Leviticus 10 9

Leviticus 10:9 kjv

Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

Leviticus 10:9 nkjv

"Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations,

Leviticus 10:9 niv

"You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come,

Leviticus 10:9 esv

"Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

Leviticus 10:9 nlt

"You and your descendants must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink before going into the Tabernacle. If you do, you will die. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation.

Leviticus 10 verses

Leviticus 10 9 Meaning

Leviticus 10:9 states a strict divine command for Aaron and his priestly descendants: they are not to consume wine or strong drink before entering the Tabernacle (Tent of Meeting) for service. This prohibition is presented as a perpetual statute, failure of which would result in death. It emphasizes the need for a clear and sober mind for those ministering in God's presence, ensuring they can properly distinguish between what is holy and common, and clean and unclean.

Leviticus 10 9 Context

This verse appears immediately after the tragic death of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's elder sons, who offered "unauthorized fire" before the Lord (Lev 10:1-2). Their sin resulted in instant divine judgment, emphasizing the supreme holiness of God and the seriousness of proper worship. This prohibition against drinking wine or strong drink for priests serving in the Tabernacle is a direct consequence and practical application derived from that solemn event. It underlines the necessity for priests to maintain absolute clarity of mind, not merely for ritual correctness, but for discerning God's will and ministering appropriately in His holy presence, thereby safeguarding themselves and upholding the sanctity of the divine service. It establishes a perpetual, foundational rule for all subsequent priestly generations.

Leviticus 10 9 Word analysis

• לֹא תִשְׁתּוּ (lo' tishtu) - "Do not drink." A clear, absolute prohibition. The negative imperative immediately establishes the firm boundary God is setting. It is an unreserved command, emphasizing total abstinence from these specific beverages on these specific occasions.
• יַיִן (yayin) - "wine." This refers to the fermented juice of grapes. It is the common Hebrew word for wine, encompassing various stages of fermentation, but here clearly indicating an intoxicating beverage.
• שֵׁכָר (shekhar) - "strong drink." This term denotes any fermented alcoholic beverage other than wine, such as date beer, barley beer, or drinks made from grains or honey. It signifies a drink with an intoxicating effect, implying a higher potency or broader category than just wine. Its root implies intoxication.
• אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ אִתָּךְ (attah uvaneykha itakh) - "you or your sons with you." This specifies the immediate recipients: Aaron (the high priest) and his two surviving sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, after the death of Nadab and Abihu. Crucially, it extends to all future generations of priests, underscoring the enduring nature of the command for the entire priestly lineage.
• בְּבֹאֲכֶם אֶל-אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד (bevo'akhem el-ohel mo'ed) - "when you come into the tent of meeting." This denotes the sacred place of divine worship, the Tabernacle, where God's presence resided and where priests performed their duties. The prohibition is specifically for when they are "entering" or "serving" there, indicating the time and location of their sacred functions. It highlights that the restriction is for service, not necessarily general consumption.
• פֶּן-תָּמֻתוּ (pen-tamutu) - "lest you die." This is a severe consequence, directly linking the command to the recent deaths of Nadab and Abihu. It conveys the absolute seriousness of the offense in God's eyes, signaling that violation would lead to immediate divine judgment and forfeiture of life, emphasizing God's holiness and justice.
• חֻקַת עוֹלָם (chuqat ‘olam) - "It shall be a statute forever." This declares the enduring, unchanging nature of this ordinance. It is not temporary but an everlasting decree for the priestly function within the Mosaic Covenant, signifying its foundational importance for approaching God.
• לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם (ledoroteychem) - "throughout your generations." This reinforces the perpetuity of the statute, extending its applicability to all future priests descending from Aaron, ensuring its continuous observance for as long as the priestly system is in place.
• Word Group: "Do not drink wine or strong drink": This combination specifies the full range of intoxicating beverages that are prohibited. The inclusion of both terms indicates a comprehensive ban on anything that could impair judgment, signifying God's demand for complete mental and spiritual clarity for His servants.
• Word Group: "when you come into the tent of meeting, lest you die": This phrase connects the specific context of sacred service with the ultimate divine consequence. It powerfully reinforces that God's holiness is not to be trifled with and that any act within His sanctuary demands the utmost reverence and purity of mind, on pain of death. It implies that drunkenness would render them incapable of discerning and acting appropriately in sacred matters.

Leviticus 10 9 Bonus section

This statute for the Old Testament priesthood carries significant theological implications for the New Testament believer, who is identified as part of a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9, Rev 1:6). While it doesn't necessitate a literal, universal ban on alcohol for all Christians, it embodies an eternal principle: those who serve God must be clear-headed, sober, and spiritually alert. It points to the necessity of self-control, sound judgment, and consecration for anyone involved in spiritual ministry. This stands in stark contrast to the ecstatic, often intoxicating, rituals of pagan religions that sought to commune with deities through altered states of consciousness. Yahweh demands rational, reverent, and intentional worship from a sound mind, reflecting His own order and holiness. The underlying message for the believer-priest today is the call to sobriety in thought and action, guarding against anything that would hinder discernment, weaken spiritual judgment, or cause stumbling in their walk and service before God.

Leviticus 10 9 Commentary

Leviticus 10:9 is a direct divine injunction, establishing a vital safeguard for the priestly ministry, given immediately following a catastrophic divine judgment. The core purpose is to ensure that priests, the intermediaries between God and His people, are always in a state of physical and mental clarity when they serve. This clarity is indispensable for discerning between what is holy and common, and clean and unclean (Lev 10:10), a crucial responsibility for teaching the people God's statutes. An altered state of mind, induced by wine or strong drink, would render them incapable of making such vital distinctions, leading to potential defilement of the sacred service and a violation of God's holy presence. The penalty of death underscores the gravity of this requirement, reflecting God's absolute demand for reverence and purity from those who draw near to Him in worship. This prohibition establishes a precedent for spiritual vigilance and self-control, particularly for those in leadership and spiritual service.