Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 13:10
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David’s procession brings the ark to the threshing floor of Chidon, where Uzzah reaches out to steady it as the oxen stumble.
The words — The Hebrew אַף (af) and יִחַר (yichar) literally mean "the anger of [Yahweh] burned," while שָׁלַח (shalach) denotes the act of stretching out or putting a hand on the ark.
The thread — The event is linked to the transport regulations in 1 Chronicles 15:13-15 and the prohibition against unauthorized contact in Numbers 4:15.
Why it lands — The text records God’s immediate lethal judgment on Uzzah for touching the ark, establishing that the prescribed method of handling holy objects carries the same weight as the objects themselves.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 15:15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
- 1 Chronicles 15:13 It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”
- Numbers 4:15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Samuel 6:19 But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter.
- Leviticus 10:1 Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command.
- Numbers 16:35 And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
- Joshua 6:6 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.”
- 2 Chronicles 26:16 But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
- 1 Corinthians 11:30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.