Bible Strands
2 Samuel 6:7
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David and the Israelites are moving the ark on a cart when the oxen stumble at the threshing floor of Nacon. Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark, prompting God to strike him down immediately.
The words — The text pairs וַ/יִּֽחַר (va/i.yi.char, "and it burned") with אַ֤ף (af, "anger") to describe Yahweh's reaction, then records בְּ/עֻזָּ֔ה (be./'u.Zah, "on Uzzah") and וַ/יַּכֵּ֥/הוּ (va/i.ya.Ke./hu, "and he struck him down").
The thread — This judgment mirrors God striking the men of Beth-shemesh in 1 Samuel 6:19 for looking into the ark and repeats the same phrasing in 1 Chronicles 13:10. The underlying cause is identified as the failure to follow Levitical transport protocols in 1 Chronicles 15:13.
Why it lands — The passage states that irreverent contact with the ark results in immediate death beside it. It requires the reader to acknowledge that approaching God demands strict obedience to His prescribed boundaries.
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 Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 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.”
- 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.
- 1 Chronicles 15:2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”
- 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.
- 1 Corinthians 11:30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.