Strange Fire

Biblical Text

Strange fire appears in Leviticus 10:1–2. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, put strange fire in it, "which he commanded them not," and offered incense before the LORD. To offer incense is to burn it so that its smoke rises. Then fire went out from the LORD and devoured the two men, and they died on the spot. Moses then conveyed what God had said: "I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified"; and Aaron held his peace (Leviticus 10:3). Numbers 3:4 and 26:61 likewise record that the two men died when they offered strange fire and that they had no children.

Background

This incident took place immediately after Aaron and his sons were consecrated as priests. Just before it, in Leviticus 9:24, fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering on the altar, and Leviticus 6:12–13 commands that the fire on the altar never be allowed to go out. Leviticus 16:12 prescribes that on the Day of Atonement the high priest fill his censer with fire from the altar of burnt offering to offer incense. On the basis of these texts, it is widely held that the strange fire was fire not taken from the appointed altar.

The Hebrew for "strange fire" is 'esh zarah. The word zarah means "strange, foreign, unauthorized." The King James Version renders the phrase "strange fire." Exodus 30:9 uses the same word when it forbids offering "strange incense" on the altar of incense.

Broader Biblical Significance

This incident illustrates the theme of holiness: those who draw near to God must do so in the manner God has prescribed. Leviticus 16:1–2 refers to the death of Aaron's two sons as it introduces the regulation that the high priest is not to enter the Most Holy Place at any time he chooses. The account in Numbers 16, in which the company of Korah took censers to offer incense and was consumed by fire, is also read in connection with this theme.

The expression "strange fire" does not appear in the New Testament. Nevertheless, John 4:20–23, which speaks of worship in spirit and in truth, and the passage surrounding Hebrews 12:28, which calls believers to serve God with reverence and godly fear and describes God as a consuming fire, are often cited alongside this text.

Interpretations and Debates

The text does not state exactly what the strange fire was or what motivated the two men. Explanations commonly added to the account should be recognized as interpretations and distinguished from the text itself.

• Drunkenness: Because Leviticus 10:8–11 forbids wine and strong drink when entering the tabernacle of the congregation, an interpretation dating back to Jewish rabbinic tradition holds that the two men were intoxicated.
• Pride and overstepping authority: This interpretation holds that they approached on their own initiative, beyond the appointed time or their assigned duties.
• Principles of worship: The Reformed tradition, especially the Puritans, cited this passage in support of the so-called regulative principle, which holds that only what Scripture commands should be included in worship. By contrast, Lutherans, Anglicans, and others have held that what Scripture does not forbid may be used in worship.
• The charismatic controversy: In 2013 the American pastor John MacArthur criticized the charismatic movement through a conference and a book titled Strange Fire. Charismatics responded that his critique unfairly generalized about the work of the Holy Spirit. This debate is treated in Cessationism and Continuationism.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church this passage is frequently cited in sermons on worship. In such sermons, strange fire is often applied to worship that places human zeal or motives ahead of God's will. What counts as strange fire, however, varies by preacher and denomination.