Bible Strands
Leviticus 10:2
So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Nadab and Abihu have just presented unauthorized fire before the altar (Leviticus 10:1). This verse records the immediate divine response to their act.
The words — אֵ֛שׁ ('esh) = fire [H784] and וַ/תֹּ֣אכַל (va./To.khal) = and/ it consumed [H398] describe the origin and action of the judgment.
The thread — The pattern of divine fire consuming those who approach improperly appears in Numbers 16:35, while Leviticus 9:24 records fire consuming altar offerings rather than people.
Why it lands — The text states that unauthorized worship results in immediate death at the sanctuary, requiring readers to treat God's prescribed worship as non-negotiable.
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 there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.
Cross-references
- Numbers 26:61 but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.
- Leviticus 9:24 Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.
- Numbers 16:35 And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
- Numbers 3:3 These were Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.
- 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.
- Leviticus 10:5 So they came forward and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses had directed.
- Leviticus 16:1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the LORD.
- Numbers 16:32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions.
- Numbers 16:49 But those who died from the plague numbered 14,700, in addition to those who had died on account of Korah.
- 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.