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.

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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
Nadab and Abihu were the eldest sons of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel, and nephews of Moses. Their names are significant in Hebrew: Nadab means "generous" or "noble," and Abihu means "he is my father." These names suggest a heritage of leadership and responsibility. However, their actions, as recorded in this verse, remind us that lineage and position do not guarantee righteousness or favor with God. This serves as a cautionary tale that spiritual integrity and obedience are paramount, regardless of one's heritage or status.

died
The Hebrew word used here is "mût," which is a common term for death in the Old Testament. The death of Nadab and Abihu was not a natural one but a direct consequence of their actions. This emphasizes the seriousness of their offense and the holiness of God. In the context of the Israelite community, their death served as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of reverence for God's commands.

when they offered unauthorized fire
The phrase "unauthorized fire" is translated from the Hebrew "esh zarah," which literally means "strange fire." This indicates that Nadab and Abihu acted outside the boundaries of what God had prescribed for worship. The specific nature of their transgression is not detailed, but it is clear that they deviated from God's instructions. This highlights the importance of adhering to divine instructions and the dangers of presumption in worship. It serves as a reminder that worship must be conducted according to God's standards, not human innovation or convenience.

before the LORD
The phrase "before the LORD" underscores the presence and holiness of God. In the Hebrew context, this phrase often signifies the immediate presence of God, particularly in the tabernacle or temple. Nadab and Abihu's actions were not just a violation of ritual but a direct affront to God's holiness. This reminds us that all actions, especially those related to worship, are performed in the sight of God, who is holy and just. It calls believers to a higher standard of reverence and obedience in their relationship with God.

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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