Leviticus 10:7

And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD [is] upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

And ye shall not go out {H3318} from the door {H6607} of the tabernacle {H168} of the congregation {H4150}, lest ye die {H4191}: for the anointing {H4888} oil {H8081} of the LORD {H3068} is upon you. And they did {H6213} according to the word {H1697} of Moses {H4872}.

Moreover, don't leave the entrance to the tent of meeting, or you will die, because ADONAI's anointing oil is on you."

You shall not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, or you will die, for the LORDโ€™s anointing oil is on you.โ€ So they did as Moses instructed.

And ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, lest ye die; for the anointing oil of Jehovah is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

Commentary

Leviticus 10:7 continues the solemn narrative immediately following the tragic judgment on Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, who offered "strange fire" before the Lord and died (Leviticus 10:1-2). In this verse, God, through Moses, issues a strict command to Aaron and his two remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, concerning their conduct during this period of intense mourning and sacred duty.

Context

The command in Leviticus 10:7 is given in the immediate aftermath of divine judgment, underscoring the absolute necessity of adherence to God's precise instructions for worship and priestly service. While Aaron was commanded not to mourn openly for his deceased sons, his remaining sons were specifically told not to leave the immediate vicinity of the tabernacle. This was a critical moment for the newly established priesthood, demonstrating that even personal grief must be secondary to the sacred duties and the holiness of God's presence. The tabernacle was the central point of Israelite worship and God's dwelling among His people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Holiness and Authority: The verse powerfully emphasizes God's absolute holiness and His unyielding authority, especially concerning proper worship. The swift judgment on Nadab and Abihu, followed by this strict command, reinforces that God's ways are not to be trifled with.
  • Priestly Consecration and Separation: The phrase "the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you" highlights the profound consecration of the priests. They were set apart for God's exclusive service, signifying their unique and sacred role. This consecration demanded an elevated standard of conduct and separation from ordinary concerns.
  • Obedience and Consequences: The explicit warning, "lest ye die," reiterates the severe consequences of disobedience. In the Old Testament economy, violating divine commands, especially those pertaining to the sanctuary, could lead to immediate and fatal judgment. This served as a stark reminder of the sanctity of God's presence.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the anointing oil" (Hebrew: shemen mishchah - ืฉึถืืžึถืŸ ืžึดืฉึฐืื—ึธื”) is crucial. This special oil, prepared according to God's specific instructions (Exodus 30:25), was used to consecrate priests and tabernacle articles, symbolizing their being set apart and empowered by God's Spirit for holy service. Its presence upon Aaron's sons meant they were literally covered by God's holiness and under His direct command, making any deviation from their consecrated role a direct affront to Him.

Practical Application

For believers today, Leviticus 10:7 offers profound insights into our own walk with God:

  • Reverence in Worship: This passage reminds us of the importance of approaching God with reverence and according to His revealed will. While we are under a new covenant of grace through Christ (Hebrews 8:6), the principle of honoring God's holiness remains paramount.
  • Living a Consecrated Life: Just as the priests were consecrated by oil, Christians are "anointed" by the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27). We are called to be a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), set apart for God's purposes. This means living lives that reflect His holiness and remaining "in Him," not departing from His presence or His commands.
  • Seriousness of Our Calling: The severe warning "lest ye die" underscores the seriousness of our spiritual calling. While physical death is not the immediate consequence for New Testament believers who stray, spiritual fruitlessness or a loss of fellowship can result from disobedience to God's Spirit. We are to remain faithful to our sacred trust.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 21:12

    Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God [is] upon him: I [am] the LORD.

  • Leviticus 8:30

    And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which [was] upon the altar, and sprinkled [it] upon Aaron, [and] upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, [and] his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:21

    Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God;

  • Exodus 28:41

    And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

  • Exodus 30:30

    And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that [they] may minister unto me in the priest's office.

  • Luke 9:60

    Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

  • Acts 10:38

    How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
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