But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire ¹  before the Lord.

biblegateway Num 26:61

But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

but Nadab and Abihu died when they presented unauthorized fire before the LORD.

But Nadab and Abihu had died because they offered unauthorized fire in the LORD’S presence.

biblegateway Num 26:61

But Nadab and Abihu died when they made an offering before the LORD with unauthorised fire.)

But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.

bibleoremus Num 26:61

But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered illicit fire before the LORD.

Nadab and Abihu died because they had presented illicit fire before the LORD.

biblegateway Num 26:61

And Nadab and Abihu died when they offered profane fire before the LORD.

And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

biblegateway Num 26:61

But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire ¹  before the Lord.

¹ tn The expression אֵשׁ זָרָה (’esh zarah, “strange fire”) seems imprecise and has been interpreted numerous ways (see the helpful summary in J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC 4], 132-33). The infraction may have involved any of the following or a combination thereof: (1) using coals from some place other than the burnt offering altar (i.e., “unauthorized coals” according to J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:598; cf. Lev 16:12 and cf. “unauthorized person” [אִישׁ זָר, ’ish zar] in Num 16:40 [17:5 HT], NASB “layman”), (2) using the wrong kind of incense (cf. the Exod 30:9 regulation against “strange incense” [קְטֹרֶת זָרָה, qÿtoret zarah] on the incense altar and the possible connection to Exod 30:34-38), (3) performing an incense offering at an unprescribed time (B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 59), or (4) entering the Holy of Holies at an inappropriate time (Lev 16:1-2).

¹ sn This event is narrated in Lev 10:1-7.