Leviticus 10 3

Leviticus 10:3 kjv

Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Leviticus 10:3 nkjv

And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace.

Leviticus 10:3 niv

Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: "?'Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.'?" Aaron remained silent.

Leviticus 10:3 esv

Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD has said: 'Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.'" And Aaron held his peace.

Leviticus 10:3 nlt

Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD meant when he said, 'I will display my holiness
through those who come near me.
I will display my glory
before all the people.'"
And Aaron was silent.

Leviticus 10 verses

Leviticus 10 3 Meaning

Leviticus 10:3 serves as Moses’ inspired interpretation of the tragic death of Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron’s sons, who were consumed by divine fire for offering "unauthorized fire" to the LORD. This verse reveals a fundamental principle of divine-human interaction: God must be acknowledged and treated as holy, especially by those who are privileged to be near Him in service. His holiness demands proper reverence and obedience to His commands. Failure to do so, particularly by His chosen representatives, will result in His glorification, even if it must come through judgment, ensuring that all people recognize His majestic and set-apart nature.

Leviticus 10 3 Context

Leviticus 10:3 follows immediately after the detailed account of Aaron and his sons' consecration as priests in Leviticus 8, and their first acts of priestly ministry, including sacrifices for the people, in Leviticus 9. The glory of the LORD had descended and consumed the sacrifices, signifying divine approval (Lev 9:24). This moment of great triumph and divine acceptance was abruptly shattered when Aaron’s two eldest sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered "unauthorized fire" (אֵשׁ זָרָה, esh zarah), which the LORD "had not commanded them" (Lev 10:1). As a result, fire came forth from the LORD and consumed them, killing them instantly before the tabernacle (Lev 10:2). Moses' words in verse 3 serve as the divinely inspired explanation for this swift and terrifying judgment. It articulates that the prior expectation of holiness upon the priests was not a mere suggestion, but a profound and binding truth, now dramatically reinforced by judgment.

Leviticus 10 3 Word analysis

• "Then Moses said to Aaron,": This signifies Moses as God's mediator, communicating divine truth and the rationale behind the sudden tragedy. It places Moses in his unique prophetic role, interpreting God's actions.
• "This is what the LORD spoke, saying:": This phrase indicates that Moses is relaying a direct divine pronouncement, not his own opinion or comfort. It emphasizes the ultimate source of the principle, grounding it in God's immutable character and prior declarations, even if the precise words "Among those near me..." aren't found verbatim earlier. It clarifies that Nadab and Abihu's death was not arbitrary but a consequence of a pre-established divine standard.
• "Among those who are near to Me":
  • Original Hebrew: הַקְּרֹבִים (hak-kerovim).
  • Meaning: "the ones who are near" or "those drawing near."
  • Significance: This specifically refers to the priests, Aaron and his sons, who had a unique privilege of access to God’s immediate presence in the tabernacle. Their proximity carried a greater responsibility. The term emphasizes a consecrated closeness, implying intimate access to the divine which demands commensurate reverence. This is distinct from "all the people" who kept a distance.
• "I will be hallowed,":
  • Original Hebrew: אֶקָּדֵשׁ (ekkadesh).
  • Meaning: "I will be sanctified" or "I will show Myself holy."
  • Significance: Derived from the root קָדַשׁ (qadash), meaning "to be set apart," "sacred," or "holy." The verb is in the Niphal (passive or reflexive) stem, suggesting God Himself will bring about this hallowing, whether through His people's appropriate reverence, or, as in this case, by His own intervention and judgment upon them when His holiness is profaned. It indicates that God's holiness is non-negotiable and will be asserted.
• "and before all the people":
  • Significance: The divine demand for holiness is not merely a private, internal priestly matter. God's glory and holiness are to be publicly displayed and recognized by the entire community. Nadab and Abihu's judgment served as a visible object lesson for all Israel regarding the awesome majesty and strictness of the LORD. It reveals that profaning God’s presence has public implications for God's reputation.
• "I will be glorified.":
  • Original Hebrew: אֶכָּבֵד (ekkbaved).
  • Meaning: "I will be honored" or "I will be weighty/magnified."
  • Significance: From the root כָּבֵד (kavod), meaning "weight," "honor," or "glory." God's "glory" implies His inherent greatness, splendor, and manifest presence. By demonstrating His absolute standard of holiness, especially in judgment, God reinforces His divine authority and weighty character, ensuring that His preeminence is acknowledged and His Name revered among all people. Hallowing God necessarily leads to His glorification.
• "Among those who are near to Me I will be hallowed, and before all the people I will be glorified.": This is a powerful statement of divine order. The immediate proximity to God demands perfect holiness. If this holiness is not extended voluntarily by those privileged to be "near," God will assert it through demonstrating His own holiness (judgement), and by doing so, His "glory" will become evident to "all the people," teaching them reverence. It highlights the principle of "much is required from one to whom much has been entrusted."

Leviticus 10 3 Bonus section

This verse carries a significant polemical implication against common ancient Near Eastern pagan practices, where priests often acted with perceived impunity, manipulating deities or introducing unauthorized rituals based on their own will or for self-gain. The immediate, fatal judgment upon Nadab and Abihu starkly contrasted with such pagan liberties, demonstrating that Israel's God, YHWH, is absolutely sovereign over His worship, requiring a unique, profound reverence that brooks no human invention or presumption in sacred matters. This act of judgment ensured that the newly consecrated priesthood and the entire Israelite community understood that access to the divine was strictly on God's terms, not theirs, thus preventing the degradation of true worship into mere ritualism or personal convenience. The gravity of "unauthorized fire" (אֵשׁ זָרָה) may also subtly hint at the fire coming from the "flesh," or from human initiative and will, rather than the "heavenly fire" which had just validated God's presence in Lev 9:24.

Leviticus 10 3 Commentary

Leviticus 10:3 is a profound statement articulating the gravity of divine service and the absolute, unyielding nature of God’s holiness. It clarifies that God's sacredness is not merely a theological concept but an active, non-negotiable attribute demanding appropriate reverence and obedience, particularly from those He sets apart for special service. Nadab and Abihu's deaths were not random but a necessary vindication of God's character. By acting contrary to His commands concerning "holy fire," they failed to "hallow" Him. God, in turn, demonstrated His holiness through their judgment, thereby asserting His glory and educating the entire community about His awesome majesty. This incident establishes an enduring principle: God defines the terms of worship and approach, and His holiness is more important than human sentiment or tradition. It underscores that spiritual leadership carries an even heavier responsibility to exemplify reverence and strict adherence to God's ways.