King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: [it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations:
Complete Jewish Bible:
"Don't drink any wine or other intoxicating liquor, neither you nor your sons with you, when you enter the tent of meeting, so that you will not die. This is to be a permanent regulation through all your generations,
Berean Standard Bible:
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.
American Standard Version:
Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye die not: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Do not drink{H8354} wine{H3196} nor strong drink{H7941}, thou, nor thy sons{H1121} with thee, when ye go{H935} into the tabernacle{H168} of the congregation{H4150}, lest ye die{H4191}: it shall be a statute{H2708} for ever{H5769} throughout your generations{H1755}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Luke 1:15
- For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
1 Timothy 3:3
- Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
Titus 1:7
- For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Ezekiel 44:21
- Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
Ephesians 5:18
- And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Isaiah 28:7
- But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble [in] judgment.
Numbers 6:3
- He shall separate [himself] from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 10:9
1. **Themes:**
- **Sobriety and Holiness:** The primary theme of Leviticus 10:9 is the importance of maintaining sobriety and holiness when serving in the sanctuary. The prohibition against consuming wine or strong drink underscores the necessity for priests to be fully conscious and reverent in their sacred duties.
- **Separation and Purity:** The commandment reflects the broader theme of separation and purity within the priesthood. Priests were to be set apart from the common people and were required to adhere to stricter purity laws to serve as mediators between God and the Israelites.
- **Respect for Sacred Duties:** This verse emphasizes the respect that must be shown when performing religious duties. The priests' clear-mindedness ensured that they did not dishonor the sanctity of the tabernacle through inebriation.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Tabernacle:** Leviticus 10:9 was given in the context of the tabernacle, the portable dwelling place for God among the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. The tabernacle was the center of worship and sacrificial rites.
- **Priestly Service:** The verse is directed specifically at Aaron and his sons, the priestly class responsible for the religious ceremonies and rituals of the Israelites. Their role required them to be ritually pure and focused.
- **Aftermath of Nadab and Abihu:** This commandment comes shortly after the incident involving Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu, who offered "strange fire" before the Lord and were consumed by fire from God (Leviticus 10:1-2). This event highlighted the seriousness of adhering to God's instructions regarding worship.
- **Mosaic Law:** The prohibition against alcohol for priests on duty is part of the broader Mosaic Law, which included various regulations to govern the behavior of the Israelites, particularly the priesthood, to ensure the proper worship of God.
In summary, Leviticus 10:9 addresses the need for priests to abstain from wine and strong drink when entering the tabernacle, reflecting themes of holiness, purity, and respect for sacred duties. This commandment is set against the backdrop of the tabernacle's central role in Israelite worship and the recent tragic example of Nadab and Abihu, which served as a stark reminder of the consequences of not following divine protocol.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8354
There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁתָה
Transliteration: shâthâh
Pronunciation: shaw-thaw'
Description: a primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively); [idiom] assuredly, banquet, [idiom] certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk ([idiom] -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of שָׁקָה.) - Strong's Number: H3196
There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַיִן
Transliteration: yayin
Pronunciation: yah'-yin
Description: from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication; banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber). - Strong's Number: H7941
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁכָר
Transliteration: shêkâr
Pronunciation: shay-kawr'
Description: from שָׁכַר; an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic liquor; strong drink, [phrase] drunkard, strong wine. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H168
There are 369 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹהֶל
Transliteration: ʼôhel
Pronunciation: o'-hel
Description: from אָהַל; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance); covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent. - Strong's Number: H4150
There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוֹעֵד
Transliteration: môwʻêd
Pronunciation: mo-ade'
Description: or מֹעֵד; or (feminine) מוֹעָדָה; (2 Chronicles 8:13), from יָעַד; properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally ayear; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand); appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn(-ity), synogogue, (set) time (appointed). - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. - Strong's Number: H2708
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֻקָּה
Transliteration: chuqqâh
Pronunciation: khook-kaw'
Description: feminine of חֹק, and meaning substantially the same; {an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)}; appointed, custom, manner, ordinance, site, statute. - Strong's Number: H5769
There are 414 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עוֹלָם
Transliteration: ʻôwlâm
Pronunciation: o-lawm'
Description: or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always; alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד. - Strong's Number: H1755
There are 127 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דּוֹר
Transliteration: dôwr
Pronunciation: dore
Description: or (shortened) דֹּר; from דּוּר; properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling; age, [idiom] evermore, generation, (n-) ever, posterity.