Numbers 26 61

Numbers 26:61 kjv

And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

Numbers 26:61 nkjv

And Nadab and Abihu died when they offered profane fire before the LORD.

Numbers 26:61 niv

But Nadab and Abihu died when they made an offering before the LORD with unauthorized fire.)

Numbers 26:61 esv

But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.

Numbers 26:61 nlt

But Nadab and Abihu died when they burned before the LORD the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 61 Meaning

Numbers 26:61, a concise parenthetical statement within the second census, accounts for the absence of Nadab and Abihu, the eldest sons of Aaron, among the counted priestly families. It specifies that they perished because they presented "strange fire"—unauthorized or unprescribed fire—before the LORD. This act was a severe violation of God's holy requirements for worship, prompting swift divine judgment. Their demise served as a stark lesson on the absolute sanctity and strictness of God's presence and His commands concerning worship.

Numbers 26 61 Context

Numbers chapter 26 presents the second census of the Israelites, conducted on the plains of Moab in preparation for entering the Promised Land. This census counts the new generation, unlike the first generation that perished in the wilderness due to their rebellion. The main purpose is to determine the size of each tribe for land allocation in Canaan. Within this genealogical and numerical record, verse 61 is a critical aside. It explains why Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's elder sons, are absent from the list of living priestly family heads. Their exclusion highlights the grave theological reality of divine judgment. Their deaths ensured the purity of the priesthood and reinforced the crucial truth that approaching a Holy God demands absolute adherence to His prescribed instructions for worship and reverence.

Numbers 26 61 Word analysis

• And: Hebrew waw (ו). This connective particle subtly introduces a pivotal explanation or exception within the otherwise straightforward genealogical count.
• Nadab: Hebrew נָדָב (Nadav). Meaning "generous" or "willing." He was Aaron's firstborn son. His name ironically contrasts with his presumptuous act, failing to yield to God's specific will.
• and Abihu: Hebrew אֲבִיהוּא (Avihu). Meaning "He is (my) father." Aaron's second son. Like Nadab, he held a unique priestly privilege, having ascended Sinai and seen God. Their privileged position led to greater accountability for their actions.
• died: Hebrew מֵתוּ (metu). This strong, direct verb signifies a divinely ordained demise. It was not an accident but a specific judgment from God for their transgression, emphasizing the seriousness of their offense.
• when they offered: Hebrew בְּהַקְרִיבָם (bəhaqrîvām). Literally "in their bringing near" or "when they presented." The root points to bringing offerings in a liturgical context. It signifies that their judgment came precisely in the act of what should have been an act of holy worship.
• strange fire: Hebrew אֵשׁ זָרָה ('ēsh zārāh).
  • fire: Hebrew אֵשׁ ('ēsh). Refers to the physical fire used in their censers. In the Tabernacle, fire was explicitly meant to be sourced from the perpetually burning altar fire, which was itself divinely kindled.
  • strange: Hebrew זָרָה (zārāh). A deeply significant theological term meaning "foreign," "unauthorized," "unholy," "common" (in contrast to sacred), or "alien to command." It fundamentally refers to what is not prescribed or commanded by God. Their "fire" was not "strange" in appearance but in its unauthorized origin or application, an act of human invention overriding divine institution.
• before the LORD: Hebrew לִפְנֵי יְהוָה (li’phnê YHVH). "In the presence of Yahweh." This phrase underscores the immediacy of God's presence in the Tabernacle. Their sin was a direct affront within God's sacred dwelling, demanding an immediate response to preserve the sanctity of His being and the holy space where He condescended to dwell with Israel.

Words-group analysis

• Nadab and Abihu died: This brief and impactful statement is a significant reminder of God's impartiality. Despite their prominent status as priests and sons of the high priest Aaron, their elevated position offered no immunity from God's righteous judgment. This fact profoundly reinforces the absolute requirement of obedience and reverence for all, particularly those entrusted with spiritual authority.
• when they offered strange fire: This core phrase identifies their exact offense: an act of self-willed worship that substituted human preference for divine command. "Strange fire" symbolizes any form of religious expression or worship that God has not ordained or sanctioned. It stands as an enduring caution against the perils of human presumption and innovation in spiritual matters, stressing that worship must conform to God's established truth, not human invention.
• before the LORD: This phrase intensifies the gravity of their transgression. Their unauthorized act was performed not in secret, but in the immediate, sacred presence of Yahweh. It emphasizes the active oversight of God in all aspects of worship and His immediate punitive response to violations of His holy order. This served to indelibly impress upon Israel the formidable reality of God's holiness and His rightful prerogative to define the terms of communion with Him.

Numbers 26 61 Bonus section

The severe punishment of Nadab and Abihu, immediate and deadly, underscores several crucial aspects of God's character and the nature of worship. Their high priestly status meant greater responsibility and accountability. Many scholars link their sin to a lack of proper discernment, which may have been influenced by intoxication, given the immediate injunction against priests drinking wine or strong drink before ministry (Lev 10:8-11). The incident profoundly clarified that God Himself defines how He is to be worshipped, allowing no human innovations, personal preferences, or presumptuous acts to usurp His divine directives. This established an enduring principle: God prioritizes His glory and holiness, ensuring that any access to His presence, particularly in the sacred spaces of worship, must occur according to His meticulous blueprint, serving as a powerful and enduring lesson for all who approach Him.

Numbers 26 61 Commentary

Numbers 26:61 functions as a stark and concise theological reminder. Embedded within the methodical census of Israel, it highlights the solemn truth concerning Nadab and Abihu: they were consumed by divine fire for offering "strange fire"—an act unauthorized by God—in His holy presence. This judgment, previously detailed in Leviticus 10, fundamentally teaches that divine holiness is unyielding and demands absolute obedience to prescribed worship. Their sin was not merely procedural but one of will-worship and presumptuous disregard for God's clear commands concerning the sanctuary and priesthood. God's immediate response underscored that true reverence involves approaching Him solely on His terms, fostering within Israel, particularly its priestly line, a profound fear of treating His sanctity lightly. Their judgment secured the purity of the Tabernacle and demonstrated God's uncompromising commitment to upholding His holiness in His relationship with His people.