The Deaths Of Nadab And Abihu

1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective [ceremonial] censers, put fire in them, placed incense on it and offered (a)strange (unauthorized, unacceptable) fire before the Lord, [an act] which He had not commanded them to do.

1 Now (A)Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective (B)firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.

1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

1 Aaron’s sons Nadab(A) and Abihu(B) each took his own firepan,(C) put fire in it, placed incense on it,(D) and presented unauthorized(E) fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them to do.

1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own censer, placed fire in it, covered it with incense, and brought it into the LORD's presence as unauthorized fire that he had never prescribed for them.

2 And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

2 (C)And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.

2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

2 Then fire came from the Lord(F) and burned them to death before the Lord.(G)

2 As a result, fire came out from the LORD's presence and incinerated them. They died while in the LORD's presence.

3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord said:‘I will be treated as holy by those who approach Me,And before all the people I will be honored.’”So Aaron, therefore, said nothing.

3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the Lord spoke, saying,‘By those who (D)come near Me I (a)(E)will be treated as holy,And before all the people I will (F)be honored.’”So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.

3 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.

3 So Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when He said:I will show My holiness(a)(H)to those who are near Me,(I)and I will reveal My glory(b)(J)before all the people.”But Aaron remained silent.

3 Moses spoke with Aaron about what the LORD had said: "Among those who are near me, I'll show myself holy so that I'll be glorified before all people." So Aaron remained silent.

4 Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel who was Aaron’s uncle, and said to them, “Come here, carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary and take them outside the camp.”

4 Moses called also to (G)Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come forward, carry your (b)relatives away from the front of the sanctuary to the outside of the camp.”

4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.

4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan,(K) sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel,(L) and said to them, “Come here and carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp.”(M)

4 Then Moses called on Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel, Aaron's uncle, and said, "Come here and carry your brothers away from the sanctuary, outside the camp."

5 So they came forward and carried them, still in their undertunics, outside the camp, as Moses had said.

5 So they came forward and carried them still in their (H)tunics to the outside of the camp, as Moses had said.

5 So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.

5 So they came forward and carried them in their tunics outside the camp, as Moses had said.

5 So they approached to carry them in their tunics outside the camp, just as Moses had commanded.

6 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his [younger] sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not (b)uncover your heads nor let your hair hang loose nor tear your clothes [as expressions of mourning], so that you will not die [also] and so that He will not express His wrath and anger toward all the congregation. But your relatives, the whole house of Israel, may mourn the burning which the Lord has brought about.

6 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “(I)Do not (c)uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, so that you will not die and that He will not (J)become wrathful against all the congregation. But your (d)kinsmen, the whole house of Israel, shall bewail the burning which the Lord has (e)brought about.

6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.

6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar,(N) “Do not let your hair hang loose(O) and do not tear your garments,(P) or else you will die, and the Lord will become angry(Q) with the whole community. However, your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn(R) over that tragedy when the Lord sent the fire.

6 Then Moses told Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "You are not to loosen the hair of your head and you are not to rend your clothes. That way, you won't die and wrath won't come on the entire congregation. Your brothers and the assembly of Israel will mourn because of the fire that the LORD kindled.

7 You shall not even go out of the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, or you will die; for the Lord’s anointing oil is upon you.” So they did [everything] according to the word of Moses.

7 You shall not even go out from the doorway of the tent of meeting, or you will die; for (K)the Lord’s anointing oil is upon you.” So they did according to the word of Moses.

7 And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

7 You must not go outside the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, for the Lord’s anointing oil(S) is on you.” So they did as Moses said.

7 Also, you are not to leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Otherwise, you'll die, since the LORD's anointing oil remains on you." So they followed Moses' instructions.

Lasting Statutes

8 Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying,

8 The Lord then spoke to Aaron, saying,

8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,

8 The Lord spoke to Aaron:

8 Then the LORD told Aaron,

9 (c)Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the Tent of Meeting, so that you will not die—it is a permanent statute throughout your generations—

9 (L)Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die—it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations—

9 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:

9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine(T) or beer(U) when you enter the tent of meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute(V) throughout your generations.

9 "You and your sons with you are not to drink wine that is, any intoxicating drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting. That way, you won't die. This is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations.

10 and to make a distinction and recognize a difference between the holy (sacred) and the common (profane), and between the [ceremonially] unclean and the clean;(A)

10 and (M)so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean,

10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

10 You must distinguish(W) between the holy and the common,(X) and the clean and the unclean,(Y)

10 You are to differentiate between what's sacred and common and between what's unclean and clean.

11 and you are to teach the Israelites all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them (d)through Moses.”

11 and (N)so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them through Moses.”

11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

11 and teach the Israelites all the statutes(Z) that the Lord has given to them through Moses.”

11 You are to teach the Israelis all the statutes that the LORD commanded you by the authority of Moses."

Perpetual Statutes Moses Spoke To Aaron

12 Then Moses said to Aaron, and to his surviving sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that is left over from the offerings by fire to the Lord, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy.

12 Then Moses spoke to Aaron, and to his surviving sons, (O)Eleazar and Ithamar, “(P)Take the grain offering that is left over from the Lord’s offerings by fire and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy.

12 And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:

12 Moses spoke to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar: “Take the grain offering that is left over from the fire offerings(AA) to the Lord, and eat it prepared without yeast beside the altar, because it is especially holy.

12 Then Moses told Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "Take the leftovers from the grain offering and the offerings made by fire and eat the unleavened bread beside the altar, because it is most holy to the LORD.

13 You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your portion and your sons’ portion, from the offerings by fire to the Lord; for so I have been commanded.

13 You shall eat it, moreover, in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons’ due out of the Lord’s offerings by fire; for thus I have been commanded.

13 And ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons' due, of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire: for so I am commanded.

13 You must eat it in a holy place because it is your portion(c) and your sons’ from the fire offerings to the Lord, for this is what I was commanded.

13 Eat at a sacred place, because it's your and your sons' prescribed portions. It's from the offering made by fire to the LORD, since I've commanded it.

14 But the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering you may eat in a clean place, you and your sons and daughters with you; for the breast and the thigh are your portion and your sons’ portion, given out of the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the Israelites.

14 (Q)The breast of the wave offering, however, and the thigh of the offering you may eat in a clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you; for they have been given as your due and your sons’ due out of the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the sons of Israel.

14 And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.

14 But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast of the presentation offering and the thigh of the contribution in any ceremonially clean place, because these portions have been assigned to you and your children from the Israelites’ fellowship sacrifices.

14 As to the breast and thigh raised offerings, you and your sons and daughters with you may eat them at a clean place, because they belong to you and are your sons' prescribed portions and were taken from the sacrifices of peace offering presented by the Israelis.

15 They shall bring the thigh presented by lifting up and the breast presented by waving, along with the offerings by fire of the fat, to present as a wave offering before the Lord. This shall be yours and your sons’ with you, as your perpetual portion, just as the Lord has commanded.”

15 (R)The thigh offered by lifting up and the breast offered by waving they shall bring along with the offerings by fire of the portions of fat, to present as a wave offering before the Lord; so it shall be a thing perpetually due you and your sons with you, just as the Lord has commanded.”

15 The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be thine, and thy sons' with thee, by a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded.

15 They are to bring the thigh of the contribution and the breast of the presentation offering, together with the offerings of fat portions made by fire, to wave as a presentation offering before the Lord. It will belong permanently(AB) to you and your children, as the Lord commanded.”

15 They are to bring the thigh offering, the breast raised offering, and the offerings made by fire from the fat to wave as a raised offering in the LORD's presence. It will be a perpetual portion for you and your sons with you, just as the LORD commanded."

The Problem Of The Uneaten Sin Offering

16 But Moses diligently tried to find the goat [that had been offered] as the sin offering, and discovered that it had been burned up [as waste, not eaten]! So he was angry with Aaron’s surviving sons Eleazar and Ithamar, saying,

16 But Moses searched carefully for the (S)goat of the sin offering, and behold, it had been burned up! So he was angry with Aaron’s surviving sons Eleazar and Ithamar, saying,

16 And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying,

16 Later, Moses inquired about the male goat of the sin offering, but it had already been burned up. He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s surviving sons, and asked,

16 Now Moses diligently sought for the goat that had been offered as a sin offering, but it had already been incinerated, so he was angry with Aaron's sons who remained. He asked Eleazar and Ithamar,

17 “Why did you not eat the sin offering in the holy place? For it is most holy; and God gave it to you to remove the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord.

17 “Why (T)did you not eat the sin offering at the holy place? For it is most holy, and (f)He gave it to you to bear away (U)the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord.

17 Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?

17 “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area?(AC) For it is especially holy, and He has assigned it to you to take away the guilt(AD) of the community(AE) and make atonement for them before the Lord.

17 "Why didn't you eat the sin offering at the sacred place? It's most holy and he has given it to you so that you may bear the punishment for the iniquity of the entire congregation and make atonement for them in the LORD's presence.

18 Behold, its blood was not brought into the Holy Place; you certainly should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary, just as I commanded.”

18 Behold, (V)since its blood had not been brought inside, into the sanctuary, you should certainly have (W)eaten it in the sanctuary, just as I commanded.”

18 Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded.

18 Since its blood was not brought inside the sanctuary, you should have eaten it in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.”(AF)

18 Look! Its blood wasn't brought inside the sanctuary. You were to have eaten it in the sanctuary, just as I commanded."

19 Then Aaron said to Moses, “This very day they have [obediently] presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, but [such terrible things] as these have happened to me [and to them]; if I [and my sons] had eaten a sin offering today would it have been acceptable and pleasing in the sight of the Lord?”(B)

19 But Aaron spoke to Moses, “Behold, this very day they (X)presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord. When things like these happened to me, if I had eaten a sin offering today, would it have been good in the sight of the Lord?”

19 And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD?

19 But Aaron replied to Moses, “See, today they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord. Since these things have happened to me, if I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been acceptable in the Lord’s sight?”

19 But Aaron replied to Moses, "Today they've offered their sin and whole burnt offerings in the LORD's presence. Yet things such as these have happened to me. Had I eaten the sin offering today, would that have pleased the LORD?"

20 When Moses heard that, he was satisfied.

20 When Moses heard that, it seemed good in his sight.

20 And when Moses heard that, he was content.

20 When Moses heard this, it was acceptable to him.(d)

20 When Moses heard that explanation, he was pleased.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

King James Version Public Domain

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org