Leviticus 10:1
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
Cross-references
In Leviticus 22:9, priests are warned to keep God's ordinances to avoid death, directly applying the lesson of Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized fire.
Leviticus 9:24 shows fire from the Lord accepting the proper offering, contrasting with the unauthorized fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu.
In Leviticus 16:1, the Lord speaks after the death of Aaron's sons, directly referencing this incident as the reason for the Day of Atonement instructions.
Leviticus 16:12 prescribes taking fire from the altar for the Day of Atonement — contrasting with the unauthorized fire Nadab and Abihu used.
Leviticus 1:7 directs priests to put fire on the altar — the proper source for fire, contrasting with the 'strange fire' Nadab and Abihu used.
Leviticus 8:35 commands obeying all requirements to avoid death during consecration — the same principle violated here, resulting in death.
2 Chronicles 26:16-20 recounts Uzziah's unauthorized incense offering leading to leprosy, a direct parallel to Nadab and Abihu's punishment.
Numbers 26:61 again records that Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire — a parallel summary of the event.
In Numbers 16:46, Aaron uses incense to stop the plague, contrasting with Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized incense that brought judgment.
Numbers 16:18 describes Korah's rebels offering incense with censers, directly paralleling Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized offering that led to judgment.
Jeremiah 7:31 uses the same phrase 'which I did not command' for child sacrifice — both are actions God never commanded, leading to judgment.
Jeremiah 19:5 repeats 'which I did not command' about child sacrifice — echoing the same sin of offering what God never required.
Jeremiah 32:35 again says 'I did not command them' regarding child sacrifice — reinforcing that unauthorized worship brings divine wrath.
Numbers 3:4 directly recounts the same incident — Nadab and Abihu died for offering unauthorized fire before the Lord.
Deuteronomy 12:32 commands not to add or subtract from God's commands — directly violated by offering unauthorized fire here.
Exodus 40:27 shows Moses correctly burning incense on the altar, contrasting with Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized act.
In Luke 1:9-11, Zechariah's lawful incense offering contrasts with Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized fire that brought judgment.
Exodus 30:9 explicitly commands not to offer unauthorized incense, which is exactly what Nadab and Abihu violated in Leviticus 10:1.
Exodus 30:1-9 commands the regular incense offering on the golden altar, which Nadab and Abihu violated by offering unauthorized fire.
In Exodus 28:1, Nadab and Abihu are appointed as priests, making their later unauthorized offering a direct violation of their sacred office.
1 Samuel 6:19 describes men struck dead for looking into the ark — a parallel example of irreverence toward holy things resulting in immediate death.
2 Samuel 6:7 records Uzzah's death for touching the ark, mirroring the consequence of Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized approach to God's holiness.
1 Chronicles 6:3 lists Nadab and Abihu as sons of Aaron, directly referencing the same individuals whose story is told in Leviticus 10:1.
1 Chronicles 13:10 repeats Uzzah's death for touching the ark, another instance of divine judgment for mishandling sacred objects.
1 Chronicles 24:1 lists Nadab and Abihu among Aaron's sons, providing their genealogical context within the priestly divisions.
Ezekiel 22:26 condemns priests who profane holy things and fail to distinguish between holy and common, mirroring Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized offering.
Acts 5:1–11 recounts Ananias and Sapphira struck dead for lying to God, a parallel immediate judgment for irreverence in worship.
Exodus 30:20 requires priests to wash to avoid death when ministering — another specific command whose neglect leads to death, like unauthorized fire.
1 Corinthians 11:27 warns of judgment for unworthy participation in the Lord's Supper, echoing the danger of approaching God improperly.
Exodus 19:22 warns priests to consecrate themselves to avoid God's breaking out — a parallel danger of approaching God improperly, as Nadab and Abihu experienced.
In Exodus 24:1, Nadab and Abihu are invited with Moses and Aaron to approach the Lord, highlighting their privileged position before their sin.
In Exodus 24:9, Nadab and Abihu ascend the mountain with the elders, further emphasizing their close access to God that they later abused.
1 Chronicles 23:13 describes Aaron's holy calling to minister before the Lord, contrasting with Nadab and Abihu's profane offering that led to death.
In Psalm 141:2, incense symbolizes acceptable prayer, contrasting sharply with the unauthorized incense that brought fire and death on Nadab and Abihu.
Numbers 3:3 lists Nadab and Abihu among the anointed priests — underscoring their legitimate position before their unauthorized act.
Exodus 30:34-36 prescribes the holy incense formula; Nadab and Abihu likely offered a different mixture.
Deuteronomy 4:2 prohibits adding to God's commands; Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized fire exemplifies this sin by offering what God had not commanded.
Numbers 16:17 repeats the instruction to bring censers with incense — echoing the censer use in Leviticus 10:1.
Numbers 16:7 commands putting fire and incense in censers — mirroring the unauthorized offering of Nadab and Abihu.
Numbers 16:6 instructs Korah to take censers — a similar act to Nadab and Abihu's, but in the context of rebellion.
Jeremiah 44:8 describes burning incense to other gods provoking divine anger, echoing how unauthorized incense provoked immediate judgment in Leviticus 10:1.
Exodus 37:29 records the making of the sacred incense, showing what was available for legitimate use.
Hebrews 2:2 notes that every transgression under the law received just punishment, a principle exemplified by Nadab and Abihu's fate.
Revelation 8:3-5 presents incense with prayers and fire from the altar, echoing the incense and divine fire in Leviticus 10:1 but in a different context.