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Friday, August 1st, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Literal Standard Version

Numbers 3:4

And Nadab dies—Abihu also—before YHWH, in their bringing strange fire near before YHWH, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they did not have sons; and Eleazar—Ithamar also—acts as priest in the presence of their father Aaron.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Abihu;   Nadab;   Sacrilege;   Scofield Reference Index - Israel;   Thompson Chain Reference - Abihu;   Ithamar;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Desert, Journey of Israel through the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Aaron;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Worship;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Abihu;   Eleazar;   Fire;   Ithamar;   Nadab;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Eleazar;   Ithamar;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Nadab;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Abihu;   Job;   Moses;   Nadab;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Eleazar ;   Ithamar ;   Nadab ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Camp and encamp;   Nadab;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Elea'zar;   Fire;   Ith'amar;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fire;   Strange;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Last Days at Sinai;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abihu;   Eleazar;   Ithamar;   Nadab;   Strange Fire;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Abihu;   Fire;   Hafá¹­arah;   Ithamar;   Levi;   Nadab;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Nadav and Avihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. El`azar and Itamar ministered in the Kohen's office in the presence of Aharon their father.
King James Version
And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord , when they offered strange fire before the Lord , in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.
Lexham English Bible
Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh when they presented a strange fire before Yahweh in the desert of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priest during the presence of Aaron their father.
New Century Version
But Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of the Lord when they offered the wrong kind of fire before the Lord in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.
New English Translation
Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered strange fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.
Amplified Bible
But Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of the LORD when they offered strange (unholy, unacceptable, inappropriate) fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the presence and under the supervision of Aaron their father.
New American Standard Bible
But Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of the LORD when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of their father Aaron.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord, when they offred strange fire before the Lord in the wildernesse of Sinai, and had no children: but Eleazar and Ithamar serued in ye Priestes office in the sight of Aaron their father.
Legacy Standard Bible
But Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh when they offered strange fire before Yahweh in the wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the lifetime of their father Aaron.
Contemporary English Version
But the Lord killed Nadab and Abihu in the Sinai Desert when they used fire that was unacceptable in their offering to the Lord . And because Nadab and Abihu had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests with their father Aaron.
Complete Jewish Bible
But Nadav and Avihu died in the presence of Adonai when they offered unauthorized fire before Adonai in the Sinai Desert, and they had no children; El‘azar and Itamar served as cohanim in the presence of Aharon their father.
Darby Translation
And Nadab and Abihu died before Jehovah when they offered strange fire before Jehovah in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons; and Eleazar and Ithamar exercised the priesthood in the presence of Aaron their father.
Easy-to-Read Version
But Nadab and Abihu died while serving the Lord . They used fire that the Lord did not allow when they made an offering to him. So Nadab and Abihu died there, in the desert of Sinai. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar took their place and served the Lord as priests. This happened while their father Aaron was still alive.
English Standard Version
But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father.
George Lamsa Translation
But Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priests office during the lifetime of Aaron their father.
Good News Translation
but Nadab and Abihu were killed when they offered unholy fire to the Lord in the Sinai Desert. They had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during Aaron's lifetime.
Christian Standard Bible®
But Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord’s presence when they presented unauthorized fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests under the direction of Aaron their father.
Literal Translation
And Nadab and Abihu died before Jehovah in the wilderness of Sinai, for bringing strange fire before Jehovah. And they had no sons. And Eleazar and Ithamar acted as priests in the presence of their father Aaron.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But Nadab & Abihu dyed before ye LORDE, wha they offred strauge fyre before ye LORDE, in ye wildernesse of Sinai, & had no sonnes. But Eleasar and Ithamar executed ye prestes office wt their father Aaron.
American Standard Version
And Nadab and Abihu died before Jehovah, when they offered strange fire before Jehovah, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the presence of Aaron their father.
Bible in Basic English
And Nadab and Abihu were put to death before the Lord when they made an offering of strange fire before the Lord, in the waste land of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar did the work of priests before Aaron their father.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Nadab and Abihu dyed before the Lorde, when they offred straunge fire befor the Lorde in the wyldernesse of Sinai, and had no chyldren: And Eleazar and Ithamar ministred in the sight of Aaron their father.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the presence of Aaron their father.
King James Version (1611)
And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord, when they offered strange fire before the Lord in the wildernesse of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministred in the Priests office in the sight of Aaron their father.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Nadab and Abiud died before the Lord, when they offered strange fire before the Lord, in the wilderness of Sina; and they had no children; and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priests’ office with Aaron their father.
English Revised Version
And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the presence of Aaron their father.
Berean Standard Bible
Nadab and Abihu, however, died in the presence of the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai. And since they had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Nadab and Abyu, whanne thei offeriden alien fier in the `siyt of the Lord, in the deseert of Synay, weren deed without fre children; and Eleazar and Ythamar `weren set in preesthod bifor Aaron hir fadir.
Young's Literal Translation
And Nadab dieth -- Abihu also -- before Jehovah, in their bringing near strange fire before Jehovah, in the wilderness of Sinai, and sons they had not; and Eleazar -- Ithamar also -- acteth as priest in the presence of Aaron their father.
Update Bible Version
And Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons; and Eleazar and Ithamar served in the priest's office in the presence of Aaron their father.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.
World English Bible
Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the presence of Aaron their father.
New King James Version
Nadab and Abihu had died before the LORD when they offered profane fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.
New Living Translation
But Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord 's presence in the wilderness of Sinai when they burned before the Lord the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. Since they had no sons, this left only Eleazar and Ithamar to serve as priests with their father, Aaron.
New Life Bible
But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they made a fire that was not holy to the Lord in the Desert of Sinai. And they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar worked as religious leaders during the life-time of their father Aaron.
New Revised Standard
Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unholy fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of their father Aaron.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh when they brought near strange fire before Yahweh in the desert of Sinai, and sons, had they none, - so then Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests, in the presence of Aaron their father.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now Nadab and Abiu died, without children, when they offered strange fire before the Lord, in the desert of Sinai: and Eleazar and Ithamar performed the priestly office in the presence of Aaron their father.
Revised Standard Version
But Nadab and Abi'hu died before the LORD when they offered unholy fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Elea'zar and Ith'amar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of their father Aaron.

Contextual Overview

1And these [are] the generations of Aaron and Moses, in the day of YHWH's speaking with Moses in Mount Sinai. 2And these [are] the names of the sons of Aaron: the firstborn Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar; 3these [are] the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whose hand he has consecrated for acting as priest. 4And Nadab dies—Abihu also—before YHWH, in their bringing strange fire near before YHWH, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they did not have sons; and Eleazar—Ithamar also—acts as priest in the presence of their father Aaron.5And YHWH speaks to Moses, saying, 6"Bring the tribe of Levi near, and you have caused it to stand before Aaron the priest, and they have served him, 7and kept his charge, and the charge of all the congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the Dwelling Place; 8and they have kept all the vessels of the Tent of Meeting, and the charge of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the Dwelling Place; 9and you have given the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are surely given to him out of the sons of Israel. 10And you appoint Aaron and his sons, and they have kept their priesthood, and the stranger who comes near is put to death."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Nadab: Numbers 26:61, Leviticus 10:1, Leviticus 10:2

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:50 - Eleazar 1 Chronicles 15:4 - the children of Aaron 1 Chronicles 24:2 - died

Cross-References

Genesis 3:13
And YHWH God says to the woman, "What [is] this you have done?" And the woman says, "The serpent has caused me to forget, and I eat."
Deuteronomy 29:19
and it has been, in his hearing the words of this oath, that he has blessed himself in his heart, saying, I have peace, though I go on in the stubbornness of my heart—in order to sweep away the watered with the thirsty.
2 Kings 1:4
And therefore, thus said YHWH: The bed to where you have gone up, you do not come down from it, for you certainly die"; and Elijah goes on.
2 Kings 1:6
And they say to him, "A man has come up to meet us and says to us, Go, return to the king who sent you, and you have said to him, Thus said YHWH: Is it because there is not a God in Israel—you are sending to inquire of Ba‘al-Zebub god of Ekron? Therefore, the bed to where you have gone up, you do not come down from it, for you certainly die."
2 Kings 1:16
and speaks to him, "Thus said YHWH: Because that you have sent messengers to inquire of Ba‘al-Zebub god of Ekron—is it because there is not a God in Israel to inquire of His word? Therefore, the bed to where you have gone up—you do not come down from it, for you certainly die."
2 Kings 8:10
And Elisha says to him, "Go, say, You certainly do not revive, seeing [that] YHWH has showed me that he surely dies."
Psalms 10:11
He said in his heart, "God has forgotten, || He has hid His face, || He has never seen."
2 Corinthians 2:11
that we may not be over-reached by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
2 Corinthians 11:3
and I fear, lest, as the serpent deceived Eve in his subtlety, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that [is] in the Christ;
1 Timothy 2:14
and Adam was not deceived, but the woman, having been deceived, came into transgression,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord,...., By flaming fire, as the Targum of Jonathan adds, see Leviticus 10:2; and so were not alive at this time when the account of the priests and Levites was taken:

when they offered strange fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai; after the tabernacle was set up, and the service of it begun, and quickly after their unction and consecration: of this strange fire,

Leviticus 10:2- :;

and they had no children; which is observed, partly to show the punishment of them, and the reproach upon their names, that they died childless, and had none to succeed them in the priesthood; for as the Jewish writers n observe if they had left any behind them, those would have come into the office before Eleazar and Ithamar; and partly to show that all the priests in succeeding ages sprung from those next mentioned:

and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office, in the sight of Aaron their father; in his presence, under his inspection, and by his direction, he seeing and observing that they did everything according to the laws delivered by Moses, relating to, the office of the priesthood; or while he was yet alive, as Aben Ezra, they were concerned with him, and acted under him in the priestly office; and so the Septuagint version renders it, "with Aaron their father" o; but a Jewish writer p interprets it in a different manner, "in the room of Aaron their father"; as if it respected not any conjunction with him in the then present exercise of their office in his lifetime, but their succession in it after his death; but the former seems most correct.

n Torat Cohanim apud Ceseph Misnah in Maimon. Melachim, c. 1. sect. 7. Chaskuniin in loc. o Which is approved by Noldius, p. 731. p Chaskuni.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 3:4. Nadab and Abihu died — See the notes on Leviticus 10:1-5.


 
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