holiness and instructions.

4. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is holy and requires His people to approach Him with reverence and obedience.

5. The Tabernacle
The place where the Israelites worshiped God and where the priests performed their duties. It was the center of Israelite worship and the place where God's presence dwelled among His people.
Teaching Points
Reverence for God's Holiness
God's holiness demands that we approach Him with reverence and obedience. Nadab and Abihu's account serves as a warning against casual or irreverent worship.

Obedience to God's Commands
The importance of adhering to God's instructions is paramount. Disobedience, especially in worship, can have severe consequences.

The Role of Leadership in Worship
As leaders in worship, priests (and by extension, church leaders today) have a responsibility to model obedience and reverence in their service to God.

The Seriousness of Sin
Sin, especially in the context of worship, is taken seriously by God. It is crucial to understand the gravity of sin and its impact on our relationship with God.

God's Grace and Mercy
While this passage highlights judgment, it also points us to the need for God's grace and mercy, which are fully realized in Jesus Christ, our High Priest.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

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

died
וַיָּ֥מָת (way·yā·māṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

when they offered
בְּהַקְרִיבָ֥ם (bə·haq·rî·ḇām)
Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

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

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

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

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


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OT Law: Numbers 26:61 Nadab and Abihu died when they offered (Nu Num.)
Numbers 26:60
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