The Hebrew word אֲבִיהוּא (Abihu or Abihú), identified as Strong's H30, is a proper name that appears in the biblical context with a particularly significant episode.
From H1 and H1931; father (i.e. worshiper) of Him (God); Abihu, a son of Aaron:- Abihu.
Etymological meaning: The name אֲבִיהוּא (Abihú) is a theophoric name composed of two elements:
אֲבִי (abi) = "my father" or "father of"
הוּא (hu) = "he" or possibly a shortened form referring to God
Therefore, the full name is generally interpreted as "he (God) is my father" or "father is He."
Biblical context: Abihu appears primarily in the Pentateuch as one of the sons of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel:
Family identification:
Son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Exodus 6:23)
Brother of Nadab (the firstborn), Eleazar and Ithamar
Moses' nephew
Important events:
Ascension to Mount Sinai: He was one of the privileged ones who accompanied Moses and Aaron to climb Mount Sinai to see God (Exodus 24:1, 9-11)
Priestly consecration: He was consecrated along with his father and brothers as a priest (Leviticus 8)
Tragic and central event: The most significant mention of Abihu is in Leviticus 10:1-2, where together with his brother Nadab, he offers "strange fire" (אֵשׁ זָרָה - esh zarah) before Yahweh:
"Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, put fire in it, and put incense on it. They offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord."
Theological Significance: The incident of Abihu and Nadab has profound theological significance in the biblical narrative:
Divine Holiness: Illustrates the absolute holiness of God and the need to approach Him according to His exact prescriptions.
Cultural Obedience: Demonstrates the importance of strictly following divine instructions for worship, without personal innovations or modifications.
Priestly Responsibility: Highlights the greater responsibility of those who serve as intermediaries between God and the people.
Exemplary Warning: Functions as a solemn warning to future generations of priests about the seriousness of their ministry.
The story of Abihu became a paradigmatic example in biblical and later Jewish tradition of the importance of reverence and exact obedience in divine worship. The phrase "strange fire" has come to symbolize any form of worship or approach to God other than according to His own instructions.
