What does the term "strange fire" mean?

Question

In Sunday school, many children learn that Satan lives within and uses fire, yet here we have fire coming out of God to devour two young men to death.

Leviticus 10:1-2
1And 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.
2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. (KJV)

Answer 1

viticus 10:3, “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace.”

"...if you read the Scripture above, Leviticus 10:1-3, you will see that the NKJV of the Bible does not use the word “strange” but rather “profane.” My usage of this word “strange” instead of “profane” will be explained in a few paragraphs."

From the article "Strange Fire" by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon

Answer 2

The priests were told to only offer fire made of acacia, ('shittim",{KJV}) wood. Nadab and Abihu offered fire composed of another type of wood. This goes to show that we, by our own works, are never going to be acceptable before God, who is holy. The priests were under a covenant, which is much stronger than our legally binding contracts of today, and under the terms of that convenant they had to learn that they could only approach God on His terms becuase only then would it be safe to do so. The same fire which is today called pentacostal fire and is a tremendous blessing can also be a great danger to those who are found unworthy. Witness the Ananias and Saphira incident in Acts!

Answer 3

Your verse answers the question. It was strange fire because God "comanded them not" to do it. They were not priests, they were Levites, and therefore had no authority to mediate between God and men. Their sacrifice wouldn't work. I think it is the same principle as the Catholics going to the priest for forgiveness of sins. It doesn't work because the Bible says, "there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus."

By the way I don't think that children learn that satan uses firein sunday school, it is more in tthe movies from hollywood that they learn that. The Bible does not teach Satan as auser of fire as far as I can remember, if fact I think Satan may be a little afraid of fire. Fire is a symbol of judgment throughout the Bible and it normally come from God.

Answer 4

Strange fire... If you look in i believe revelation 13:13 Satan causes fire to come down in the site of men.

In acts 2:3 the Holy Spirit was manifested as tongues of fire.

Today charasmatics will tell you that the Holy Spirit is evident by speaking in tongue, this is strange fire; because it is not the Holy Spirit but a demonic one.

I had trouble with demonic spirits before, and i had the same feeling in a charasmatic church.

Answer 5

i think in that text it meant they were gonna offer a kind of fire before god that they had never offered up before him...that would be a strange fire before god...in the sense it was new n different !!

Answer 6

Good god, you are teaching young kids this stuff? Worse than a horror flick. I do not think it is ok..

Answer 7

maybe the incense made the fire a strange color? what an evil god to burn his own worshippers to death