2 Samuel 6:6

KJV

¶ And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook [it].

KJV (with Strong's)

And when they came {H935} to Nachon's {H5225} threshingfloor {H1637}, Uzzah {H5798} put forth {H7971} his hand to the ark {H727} of God {H430}, and took hold {H270} of it; for the oxen {H1241} shook {H8058} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

When they arrived at Nakhon's threshing-floor, the oxen stumbled; and 'Uzah put out his hand to steady the ark of God.

Berean Standard Bible

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled.

American Standard Version

And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Samuel 6:6 captures a moment of profound theological significance and tragic consequence during King David's initial attempt to transport the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. As the Ark, carried on a new cart, reached Nachon's threshingfloor, the oxen stumbled, prompting Uzzah, one of the attendants, to instinctively reach out and steady the sacred object. This seemingly well-intentioned act, however, violated God's explicit commands regarding the handling of the Ark, resulting in Uzzah's immediate death by divine judgment and halting the joyous procession in its tracks.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the narrative of King David's reign, specifically his efforts to consolidate his kingdom and establish Jerusalem as its spiritual and political capital. Following his anointing as king over all Israel and the capture of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5), David's next significant act is to bring the Ark of the Covenant, which had been at Kiriath-jearim for decades (cf. [1 Samuel 7:1-2](/1_samuel/7-1 "1 Samuel 7:1-2 - The Ark at Kiriath-jearim")), to his new city. The chapter begins with a joyous, grand procession, involving thirty thousand chosen men, music, and dancing, reflecting David's zeal. However, the method of transport—a new cart drawn by oxen—directly contravened the Mosaic Law, which stipulated that the Ark was to be carried by poles on the shoulders of the [Kohathite Levites](/numbers/4-15 "Numbers 4:15 - Kohathite Duties Regarding the Ark"). This foundational disobedience sets the stage for the tragic events at Nachon's threshingfloor, revealing a tension between human enthusiasm and divine instruction that permeates the narrative.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object in Israel, representing God's tangible presence among His people, His throne, and the very covenant He made with them. Its handling was governed by strict divine protocols detailed in the Pentateuch (e.g., Numbers 4). The incident at Nachon's threshingfloor, a common agricultural site used for separating grain from chaff, highlights the stark contrast between the mundane and the sacred. Culturally, threshingfloors were public, open spaces, making Uzzah's death a public spectacle that would have deeply impacted all witnesses. The choice of a new cart, while perhaps seeming modern or efficient, mirrored the Philistine method of returning the Ark (cf. [1 Samuel 6:7-11](/1_samuel/6-7 "1 Samuel 6:7-11 - The Philistines Return the Ark")), a method born of ignorance, not divine command. This historical precedent of God's severe judgment on those who mishandled the Ark, even the Philistines (cf. [1 Samuel 5](/1_samuel/5 "1 Samuel 5 - The Ark Among the Philistines")), should have served as a potent warning to the Israelites.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully underscores several critical themes. Firstly, it emphasizes the profound **holiness and sovereignty of God**, demonstrating that He is not to be approached on human terms or with human ingenuity, but strictly according to His revealed will. The Ark's sanctity was paramount, demanding absolute reverence and adherence to divine commands, even in seemingly urgent situations. Secondly, the event highlights the **danger of disobedience**, even when intentions appear good. Uzzah's act, while perhaps an attempt to prevent damage to the Ark, was a direct transgression of God's explicit prohibition against touching it (cf. [Numbers 4:15](/numbers/4-15 "Numbers 4:15 - Prohibition Against Touching the Ark")). This serves as a stark reminder that God's ways are higher than human ways, and His commands are non-negotiable. Finally, the narrative reveals the theme of **reverence for sacred things**, teaching that familiarity or perceived necessity does not negate the need for strict obedience and awe in the presence of the divine. The incident forces David and Israel to confront the gravity of God's holiness and the consequences of treating His sacred presence with anything less than perfect obedience.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Nachon's (Hebrew, _Nakhon'_):** This word means "prepared" or "established." The name of the threshingfloor itself, "Nachon," is ironically juxtaposed with the unpreparedness and instability of the situation. It could also be a proper name of an individual, "Nachon," whose threshingfloor it was. The location is significant as a public, agricultural space, making the divine judgment a public spectacle.
* **Uzzah (Hebrew, עֻזָּה, _ʻUzzah'_):** Derived from the root meaning "strength" or "might." This name carries a tragic irony, as Uzzah's attempt to provide "strength" or stability to the Ark by touching it resulted in his own destruction by divine strength. His name becomes a poignant reminder of the futility of human strength when it presumes upon divine holiness.
* **Shook (Hebrew, שָׁמַṭ, _shamat'_):** This verb means "to shake off," "to let fall," or "to cast down." It describes the violent jolt or stumble of the oxen, which created the precarious situation for the Ark. The shaking implies a loss of control and stability, directly leading to Uzzah's fatal intervention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor":** This clause establishes the setting for the tragic event. The procession, which had begun with great joy and celebration, reaches a specific, identifiable location—a common agricultural area. This public setting underscores the public nature of the impending divine judgment, making it a lesson for all Israel. The journey was not yet complete, indicating that God's patience had a limit, and His holiness would be asserted at a critical juncture.
* **"Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it":** This describes Uzzah's immediate and decisive action. The phrase "put forth his hand" emphasizes a deliberate, albeit instinctive, reach. "Took hold of it" indicates a firm grasp, an attempt to stabilize the Ark. While his intention might have been to prevent the Ark from falling, this action was a direct violation of God's explicit command that only the Kohathite Levites could carry the Ark by its poles, and no one, not even the Levites, was permitted to touch the Ark itself (Numbers 4:15, 19-20). This highlights the tension between human logic/good intentions and divine command.
* **"for the oxen shook [it]":** This final clause provides the immediate catalyst for Uzzah's action. The oxen, pulling the cart, stumbled or jolted, causing the Ark to become unstable. This detail emphasizes the precariousness of transporting the Ark on a cart, a method not sanctioned by God, and sets up the "emergency" that Uzzah reacted to. It underscores that the situation arose from a prior act of disobedience (the method of transport), leading to a subsequent, fatal act of disobedience.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative of 2 Samuel 6:6 employs several powerful literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, particularly in Uzzah's name, which means "my strength," as his attempt to provide strength to the Ark results in his own demise. There is also **situational irony** in the joyous procession turning into a scene of sudden death and fear. The verse serves as a moment of **foreshadowing**, hinting at the broader theme of the consequences of disobedience that will recur throughout Israel's history. The Ark itself functions as **symbolism**, representing not merely an object, but the very presence and holiness of God. Uzzah's death is a stark **symbolic act** demonstrating God's unyielding demand for obedience and reverence, even when human intentions appear benign. The narrative also employs **pathos**, evoking pity and fear in the reader as the celebration abruptly transforms into tragedy, highlighting the awesome and sometimes terrifying nature of divine holiness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The incident at Nachon's threshingfloor serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God and humanity's relationship to Him. It underscores God's absolute holiness, demonstrating that He is utterly distinct from His creation and cannot be approached casually or according to human wisdom. His commands, particularly concerning His presence, are not suggestions but divine mandates, and disobedience, even if seemingly well-intentioned, carries severe consequences. This event reveals that God's holiness is not merely an abstract concept but a consuming reality that demands reverence and precise obedience. It teaches that zeal for God must be tempered by knowledge of His Word and submission to His prescribed ways, emphasizing that God's glory and His methods are inseparable. The narrative also highlights the danger of presumption—assuming that good intentions or perceived necessity can override divine law.

* [Numbers 4:15](/numbers/4-15 "Numbers 4:15 - Kohathite Duties and Prohibition")
* [Leviticus 10:1-3](/leviticus/10-1 "Leviticus 10:1-3 - Nadab and Abihu's Unauthorized Fire")
* [Hebrews 12:29](/hebrews/12-29 "Hebrews 12:29 - God is a Consuming Fire")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The tragic account of Uzzah at Nachon's threshingfloor remains a timeless and sobering lesson for believers today. While we no longer interact with a physical Ark, the principles of God's unapproachable holiness, the necessity of obedience, and the danger of treating sacred things lightly endure. This narrative calls us to a profound reverence for God Himself, for His Word, and for the means by which He has chosen to reveal Himself and interact with humanity. It challenges us to examine our own hearts, asking if our zeal for God is matched by diligent study and humble submission to His revealed will, or if we are prone to "helping God" in ways He has not sanctioned. It reminds us that our worship, service, and daily lives must be characterized by awe and obedience, acknowledging that God is not merely a benevolent friend but also a holy and righteous sovereign. True reverence means approaching God on His terms, not ours, trusting in His wisdom even when His ways seem counter-intuitive or inconvenient.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or service do I tend to rely on my own wisdom or convenience rather than diligently seeking and obeying God's explicit commands?**
* **How does the account of Uzzah challenge my understanding of God's holiness and His expectations for how I approach Him in worship and service?**
* **Am I truly reverent towards God's Word, treating it as His authoritative revelation, or do I sometimes pick and choose what to obey?**
* **What "good intentions" might I have that could inadvertently lead me to disregard God's prescribed ways?**

### FAQ
**Was Uzzah's death unjust, given his seemingly good intentions?**

Answer: From a human perspective, Uzzah's action might appear to be a natural, even commendable, attempt to prevent the Ark from falling. However, from God's perspective, it was a direct violation of His explicit commands regarding the Ark's handling. The Mosaic Law, particularly in [Numbers 4:15](/numbers/4-15 "Numbers 4:15 - Prohibition Against Touching the Ark"), strictly forbade anyone, except the Kohathite Levites carrying it by poles, from touching the Ark itself, under penalty of death. God's holiness is absolute, and His commands are non-negotiable. The severity of Uzzah's punishment underscores the gravity of God's holiness and the seriousness of disobedience, even if the intention was to "help" God. It was not about Uzzah's heart, but about the sanctity of God's presence and the absolute necessity of adhering to His revealed will. The incident served as a powerful, albeit tragic, lesson to David and all Israel about the awesome nature of God and the danger of treating His sacred things lightly.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic account of Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant, while a sobering reminder of God's unapproachable holiness under the Old Covenant, powerfully points to the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Ark symbolized God's dwelling presence among His people, a presence that was both glorious and dangerous, requiring strict adherence to prescribed rituals and mediators. Uzzah's death highlights humanity's inability to bridge the gap to a holy God on its own terms; human effort, even well-intentioned, falls short and incurs judgment. However, in Christ, we see the ultimate fulfillment of what the Ark foreshadowed. Jesus is the true dwelling place of God among humanity, "God with us" ([Matthew 1:23](/matthew/1-23 "Matthew 1:23 - Immanuel, God With Us")). He is the ultimate High Priest, not merely a Kohathite Levite, who perfectly upholds God's law and, through His sinless life and sacrificial death, provides the only legitimate way to approach a holy God. Unlike Uzzah, who touched the Ark and died, Jesus, by taking on human flesh and bearing the sin of the world, became the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). He is the one who perfectly navigated the demands of divine holiness, offering Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice, opening a new and living way into God's presence ([Hebrews 10:19-20](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-20 - Access Through Christ's Blood")). Thus, Uzzah's death, a testament to the old covenant's limitations and humanity's sinfulness, magnifies the grace and perfect mediation found in Christ, through whom we can now boldly approach the throne of grace ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 4:15

And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear [it]: but they shall not touch [any] holy thing, lest they die. These [things are] the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

1 Chronicles 13:9

¶ And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.

Numbers 4:19

But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:

Numbers 4:20

But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.