Leviticus 16:1
New International Version
The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the LORD.

New Living Translation
The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron’s two sons, who died after they entered the LORD’s presence and burned the wrong kind of fire before him.

English Standard Version
The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died,

Berean Standard Bible
Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the LORD.

King James Bible
And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;

New King James Version
Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered profane fire before the LORD, and died;

New American Standard Bible
Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they had approached the presence of the LORD and died.

NASB 1995
Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they had approached the presence of the LORD and died.

NASB 1977
Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they had approached the presence of the LORD and died.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Yahweh spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they came near the presence of Yahweh and died.

Amplified Bible
Then the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who had died when they [irreverently] approached the presence of the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the LORD and died.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the LORD and died.

American Standard Version
And Jehovah spake unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before Jehovah, and died;

English Revised Version
And the LORD spake unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD, and died;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD spoke to Moses after Aaron's two sons had come into the LORD's presence and died.

Good News Translation
The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who were killed when they offered unholy fire to the LORD.

International Standard Version
The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron's two sons when they had approached the LORD and died.

Majority Standard Bible
Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the LORD.

NET Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron's two sons when they approached the presence of the LORD and died,

New Heart English Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD, and died;

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died:

World English Bible
Yahweh spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they came near before Yahweh, and died;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH speaks to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, in their drawing near before YHWH, and they die;

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, in their drawing near before Jehovah, and they die;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will speak to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, in their bringing near before Jehovah, and they shall die.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord spoke to Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they were slain upon their offering strange fire:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord spoke to Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they were destroyed for offering strange fire.

New American Bible
After the death of Aaron’s two sons, who died when they encroached on the LORD’s presence, the LORD spoke to Moses

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
AND the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered strange fire before the LORD and died;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH spoke with Moshe after both the sons of Ahron died, when they offered alien fire before LORD JEHOVAH, and they died;
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD, and died;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and the Lord spoke to Moses after the two sons of Aaron died in bringing strange fire before the Lord, so they died.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Law of Atonement
1Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the LORD. 2And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.…

Cross References
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.

Exodus 30:10
Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.”

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 18:7
But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

Hebrews 9:7
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.

Hebrews 9:25
Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.

Hebrews 10:19-20
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, / by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,

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. ...

Hebrews 7:27
Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

Hebrews 8:3
And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.

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.

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.” ...

Ezekiel 44:27
And on the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he must present his sin offering, declares the Lord GOD.

Matthew 27:51
At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split.

Mark 15:38
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;

Leviticus 10:1,2
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…

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Aaron Approached Death Die Died Drawing Drew Fire Moses Offered Overtook Presence Strange
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Aaron Approached Death Die Died Drawing Drew Fire Moses Offered Overtook Presence Strange
Leviticus 16
1. how the high priest must enter into the holy place
11. The sin offering for himself
15. The sin offering for the people
20. The scapegoat
29. The yearly feast of the expiations














Now the LORD spoke
This phrase emphasizes the direct communication between God and Moses, a recurring theme throughout the Pentateuch. The Hebrew word for "spoke" is דִּבֶּר (dibber), which implies a formal and authoritative communication. This underscores the gravity and divine authority of the instructions that follow. In the conservative Christian perspective, this highlights the importance of God's Word as the ultimate guide for faith and practice.

to Moses
Moses is the central human figure in the Pentateuch, serving as the mediator between God and the Israelites. His role as a prophet and leader is crucial, as he conveys God's laws and instructions to the people. The mention of Moses here reinforces his unique position and responsibility in guiding the Israelites according to God's will.

after the death of the two sons of Aaron
This phrase sets the context for the instructions that follow, linking them to a specific historical event. The death of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, is recounted in Leviticus 10:1-2, where they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD. This tragic event serves as a sobering reminder of the holiness of God and the seriousness of approaching Him in worship. It underscores the need for reverence and obedience in the presence of God.

who died when they approached the presence of the LORD
The phrase "approached the presence of the LORD" refers to the act of coming near to God, particularly in the context of worship and sacrifice. The Hebrew word for "presence" is פָּנִים (panim), often translated as "face," indicating a direct encounter with God's holiness. The conservative Christian perspective views this as a powerful reminder of the need for purity and proper preparation when entering into God's presence. It highlights the seriousness of worship and the necessity of following God's prescribed ways, as later detailed in the Day of Atonement rituals in Leviticus 16. This serves as a foreshadowing of the ultimate atonement through Jesus Christ, who provides the way for believers to approach God with confidence.

XVI.

(1) And the Lord spake unto Moses.--As the observance of the minute regulations given in the preceding chapters about the daily sacrifices and purifications would necessarily be tainted with many imperfections and shortcomings, both on the part of the mediating priests and the offering laity, a general day of atonement is here instituted, when priest and people are alike to obtain atonement once a year for the sins which were mixed up even with their sacred worship. The day of atonement enacted in the chapter before us is therefore an appropriate conclusion of the laws of purification in the preceding chapters. It is an annual supplement and completion of all the ordinances which were daily practised, and the design of which was to obtain atonement and reconciliation.

After the death of the two sons of Aaron.--That is, after Nadab and Abihu, his two eldest sons, had died, in consequence of having presumptuously entered the sanctuary in a profane manner, and at an irregular time. (See Leviticus 10:1-2.)

PART III.

SECTION II.

CHAPTER 16. THE CEREMONIAL PURIFICATION OF THE WHOLE CONGREGATION ON THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. This chapter, containing the account of the institution of the ceremonial to be used on the Day of Atonement, would take its place chronologically immediately after the tenth chapter, for the instructions conveyed in it were delivered to Moses "after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord and died" (verse 1), when the fate of Nadab and Abihu would naturally have led Aaron to desire a more perfect knowledge than had as yet been imparted to him as to the manner in which he was to present himself before the Lord. Logically it might either occupy its present position, as being the great and culminating atoning and cleansing ceremony, or it might be relegated to a place among the holy days in chapter 23, where it is, in fact, shortly noticed. That it is placed here shows that the most essential characteristic of the Day in the judgment of the legislator is that of its serving as the occasion and the means of "making an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and making an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and for making an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation" (verse 33). Annually there gathered over the camp, and over the sanctuary as situated in the midst of the camp, a mass of defilement, arising in part from sins whose guilt had not been removed by the punishment of the offenders, and in part from uncleannesses which had not been cleansed by sacrifices and the prescribed ceremonial rites. Annually this defilement had to be atoned for or covered away from the sight of God. This was done by the solemn observance of the great Day of Atonement, and specially by the high priest's carrying the blood of the sacrifices into the holy of holies, into which he might enter on no other day of the year; while the consciousness of deliverance from the guilt of sin was quickened on the part of the people by their seeing the scapegoat "bear away upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited" (verse 22).

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

spoke
וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֔ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

after
אַחֲרֵ֣י (’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

the death
מ֔וֹת (mō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

of two
שְׁנֵ֖י (šə·nê)
Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

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

sons
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

when they approached
בְּקָרְבָתָ֥ם (bə·qā·rə·ḇā·ṯām)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

the presence
לִפְנֵי־ (lip̄·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

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


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OT Law: Leviticus 16:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses after the death (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 15:33
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