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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh’s anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him, because he put his hand on the ark; and he died there before God.
- KJV And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.
- NKJV Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.
- NASB But the anger of the Lord burned against Uzza, so He struck him because he had put out his hand toward the ark; and he died there before God.
- NLT Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The LORD struck Uzza dead for touching the ark, and he died on the spot. The severity reveals the holiness of God and the seriousness of disobedience.
Overview
God's anger 'burned against Uzza' and he died instantly for laying his hand on the ark. Though Uzza's intent may seem good, the act violated God's explicit command and treated the holy as common. This sobering judgment teaches that God's holiness is not to be trifled with and that good intentions cannot replace obedience. It anticipates the gospel truth that sinful humanity can approach a holy God only on His terms, ultimately through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Chr 15:15And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
- 1 Chr 15:13It 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.”
- Num 4:15When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Sam 6:19But 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.
- Lev 10:1–3Now 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.
- 2 Chr 26:16–20But when Uzziah grew powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
- 1 Cor 11:30–32That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
- Josh 6:6So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.”
- Num 16:35And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
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Original language
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