Leviticus 10:5 kjv
So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.
Leviticus 10:5 nkjv
So they went near and carried them by their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said.
Leviticus 10:5 niv
So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.
Leviticus 10:5 esv
So they came near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said.
Leviticus 10:5 nlt
So they came forward and picked them up by their garments and carried them out of the camp, just as Moses had commanded.
Leviticus 10 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 10:1-2 | "Now Nadab and Abihu...offered unauthorized fire before the Lord...and fire came out...and consumed them..." | Immediate context of judgment and death |
| Lev 10:3 | "Then Moses said to Aaron, 'This is what the Lord spoke: "Among those who approach me I will show myself holy..."'" | God's holiness demands adherence |
| Lev 10:4 | "And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan...and said to them, 'Come near, carry your kinsmen away from before the sanctuary out of the camp.'" | The direct command to perform this act |
| Num 16:32 | "And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households..." | Another example of swift divine judgment |
| Deut 21:23 | "you shall surely bury him the same day, for a hanged man is accursed by God, so that you do not defile your land..." | Dealing with dead bodies to avoid defilement |
| Ex 29:37 | "Anything that touches the altar shall be holy." | Holiness associated with the Tabernacle |
| Ex 40:16 | "Thus Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did." | Moses' consistent obedience to commands |
| 1 Sam 6:19 | "He struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked into the ark of the Lord..." | Punishment for violating holy things |
| 2 Sam 6:6-7 | "And when they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, Uzzah put out his hand...to the ark of God...and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah..." | Punishment for unauthorized touching of holy |
| 1 Cor 11:30-31 | "That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged." | NT principle of judgment for unholy conduct |
| Heb 12:29 | "for our God is a consuming fire." | Nature of God's holiness and judgment |
| Deut 13:4 | "You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice..." | Emphasis on obedience to God's word |
| Num 19:11-13 | "Whoever touches a human corpse will be unclean for seven days...whoever touches a dead body and does not purify himself defiles the Lord’s tabernacle." | Purity laws regarding contact with the dead |
| Zec 14:20-21 | "On that day ‘Holy to the Lord’ will be inscribed on the bells of the horses...and every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord of hosts..." | Future ideal of universal holiness |
| Isa 6:3 | "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" | Revelation of God's absolute holiness |
| Rev 21:27 | "But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false..." | Ultimate separation of unholy from God's presence |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | New Testament emphasis on obedience and love |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God..." | Judgment begins with God's people |
| Phil 2:8 | "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death..." | Christ's obedience as an ultimate example |
| Acts 5:1-11 | "But a man named Ananias...sold a piece of property...and kept back some of the proceeds...Great fear came upon all who heard of these things." | Immediate judgment on falsehood/dishonor in God's presence |
Leviticus 10 verses
Leviticus 10 5 Meaning
Leviticus 10:5 describes the immediate and stark removal of the bodies of Nadab and Abihu from the camp by their cousins, Mishael and Elzaphan. This act was executed precisely "as Moses had said," following the divine command given in response to their unauthorized offering. The verse underscores the swiftness of divine judgment and the critical need to maintain the purity and holiness of the Tabernacle and the Israelite camp in God's presence, even when it involves deceased family members of the priestly line.
Leviticus 10 5 Context
Leviticus 10:5 occurs immediately after the dramatic death of Aaron’s eldest sons, Nadab and Abihu, in Leviticus 10:1-2. They died by fire from the Lord because they offered "unauthorized fire" (Hebrew: ’esh zarah)—a profound violation of the established worship protocols that God had just given to Israel through Moses for the newly consecrated Tabernacle. Their deaths served as an immediate and severe object lesson on the sanctity and precision required in approaching the holy God. Moses' subsequent instructions in Leviticus 10:3-4 outline the necessary purification steps, prohibiting Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, from public mourning or defiling themselves with the dead bodies. Therefore, the task of carrying the bodies "out of the camp" fell to their cousins, Mishael and Elzaphan. This entire episode stresses the immediate, absolute demands of God's holiness at the very beginning of the Israelite priestly ministry. The swift, unceremonial removal of the bodies underscores the danger of polluting God's sacred space with defilement or rebellion.
Leviticus 10 5 Word analysis
- So they came near (וַיִּקְרְבוּ Vayiqrevu): From the root קָרַב (qarab), meaning "to draw near," "approach." This highlights immediate, direct action. It implies a swift, unquestioning obedience to Moses' command. There was no hesitation or delay in fulfilling the grim task, emphasizing the authority of Moses' words.
- and carried them out (וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֹתָם VaYisu Otam): From the root נָשָׂא (nasa), meaning "to lift," "to carry," "to bear." This refers to the physical act of lifting and transporting the bodies. The phrase emphasizes their complete removal from the sacred camp to prevent defilement. This was a necessary step for ritual purity and to underline the permanent removal of those who profaned God's holy space.
- of the camp (מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה Michutz Lamachaneh): "Outside the camp." The Israelite camp was considered holy ground, especially the area around the Tabernacle, symbolizing God's dwelling among His people. Removing the bodies "outside the camp" was a prescribed action for defiling things or people, ensuring the purity of the community and the sacred space (cf. Num 5:1-4). This emphasized the extent of the defilement caused by their sin.
- in their tunics (בְּכֻתֳּנֹתָם Bekutonetam): "In their coats/garments." The tunic was a basic garment, perhaps the very priestly garments they were wearing when they offered the unauthorized fire and were struck down. This detail is significant as it suggests they were carried as they were, possibly without being wrapped in shrouds or treated with typical burial customs, which often involved washing or anointing. This implies an unceremonious and stark removal, perhaps also highlighting that the clothing itself, having been on those struck by divine fire in a sinful act, was defiled and could not remain within the camp. Some interpretations suggest carrying them in their tunics allowed for less direct contact with the bodies, maintaining ritual purity for the bearers themselves.
- as Moses had said (כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר מֹשֶׁה Ka'asher Dibber Moshe): This phrase highlights the complete and faithful execution of divine instruction. It reaffirms Moses' role as the sole and authoritative conveyor of God's commands to the people. The immediate obedience to Moses' word signifies adherence to God's word, emphasizing the chain of authority and the non-negotiable nature of God's commands concerning holiness.
Leviticus 10 5 Bonus section
The selection of Mishael and Elzaphan to carry the bodies is significant. They were sons of Uzziel, Aaron's uncle (Ex 6:18, 22), making them Nadab and Abihu's cousins. This choice avoids the defilement of Aaron or his remaining unblemished sons (Eleazar and Ithamar), who were to continue serving in the sacred Tabernacle. It illustrates the precise layers of ritual purity and responsibility within the Levitical tribe, emphasizing that those actively serving as priests were held to an even higher standard of purity regarding death defilement. This incident thus reinforces the understanding that access to God’s presence and service to Him demanded rigorous adherence to all His purity laws, even for the priests' closest family members.
Leviticus 10 5 Commentary
Leviticus 10:5 is a stark culmination of the immediate judgment described in the preceding verses. The act of carrying the defiled bodies of Nadab and Abihu "out of the camp" underscores several critical theological truths. Firstly, it vividly demonstrates the absolute holiness of God, intolerant of any deviation from His commanded protocols in worship. The incident sets a profound precedent for the newly inaugurated priesthood, serving as a dire warning against presumption or unholy acts in God's presence. Secondly, the phrase "as Moses had said" highlights the non-negotiable necessity of precise obedience to divine instructions, transmitted through God's appointed leader. This immediate and complete compliance by Mishael and Elzaphan, in stark contrast to Nadab and Abihu's actions, serves as an example of proper response to divine command. Lastly, the unceremonial removal of the bodies "in their tunics" symbolizes the severity of their defilement and the swift need to cleanse the sacred space of any taint from their unauthorized fire. This event laid a foundational principle: purity and order in divine worship are paramount, and violations carry immediate and profound consequences for the integrity of the covenant relationship.