1 Chronicles 13 10

1 Chronicles 13:10 kjv

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.

1 Chronicles 13:10 nkjv

Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.

1 Chronicles 13:10 niv

The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

1 Chronicles 13:10 esv

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.

1 Chronicles 13:10 nlt

Then the LORD's anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.

1 Chronicles 13 verses

1 Chronicles 13 10 Meaning

This verse recounts the immediate divine judgment upon Uzzah. As the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's holy presence, was being transported, it swayed, and Uzzah reached out to steady it. Despite his apparent good intention, his action directly violated God's explicit commands concerning the Ark's handling, as only appointed Levites were to carry it by poles, and touching it was forbidden to preserve God's awesome holiness. The Lord's anger flared, and Uzzah was struck down on the spot, dying before the very presence of God, signifying the terrifying nature of unaddressed sin and disregard for divine ordinance in the presence of a holy God.

1 Chronicles 13 10 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 13 details David's first attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant, God's sacred dwelling place among His people, back to Jerusalem. After consulting with his leaders, David gathers all Israel to Kirjath-jearim, where the Ark had remained since its capture by the Philistines. Ignoring the specific divine instructions laid out in the Law regarding the Ark's transport (that it should be carried by poles on the shoulders of Kohathite Levites), David arranges for the Ark to be placed on a new cart, drawn by oxen, an adaptation perhaps influenced by Philistine practice (1 Sam 6). As they proceed with great celebration, the oxen stumble at the threshing floor of Chidon. Uzzah, one of the two men leading the cart, instinctively reaches out to steady the Ark. Verse 10 immediately describes the devastating consequence of this act, demonstrating God's unwavering standard of holiness and the severe repercussions of treating sacred things irreverently, even with seemingly good intentions. This event serves as a powerful reminder of God's majesty and man's responsibility to adhere to His revealed will.

1 Chronicles 13 10 Word analysis

• And the anger: The Hebrew word for anger is "aph" (אַף), often referring to a nose or nostril, indicating the flaring of nostrils in wrath, or intense displeasure. This is not human capriciousness but divine, righteous indignation at the desecration of His holiness and the disregard for His specific commands regarding the sacred Ark.

• of the LORD: "LORD" is the divine name YHWH (Yahweh), emphasizing the personal, covenantal God of Israel. It is His holiness that is affronted, and He is the supreme authority delivering the judgment.

• was kindled: From the Hebrew verb "charah" (חָרָה), meaning "to burn," "be hot," or "grow warm with anger." It describes a sudden, intense combustion of divine wrath, not a slow simmer, highlighting the immediacy and ferocity of the judgment.

• against Uzzah: Uzzah (עֻזָּא) means "my strength." The irony is stark: his supposed "strength" in stabilizing the Ark met God's ultimate strength in judgment. This highlights that no human strength or perceived good intention can substitute for obedience to divine command.

• and he struck him down: The Hebrew verb "nakah" (נָכָה) means "to strike," "smite," or "slay." This is a direct act of God, an immediate execution of divine justice. There was no mediator, no delay, underscoring the severity and directness of God's response.

• because he put out his hand: The Hebrew phrase is "vayishlach yado" (וַיִּשְׁלַח יָדוֹ), "and he sent forth his hand." This indicates an intentional, if perhaps impulsive, physical act of touching the Ark. It directly violates explicit commands in the Law (Num 4:15, 18-20) which strictly forbade even Kohathites, the appointed Ark-bearers, from touching it. The consequence of death was already prescribed for such an act. This act demonstrated a lack of holy reverence for the Ark, a treating of God's presence as common.

• to the ark: The Hebrew word is "aron" (אָרוֹן), specifically the Ark of the Covenant, the holiest object in Israel, representing God's throne and presence. It contained the Law, manna, and Aaron's rod, symbols of God's covenant, provision, and authority. Its extreme holiness meant it was to be approached with meticulous reverence, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty.

• and there he died: His death was instantaneous and in that exact location, the "threshing floor of Chidon" (or Nachon, as in 2 Sam 6:6).

• before the LORD: "Lifney Yahweh" (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה) means "in the face of the LORD" or "in the presence of the LORD." This emphasizes that the judgment occurred under the direct observation and immediate intervention of God Himself, where His glorious presence was most directly manifested. This underscores the inescapable nature of God's holiness and justice.

• "And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah": This phrase introduces the divine displeasure, marking it as a righteous, blazing wrath originating directly from the Holy God in response to an offense against His explicit instructions and holiness.

• "and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark": This links the divine action (struck him down) directly to Uzzah's specific act of disobedience (touching the Ark). It underscores the principle of immediate consequence for transgressing God's direct commands concerning sacred objects and spaces.

• "and there he died before the LORD": This emphasizes the location and the witness to Uzzah's demise. His death was public, immediate, and in the very presence of God's manifested holiness, serving as a terrifying object lesson for all who witnessed it and for subsequent generations regarding the fear of the Lord.

1 Chronicles 13 10 Bonus section

The immediate judgment on Uzzah served as a critical teaching moment for King David and the entire nation, reminding them that while they celebrated the Ark's return, God's ways must be meticulously followed, not improvised upon. David learned a crucial lesson here about seeking God's will and performing worship "according to the due order" (1 Chr 15:13), leading to the correct, Levite-shoulder-borne transport in his second attempt. The tragedy of Uzzah highlights a common Old Testament theme where well-meaning individuals faced divine wrath for crossing established holy boundaries (e.g., Nadab and Abihu in Lev 10). This incident emphasizes the gap between human reasoning (which might deem steadying the Ark as helpful) and divine law (which prioritizes obedience and reverence for holiness above all). It reveals a polemic against common human thinking, asserting that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than man’s and must be submitted to. The very idea of the "fear of the LORD" is foundational, a profound respect for God's power, purity, and sovereignty.

1 Chronicles 13 10 Commentary

1 Chronicles 13:10 is a chilling account of divine judgment that underscores the profound holiness of God and the absolute necessity of adhering to His revealed will. Uzzah’s death was not an arbitrary act but the direct consequence of violating God's specific commands concerning the Ark of the Covenant's handling (Numbers 4:15). Though his intention may have seemed benign – to prevent the Ark from falling – it displayed a fatal disregard for the sacred protocols God had established.

This event vividly demonstrates several theological truths. First, God's holiness is absolute and uncompromisable. The Ark represented His tangible presence, and touching it, for anyone not authorized by His Law, constituted a direct affront to His sanctity. Second, God's commands are not suggestions; they are divine mandates given for the preservation of life and the order of worship. Human "good intentions" cannot supersede divine revelation. Third, divine judgment is real and immediate in the Old Testament, serving as a stern warning against treating holy things as common. This served as a vital lesson for David and all of Israel: proximity to God's holiness demands purity and obedience, not casual familiarity. Uzzah's death reinforced the fear of the Lord, demonstrating that reverence and strict obedience were prerequisites for engaging with a holy God.

Practical usage today:

• Respect God's Word and do not casually disregard His teachings.
• Approach worship and service with reverence, not presuming upon God's grace.
• Understand that God's holiness demands our obedience, though Christ now grants access through grace.