2 Samuel 6:7 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

◄ 2 Samuel 6:7 ►

New International Version
The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

New Living Translation
Then the LORD’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.

English Standard Version
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.

Berean Standard Bible
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

King James Bible
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

New King James Version
Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.

New American Standard Bible
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.

NASB 1995
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.

NASB 1977
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the anger of Yahweh burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.

Amplified Bible
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God.

American Standard Version
And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD God was very angry with Uzzah for doing this, and he killed Uzzah right there beside the chest.

English Revised Version
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD became angry with Uzzah, so God killed him there for his lack of respect. He died beside the ark of God.

Good News Translation
At once the LORD God became angry with Uzzah and killed him because of his irreverence. Uzzah died there beside the Covenant Box,

International Standard Version
Just then, the anger of the LORD blazed against Uzzah, and God struck him down right there because of his failure, and he died there beside the Ark of God.

Majority Standard Bible
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

NET Bible
The LORD was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him on the spot for his negligence. He died right there beside the ark of God.

New Heart English Bible
And the LORD became angry at Uzza; and God struck him there for his error; and there he died before God.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

World English Bible
Yahweh’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by God’s ark.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and the anger of YHWH burns against Uzzah, and God strikes him there for the error, and he dies there by the Ark of God.

Young's Literal Translation
and the anger of Jehovah burneth against Uzzah, and God smiteth him there for the error, and he dieth there by the ark of God.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the anger of Jehovah will kindle against Uzzah, and God will strike him there for the error, and he will die there with the ark of God.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the indignation of the Lord was enkindled against Oza, and he struck him for his rashness: and he died there before the ark of God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the indignation of the Lord was enraged against Uzzah. And he struck him for his temerity. And there he died, beside the ark of God.

New American Bible
Then the LORD became angry with Uzzah; God struck him on that spot, and he died there in God’s presence.

New Revised Standard Version
The anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there because he reached out his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and the LORD smote him there because he put forth his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the anger of LORD JEHOVAH was kindled against Azah, and LORD JEHOVAH struck him there because he reached his hand, and he died there at the ark of God

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord was very angry with Oza; and God smote him there: and he died there by the ark of the Lord before God.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Uzzah Touches the Ark
…6When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. 7And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God. 8Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah; so he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Chronicles 13:9-10
When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. / 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.

Numbers 4:15
When 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.

Leviticus 10:1-2
Now 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. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.

1 Samuel 6:19
But 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.

Exodus 19:21-22
and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish. / Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”

Numbers 16:35
And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

1 Chronicles 15:13
It 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.”

Deuteronomy 32:51-52
For at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence. / Although you shall see from a distance the land that I am giving the Israelites, you shall not enter it.”

1 Corinthians 11:30
That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

Acts 5:1-11
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. / With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. / Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? ...

Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. / “For our God is a consuming fire.”

1 Corinthians 10:6
These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.

Treasury of Scripture

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

God smote

Leviticus 10:1-3
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…

1 Samuel 6:19
And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

1 Chronicles 13:10
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.

error.

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Act Anger Ark Burned Burneth Burning Death Destruction Died Dieth Error Forth Hand Kindled Lord's Smiteth Smote Struck Uzzah Wrath

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Act Anger Ark Burned Burneth Burning Death Destruction Died Dieth Error Forth Hand Kindled Lord's Smiteth Smote Struck Uzzah Wrath

2 Samuel 6

1. David fetches the ark from Kirjath Jearim on a new cart,
6. Uzzah is smitten at Perez Uzzah
9. God blesses Obed-Edom for the ark
12. David brings the ark into Zion with sacrifices, and dances before it;
16. for which Michal despises him
17. He places it in a tabernacle with great joy and feasting
20. Michal, reproving David for his joy, is childless to her death

Berean Study Bible

And the anger of the LORD burned
The phrase "anger of the LORD" in Hebrew is "אַף יְהוָה" (aph YHWH), which conveys a deep, righteous indignation. In the context of the Old Testament, God's anger is not capricious but is a response to sin and disobedience. The burning anger signifies the intensity of God's holiness and justice. It serves as a reminder that God is not to be approached lightly or with presumption. This moment underscores the seriousness with which God views His commands and the reverence due to Him.

against Uzzah
Uzzah, whose name means "strength," was a Levite, and his role was to assist in the transportation of the Ark of the Covenant. His actions, though seemingly well-intentioned, violated the specific instructions given by God regarding the handling of the Ark. This highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands, regardless of human reasoning or intent. Uzzah's account is a sobering reminder that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His instructions are to be followed precisely.

and God struck him down there
The Hebrew word for "struck" is "נָכָה" (nakah), which means to smite or kill. This action by God was immediate and decisive, illustrating the seriousness of Uzzah's irreverence. It serves as a powerful lesson on the holiness of God and the consequences of approaching Him without the proper respect and obedience. The immediacy of God's judgment emphasizes that His holiness cannot be compromised.

for his irreverence
The term "irreverence" in this context refers to a lack of respect or proper fear of God. Uzzah's act of touching the Ark, which was strictly forbidden, demonstrated a failure to honor the sacredness of God's presence. This incident teaches that reverence for God is not merely about external actions but is a matter of the heart. It calls believers to examine their own attitudes and actions in their approach to worship and service to God.

and he died there
The death of Uzzah was not just a physical end but a spiritual lesson for the people of Israel. It served as a stark warning about the consequences of disobedience and irreverence. This event would have been a sobering reminder to the Israelites of the need to uphold the sanctity of God's commands and the seriousness of His presence among them.

by the ark of God
The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object in Israel, representing the very presence of God among His people. It was a symbol of God's covenant, His law, and His mercy seat. The fact that Uzzah died by the Ark underscores the holiness associated with it and the need for the Israelites to approach it with the utmost reverence and obedience. This incident reinforces the idea that God's presence is both a source of blessing and a call to holiness.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) For his error.--The original is hero very obscure: 1Chronicles 13:10 has "because he put his hand to the ark." (Comp. 1Samuel 6:19.) Especial sacredness was by the law attached to the ark, and it was strictly commanded, that when it was to be moved it should be first covered by the priests, and then borne by the Levites by means of its staves; but until it was covered, the Levites might not look upon it, and might not touch it, upon pain of death (Numbers 4:5; Numbers 4:15; Numbers 4:19-20). Uzzah was probably a Levite, or, at any rate, had been so long in the house with the ark that he ought to have made himself familiar with the law in regard to it. What may seem, at first thought, an exceeding severe penalty for a well-meaning, though unlawful act, is seen on reflection to have been a very necessary manifestation of the Divine displeasure; for this act involved not only a violation of the letter of the law (of which David also was guilty), but a want of reverence for the majesty of God as symbolised by the ark, and showed a disposition to profane familiarity with sacred things. "Uzzah was a type of all who, with good intentions, humanly speaking, yet with unsanctified minds, interfere in the affairs of the kingdom of God, from the notion that they are in danger, and with the hope of saving them" (O. von Gerlach). Judgments of this kind were, however, temporal, and give in themselves no indication of the treatment of the offender beyond the grave.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - Error. The word so translated is one quite unknown, and Ewald renders it "unexpectedly." The Revised Version puts "rashness" in the margin. But all three alike are mere guesses, of which "error" is that approved by Keil and others. The Syriac has the same reading here as that found in 1 Chronicles 13:10, namely, "because he put his hand to the ark." This would require the insertion of four or five letters in the Hebrew. By the ark. The word translated "accompanying the ark" in ver. 4.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And the anger
אַ֤ף (’ap̄)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire

of the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

burned
וַיִּֽחַר־ (way·yi·ḥar-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2734: To glow, grow warm, to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy

against Uzzah,
בְּעֻזָּ֔ה (bə·‘uz·zāh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5798: Uzza -- four Israelites

and God
הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

struck him
וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ (way·yak·kê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

down
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

on the spot
שָׁ֛ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

for his irreverence,
הַשַּׁ֑ל (haš·šal)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7944: Perhaps error

and he died
וַיָּ֣מָת (way·yā·māṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

there
שָׁ֔ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

beside
עִ֖ם (‘im)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

the ark
אֲר֥וֹן (’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of God.
הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

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OT History: 2 Samuel 6:7 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)