10Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu^a took their censers,^b put fire in them^c and added incense;^d and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord,^e contrary to his command.^f ²So fire came out^g from the presence of the Lord and consumed them,^h and they died before the Lord.ⁱ ³Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:

“ ‘Among those who approach me^j

I will be proved holy;^k

in the sight of all the people

I will be honored.^l’ ”

Aaron remained silent.

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Cross references

a Ex 6:23; 24:1; 28:1; Nu 3:2–4; 26:61; 1 Ch 6:3
b Nu 16:46; 1 Ki 7:50; 2 Ki 25:15; 2 Ch 4:22; Jer 52:19; Eze 8:11
c Lev 16:12; Nu 16:7, 18; Isa 6:6
dSee Ex 30:9
ever 2; Lev 16:1
f Ex 30:9
g Ps 106:18
h Nu 11:1; 16:35; Ps 2:12; 50:3; Isa 29:6
iSee Ge 19:24; See 38:7; Nu 16:35; 1 Ch 24:2; Job 1:16
j Ex 19:22
k Ex 30:29; Lev 21:6; 22:32; Nu 16:5; 20:13; Isa 5:16; Eze 28:22; 38:16
l Ex 14:4; Isa 44:23; 49:3; 55:5; 60:21

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’ ” And Aaron held his peace.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own firepan, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and presented unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them to do. Then fire came from the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has spoken:

I will demonstrate my holiness

to those who are near me,

and I will reveal my glory

before all the people.”

And Aaron remained silent.

NLTNew Living Translation

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord.

Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when he said,

‘I will display my holiness

through those who come near me.

I will display my glory

before all the people.’ ”

And Aaron was silent.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his censer, and they put fire in them and placed incense on it; then they presented before Yahweh illegitimate fire, which he had not commanded them. So fire went out from before Yahweh, and it consumed them so that they died before Yahweh. Therefore Moses said to Aaron, “This is what Yahweh spoke, saying, ‘Among those who are close to me I will show myself holy, and in the presence of all the people I will display my glory.’ ” So Aaron was silent.

KJV 1900King James Version

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

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