Focused Passage

Leviticus 10:12-20

Unauthorized Fire and the Holiness of Priestly Service

Nadab and Abihu offer unauthorized fire and are consumed by fire from the LORD; Moses explains the holiness required of those who approach God, restricts Aaronic mourning, commands priestly sobriety and discernment, and addresses the mishandling of the sin offering by Aaron's surviving sons.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

12 And Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that remains from the food offerings to the LORD and eat it without leaven beside the altar, because it is most holy.

13 You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your share and your sons’ share of the food offerings to the LORD; for this is what I have been commanded.

14 And you and your sons and daughters may eat the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution in a ceremonially clean place, because these portions have been assigned to you and your children from the peace offerings of the sons of Israel.

15 They are to bring the thigh of the contribution and the breast of the wave offering, together with the fat portions of the food offerings, to wave as a wave offering before the LORD. It will belong permanently to you and your children, as the LORD has commanded.”

16 Later, Moses searched carefully for the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it had been burned up. He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked,

17 “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the holy place? For it is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the congregation by making atonement for them before the LORD.

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

19 But Aaron replied to Moses, “Behold, this very day 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 sight of the LORD?”

20 And when Moses heard this explanation, he was satisfied.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Original words

And Moses מֹשֶׁ֜ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר H1696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition Aaron אַהֲרֹ֗ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . וְאֶ֣ל H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and his remaining הַנּֽוֹתָרִים֒ H3498 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural sons בָּנָיו֮ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Eleazar אֶ֠לְעָזָר H499 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . וְאֶל־ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and Ithamar אִ֨יתָמָ֥ר׀ H385 Noun - proper - masculine singular Take קְח֣וּ H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the grain offering הַמִּנְחָ֗ה H4503 Article | Noun - feminine singular that remains הַנּוֹתֶ֙רֶת֙ H3498 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular from the food offerings מֵאִשֵּׁ֣י H801 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct to the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and eat it וְאִכְל֥וּהָ H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | third person feminine singular without leaven מַצּ֖וֹת H4682 Noun - feminine plural beside אֵ֣צֶל H681 Preposition the altar הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ H4196 Article | Noun - masculine singular because כִּ֛י H3588 Conjunction it [is] הִֽוא׃ H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular most קֹ֥דֶשׁ H6944 Noun - masculine singular construct holy קָֽדָשִׁ֖ים H6944 Noun - masculine plural
Verse 13

Original words

You shall eat וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural - אֹתָהּ֙ H853 Direct object marker | third person feminine singular it in a holy קָדֹ֔שׁ H6918 Adjective - masculine singular place בְּמָק֣וֹם H4725 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular because כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction it הִ֔וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular is your share חָקְךָ֤ H2706 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular . . . וְחָק־ H2706 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct and your sons’ share בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular of the food offerings מֵאִשֵּׁ֖י H801 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct to the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular for כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction this is what כֵ֖ן H3651 Adverb I have been commanded צֻוֵּֽיתִי׃ H6680 Verb - Pual - Perfect - first person common singular
Verse 14

Original words

And וְאֵת֩ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker you אַתָּ֕ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular and your sons וּבָנֶ֥יךָ H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and daughters וּבְנֹתֶ֖יךָ H1323 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular . . . אִתָּ֑ךְ H854 Preposition | second person masculine singular may eat תֹּֽאכְלוּ֙ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural the breast חֲזֵ֨ה H2373 Noun - masculine singular construct of the wave offering הַתְּנוּפָ֜ה H8573 Article | Noun - feminine singular - וְאֵ֣ת׀ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the thigh שׁ֣וֹק H7785 Noun - feminine singular construct of the contribution הַתְּרוּמָ֗ה H8641 Article | Noun - feminine singular in a ceremonially clean טָה֔וֹר H2889 Adjective - masculine singular place בְּמָק֣וֹם H4725 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular because כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction these portions חָקְךָ֤ H2706 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular . . . וְחָק־ H2706 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct have been assigned נִתְּנ֔וּ H5414 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural to you and your children בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular vvv מִזִּבְחֵ֥י H2077 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct from the peace offerings שַׁלְמֵ֖י H8002 Noun - masculine plural construct of the sons בְּנֵ֥י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

They are to bring יָבִ֔יאוּ H935 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural the thigh שׁ֣וֹק H7785 Noun - feminine singular construct of the contribution הַתְּרוּמָ֞ה H8641 Article | Noun - feminine singular and the breast וַחֲזֵ֣ה H2373 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of the wave offering הַתְּנוּפָ֗ה H8573 Article | Noun - feminine singular together with עַ֣ל H5921 Preposition the fat portions הַחֲלָבִים֙ H2459 Article | Noun - masculine plural of the food offerings אִשֵּׁ֤י H801 Noun - masculine plural construct to wave לְהָנִ֥יף H5130 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct as a wave offering תְּנוּפָ֖ה H8573 Noun - feminine singular before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular It will belong permanently עוֹלָ֔ם H5769 Noun - masculine singular to וְהָיָ֨ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular you and your children וּלְבָנֶ֤יךָ H1121 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular . . . אִתְּךָ֙ H854 Preposition | second person masculine singular . . . לְחָק־ H2706 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct as כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular has commanded צִוָּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

Later וְאֵ֣ת׀ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Moses מֹשֶׁ֖ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular searched carefully דָּרֹ֥שׁ H1875 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . דָּרַ֛שׁ H1875 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular for the goat שְׂעִ֣יר H8163 Noun - masculine singular construct of the sin offering הַֽחַטָּ֗את H2403 Article | Noun - feminine singular and behold וְהִנֵּ֣ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection it had been burned up שֹׂרָ֑ף H8313 Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person masculine singular He was angry וַ֠יִּקְצֹף H7107 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular with עַל־ H5921 Preposition Eleazar אֶלְעָזָ֤ר H499 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and Ithamar אִֽיתָמָר֙ H385 Noun - proper - masculine singular Aaron’s אַהֲרֹ֔ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular remaining הַנּוֹתָרִ֖ם H3498 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural sons בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct and asked לֵאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 17

Original words

Why מַדּ֗וּעַ H4069 Interrogative didn’t you לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle eat אֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם H398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the sin offering הַֽחַטָּאת֙ H2403 Article | Noun - feminine singular in the holy הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular place בִּמְק֣וֹם H4725 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct For כִּ֛י H3588 Conjunction it הִ֑וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular - וְאֹתָ֣הּ׀ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | third person feminine singular is most קֹ֥דֶשׁ H6944 Noun - masculine singular construct holy קָֽדָשִׁ֖ים H6944 Noun - masculine plural it was given נָתַ֣ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to you לָכֶ֗ם Preposition | second person masculine plural to take away לָשֵׂאת֙ H5375 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the guilt עֲוֺ֣ן H5771 Noun - common singular construct of the congregation הָעֵדָ֔ה H5712 Article | Noun - feminine singular by making atonement לְכַפֵּ֥ר H3722 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct for them עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם H5921 Preposition | third person masculine plural before לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

Since הֵ֚ן H2005 Interjection its blood דָּמָ֔הּ H1818 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition was not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle brought הוּבָ֣א H935 Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker inside פְּנִ֑ימָה H6441 Adverb the holy [place] הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular you should have eaten אָכ֨וֹל H398 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תֹּאכְל֥וּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural - אֹתָ֛הּ H853 Direct object marker | third person feminine singular it in the sanctuary area בַּקֹּ֖דֶשׁ H6944 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular as כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative I commanded צִוֵּֽיתִי׃ H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Verse 19

Original words

But Aaron אַהֲרֹ֜ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular replied וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר H1696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֗ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular Behold הֵ֣ן H2005 Interjection this very day הַ֠יּוֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular they presented הִקְרִ֨יבוּ H7126 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker their sin offering חַטָּאתָ֤ם H2403 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and their burnt offering עֹֽלָתָם֙ H5930 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular Since these things כָּאֵ֑לֶּה H428 Preposition-k | Pronoun - common plural have happened to me וַתִּקְרֶ֥אנָה H7122 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural - אֹתִ֖י H853 Direct object marker | first person common singular if I had eaten וְאָכַ֤לְתִּי H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular the sin offering חַטָּאת֙ H2403 Noun - feminine singular today הַיּ֔וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular would it have been acceptable הַיִּיטַ֖ב H3190 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular in the sight בְּעֵינֵ֥י H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc of the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

And when Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular heard this [explanation] וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular he was satisfied וַיִּיטַ֖ב H3190 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . בְּעֵינָֽיו׃פ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.