2 Samuel 6:7 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Lord strikes Uzzah for his error, and he dies beside the ark.
What Does 2 Samuel 6:7 Mean?
The Lord's anger is kindled, and Uzzah falls dead at the side of the ark he had touched. The judgment is sudden and severe, and the text does not soften it. It stands as one of the hardest moments in David's story, a reminder that the presence of God is not safe in the casual sense, however good our motives may feel.
The holiness of God is real and weighty; it is not a figure of speech. Uzzah's death warns that the Lord must be honored as He has commanded, not merely as we think best. Yet this same holiness is the reason His mercy is so astonishing. The God whom no unclean hand could touch would one day take flesh and let sinners touch Him, healing them. What killed at the threshing floor was made approachable in Christ, who bore the holiness and the judgment in Himself.
2 Samuel 6:7 in the Original Language
shal (שַׁל), 'error' -- a rash, irreverent act; the word marks Uzzah's reaching as a fault, not mere accident.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 6:7
What does 2 Samuel 6:7 mean?
The Lord strikes Uzzah for his error, and he dies beside the ark.