The story of Nadab and Abihu offering “strange fire” before the Lord in Leviticus 10:1-3 has puzzled many Bible readers over the years. Here is the full account:
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: ‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’” Aaron remained silent. (Leviticus 10:1-3)
This incident occurs soon after Aaron and his sons were consecrated as priests and had just offered their first sacrifices (Leviticus 9). Nadab and Abihu were two of Aaron’s four sons who were set apart to be priests before the Lord (Exodus 28:1). Yet right after seeing God’s glory fill the tabernacle (Leviticus 9:23-24), they offered this “strange fire” and were struck dead.
Why did this happen? What was wrong with their fire? Let’s explore some of the main views on the meaning behind God’s severe judgment on Nadab and Abihu for offering “strange fire” before Him:
1. It was not the fire God commanded
The most straightforward understanding is that Nadab and Abihu took fire that was not authorized by God to burn incense. Leviticus 16:12 specifies that the fire used in the tabernacle was to come from the bronze altar of burnt offering, not from any other source. God had just supernaturally lit the altar fire Himself (Leviticus 9:24), so for Nadab and Abihu to bring “strange” or “unauthorized” fire was to disobey His specific command.
Some speculate they were drunk with wine (based on the prohibition in 10:8-11 against drinking) and got fire from another source instead of the altar. But whatever the case, it seems Nadab and Abihu deliberately disregarded God’s instructions on how to perform their duties, and it cost them their lives.
2. It was offered at the wrong time or place
Nadab and Abihu may have presented their incense offering at the wrong time or place in the tabernacle. The sacred incense was only to be burned at a specific time of day on the altar of incense inside the Holy Place (Exodus 30:7-8). But the text implies Nadab and Abihu offered this fire “before the Lord,” which could mean they presented it directly in front of the curtain screening the Holy of Holies where God’s presence dwelled.
If so, they were presumptuous in taking upon themselves duties only allowed for the high priest once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:12-13). However, the exact where and when of their unauthorized fire remains unclear.
3. It represented self-willed worship
Nadab and Abihu may have been seeking to worship God according to their own preferences rather than what He prescribed. Even if they took fire from the bronze altar, some see their “strange fire” as a form of self-made religion where they devised their own way to approach God apart from His instructions.
Their rash and careless actions showed irreverence for the protocols God detailed for entering His presence in the tabernacle. He had set forth strict guidelines for how consecrated priests should conduct the sacrifices and offerings. But Nadab and Abihu chose to disregard Yahweh’s requirements for properly approaching Him.
4. It was an act of outright rebellion
Some interpreters believe Nadab and Abihu were deliberately rebelling against the Lord with their “strange fire.” Rather than mere carelessness or self-willed worship, this view sees them as intentionally flouting God’s commands and doing what He prohibited.
They knew full well how God wanted things done in this dedication ceremony for the new priests and offerings. Yet in an act of brazen defiance soon after seeing God’s glory fill the tabernacle, they spurned His prescribed worship to offer incense their own way.
This “strange fire” was not just unauthorized but offered in insolent rebellion against Yahweh’s revealed will. Such defiance immediately cost them their lives.
5. It defiled their priestly service
Another angle sees their “unauthorized fire” as polluting and defiling their priestly service. Just after being set apart for holy duties, they profaned their office and calling by this careless disregard for God’s protocols.
Yahweh had commanded His priests to distinguish between the holy and the profane or common (Leviticus 10:10), yet Nadab and Abihu failed to honor what was holy about their priestly vocation. They offered something unacceptable and “strange” before God, corrupting their worship and ministry.
6. It displayed drunkenness or pride
Two common traditional views are that Nadab and Abihu were either drunk or proud when they offered this “strange fire.” God warned their father Aaron afterward not to drink wine before entering the Tent of Meeting (Leviticus 10:8-11), so some think Nadab and Abihu were drunk when making this foolish offering.
Others propose that in their pride, they took priestly duties upon themselves that were not theirs to fulfill. Having just been consecrated as regular priests, they grasped at unauthorized roles instead of humbly serving in the capacity God called them to.
7. It symbolized profaning holy things
Looking beyond just Nadab and Abihu themselves, some see this “strange fire” episode as symbolic of the dangers of profaning what God calls holy. Just after the tabernacle was established along with its consecrated priests and furnishings, they defiled its holy space with their “unauthorized fire.”
In a broader sense, this can be taken as a warning that God’s people should always reverently honor what He deems holy. Those who treat lightly what God calls sacred will face serious consequences. His presence cannot abide irreverence or defiance of what He declares holy.
8. It pictures flawed worship and need for atonement
In terms of typology, many see Nadab and Abihu’s “strange fire” as symbolic of flawed worship and the need for atonement. Though set apart as priests, they sinned in disobeying God’s instructions for proper worship and approaching Him.
This illustrates the constant need even consecrated priests have for making atonement for sins through blood sacrifice. It points ahead to Christ’s perfect priesthood and atoning sacrifice that fully cleanses God’s people from all defilement of sin.
9. It warns against syncretism
Some commentators propose that Nadab and Abihu’s “unauthorized fire” was an early expression of religious syncretism – mixing elements of other belief systems into the pure worship of Yahweh. Though this seems unlikely at this early stage, it became a real danger in Israel later on.
This drastic judgment impressively warns God’s people against combining pagan rituals and forms of worship with those Yahweh instituted. Only what God prescribes is acceptable in approaching Him, not what humans devise from other religions.
10. It highlights need for obedience
At core, Nadab and Abihu’s offense was disobeying clear commands of God soon after witnessing His glory inhabit the tabernacle. Though exalted as priests, they proved careless in how they worshiped Yahweh rather than carefully obedient.
This passage stands as a perpetual warning that obedience to God’s word is essential no matter how close someone may be to Him in position or privilege. Everyone must revere what the Lord calls holy.
Conclusion on the meaning of “strange fire”
While we cannot know exactly what prompted Nadab and Abihu’s “unauthorized fire,” Scripture makes clear this was no small infraction. By offering incense in a way contrary to God’s explicit instructions, they committed a grievously defiant act of sin that cost them their lives.
This shocking episode teaches how seriously God takes obedience in worship, especially among those who lead it. It also symbolizes general dangers like presumptuousness, irreverence, pride, religious syncretism, and flaws in humanity’s approaches to God.
Above all, this strange fire pictures humanity’s constant need for atonement and cleansing, foreshadowing Christ’s perfect sacrifice to make His people truly holy and acceptable worshipers of Yahweh.