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

12And 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.

13You 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.

14And 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.

15They 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.”

16Later, 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.

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

19But 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?”

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

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Original words

And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיְדַבֵּ֨רH1696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶֽל־H413PrepositionAaronאַהֲרֹ֗ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וְאֶ֣לH413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand his remainingהַנּֽוֹתָרִים֒H3498Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralsonsבָּנָיו֮H1121Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularEleazarאֶ֠לְעָזָרH499Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand Ithamarאִ֨יתָמָ֥ר׀H385Noun - proper - masculine singularTakeקְח֣וּH3947Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe grain offeringהַמִּנְחָ֗הH4503Article | Noun - feminine singularthat remainsהַנּוֹתֶ֙רֶת֙H3498Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularfrom the food offeringsמֵאִשֵּׁ֣יH801Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural constructto the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand eat itוְאִכְל֥וּהָH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | third person feminine singularwithout leavenמַצּ֖וֹתH4682Noun - feminine pluralbesideאֵ֣צֶלH681Prepositionthe altarהַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַH4196Article | Noun - masculine singularbecauseכִּ֛יH3588Conjunctionit [is]הִֽוא׃H1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularmostקֹ֥דֶשׁH6944Noun - masculine singular constructholyקָֽדָשִׁ֖יםH6944Noun - masculine plural
Verse 13

Original words

You shall eatוַאֲכַלְתֶּ֤םH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural-אֹתָהּ֙H853Direct object marker | third person feminine singularit in a holyקָדֹ֔שׁH6918Adjective - masculine singularplaceבְּמָק֣וֹםH4725Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularbecauseכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionitהִ֔ואH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularis your shareחָקְךָ֤H2706Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular. . .וְחָק־H2706Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructand your sons’ shareבָּנֶ֙יךָ֙H1121Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularof the food offeringsמֵאִשֵּׁ֖יH801Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural constructto the LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularforכִּי־H3588Conjunctionthis is whatכֵ֖ןH3651AdverbI have been commandedצֻוֵּֽיתִי׃H6680Verb - Pual - Perfect - first person common singular
Verse 14

Original words

Andוְאֵת֩H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markeryouאַתָּ֕הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularand your sonsוּבָנֶ֥יךָH1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularand daughtersוּבְנֹתֶ֖יךָH1323Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular. . .אִתָּ֑ךְH854Preposition | second person masculine singularmay eatתֹּֽאכְלוּ֙H398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralthe breastחֲזֵ֨הH2373Noun - masculine singular constructof the wave offeringהַתְּנוּפָ֜הH8573Article | Noun - feminine singular-וְאֵ֣ת׀H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand the thighשׁ֣וֹקH7785Noun - feminine singular constructof the contributionהַתְּרוּמָ֗הH8641Article | Noun - feminine singularin a ceremonially cleanטָה֔וֹרH2889Adjective - masculine singularplaceבְּמָק֣וֹםH4725Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularbecauseכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthese portionsחָקְךָ֤H2706Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular. . .וְחָק־H2706Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructhave been assignedנִתְּנ֔וּH5414Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralto you and your childrenבָּנֶ֙יךָ֙H1121Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularvvvמִזִּבְחֵ֥יH2077Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural constructfrom the peace offeringsשַׁלְמֵ֖יH8002Noun - masculine plural constructof the sonsבְּנֵ֥יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

They are to bringיָבִ֔יאוּH935Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe thighשׁ֣וֹקH7785Noun - feminine singular constructof the contributionהַתְּרוּמָ֞הH8641Article | Noun - feminine singularand the breastוַחֲזֵ֣הH2373Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof the wave offeringהַתְּנוּפָ֗הH8573Article | Noun - feminine singulartogether withעַ֣לH5921Prepositionthe fat portionsהַחֲלָבִים֙H2459Article | Noun - masculine pluralof the food offeringsאִשֵּׁ֤יH801Noun - masculine plural constructto waveלְהָנִ֥יףH5130Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructas a wave offeringתְּנוּפָ֖הH8573Noun - feminine singularbeforeלִפְנֵ֣יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularIt will belong permanentlyעוֹלָ֔םH5769Noun - masculine singulartoוְהָיָ֨הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularyou and your childrenוּלְבָנֶ֤יךָH1121Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular. . .אִתְּךָ֙H854Preposition | second person masculine singular. . .לְחָק־H2706Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructasכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas commandedצִוָּ֥הH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

Laterוְאֵ֣ת׀H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerMosesמֹשֶׁ֖הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularsearched carefullyדָּרֹ֥שׁH1875Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .דָּרַ֛שׁH1875Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularfor the goatשְׂעִ֣ירH8163Noun - masculine singular constructof the sin offeringהַֽחַטָּ֗אתH2403Article | Noun - feminine singularand beholdוְהִנֵּ֣הH2009Conjunctive waw | Interjectionit had been burned upשֹׂרָ֑ףH8313Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person masculine singularHe was angryוַ֠יִּקְצֹףH7107Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwithעַל־H5921PrepositionEleazarאֶלְעָזָ֤רH499Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וְעַל־H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand Ithamarאִֽיתָמָר֙H385Noun - proper - masculine singularAaron’sאַהֲרֹ֔ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularremainingהַנּוֹתָרִ֖םH3498Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralsonsבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructand askedלֵאמֹֽר׃H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 17

Original words

Whyמַדּ֗וּעַH4069Interrogativedidn’t youלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleeatאֲכַלְתֶּ֤םH398Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe sin offeringהַֽחַטָּאת֙H2403Article | Noun - feminine singularin the holyהַקֹּ֔דֶשׁH6944Article | Noun - masculine singularplaceבִּמְק֣וֹםH4725Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructForכִּ֛יH3588Conjunctionitהִ֑ואH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singular-וְאֹתָ֣הּ׀H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | third person feminine singularis mostקֹ֥דֶשׁH6944Noun - masculine singular constructholyקָֽדָשִׁ֖יםH6944Noun - masculine pluralit was givenנָתַ֣ןH5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto youלָכֶ֗םPreposition | second person masculine pluralto take awayלָשֵׂאת֙H5375Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe guiltעֲוֺ֣ןH5771Noun - common singular constructof the congregationהָעֵדָ֔הH5712Article | Noun - feminine singularby making atonementלְכַפֵּ֥רH3722Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructfor themעֲלֵיהֶ֖םH5921Preposition | third person masculine pluralbeforeלִפְנֵ֥יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

Sinceהֵ֚ןH2005Interjectionits bloodדָּמָ֔הּH1818Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionwas notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlebroughtהוּבָ֣אH935Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerinsideפְּנִ֑ימָהH6441Adverbthe holy [place]הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁH6944Article | Noun - masculine singularyou should have eatenאָכ֨וֹלH398Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .תֹּאכְל֥וּH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural-אֹתָ֛הּH853Direct object marker | third person feminine singularit in the sanctuary areaבַּקֹּ֖דֶשׁH6944Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularasכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeI commandedצִוֵּֽיתִי׃H6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Verse 19

Original words

But Aaronאַהֲרֹ֜ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularrepliedוַיְדַבֵּ֨רH1696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֗הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularBeholdהֵ֣ןH2005Interjectionthis very dayהַ֠יּוֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularthey presentedהִקְרִ֨יבוּH7126Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheir sin offeringחַטָּאתָ֤םH2403Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand their burnt offeringעֹֽלָתָם֙H5930Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralbeforeלִפְנֵ֣יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularSince these thingsכָּאֵ֑לֶּהH428Preposition-k | Pronoun - common pluralhave happened to meוַתִּקְרֶ֥אנָהH7122Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural-אֹתִ֖יH853Direct object marker | first person common singularif I had eatenוְאָכַ֤לְתִּיH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularthe sin offeringחַטָּאת֙H2403Noun - feminine singulartodayהַיּ֔וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularwould it have been acceptableהַיִּיטַ֖בH3190Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularin the sightבְּעֵינֵ֥יH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdcof the LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

And when Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularheard this [explanation]וַיִּשְׁמַ֣עH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhe was satisfiedוַיִּיטַ֖בH3190Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .בְּעֵינָֽיו׃פH5869Preposition-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.