Exodus 6 16

Exodus 6:16 kjv

And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years.

Exodus 6:16 nkjv

These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty-seven.

Exodus 6:16 niv

These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.

Exodus 6:16 esv

These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years.

Exodus 6:16 nlt

These are the descendants of Levi, as listed in their family records: The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (Levi lived to be 137 years old.)

Exodus 6 verses

Exodus 6 16 Meaning

Exodus 6:16 states the names of Levi's three sons—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari—and specifies Levi's lifespan as one hundred and thirty-seven years. This verse is part of a genealogical record establishing the lineage of key figures in Israel's deliverance and future service, specifically focusing on the tribal roots of the Levitical priesthood.

Exodus 6 16 Context

Exodus 6:16 is embedded within a significant genealogical section (Exod 6:14-27). This section immediately follows God's renewed promise to Moses to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage and fulfill His covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The purpose of this genealogy is to authenticate the divine appointment of Moses and Aaron, establishing their legitimacy as leaders and instruments of God's redemptive plan before the Israelite people. By tracing their lineage to Levi, the passage anchors Moses and Aaron's authority within Israel's historical and tribal framework, anticipating the later establishment of the Levitical priesthood and its specific functions in worship. In ancient cultures, genealogies were critical for tribal identity, inheritance, and validating authority, reinforcing that God's plan unfolds through specific, chosen families and their historical continuity.

Exodus 6 16 Word Analysis

• "These are the names" (אֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת, 'elleh sh'mot): This is a formal, introductory phrase. It signals a listing or a formal record. Its presence indicates a precise and important enumeration, not just a casual mention. It lends a sense of authoritative declaration to the information that follows, often found at the beginning of genealogies in the Old Testament to mark their historical validity.
• "of the sons of Levi" (בְּנֵי לֵוִי, b'nei Levi): This phrase establishes the specific familial lineage. "Sons" (בְּנֵי, b'nei) emphasizes direct biological descent, signifying their identity as the progenitors of the Levite tribe. This tribal identity will later be crucial for understanding the priesthood and service within the Tabernacle. Levi himself was a son of Jacob, making this lineage a direct connection back to the patriarchs.
• "according to their generations" (לְתוֹלְדֹתָם, l'toldotam): This significant term (תּוֹלְדֹת, toledot, meaning "generations," "descendants," "account of origins," or "history") implies a formal, comprehensive genealogical record tracing family lines over time. It echoes the toledot formulas used throughout Genesis to structure the flow of sacred history, indicating that the account presented is an ordered, deliberate tracing of lineage vital for understanding subsequent events and divine appointments.
• "Gershon, Kohath, and Merari": These are the foundational names of Levi's three sons. These three individuals are the progenitors of the three main divisions of the Levites, who would later be assigned specific roles and responsibilities in the wilderness Tabernacle and subsequent Temple service (e.g., carrying, building, and maintaining its components). Kohath's line is particularly prominent as it includes Aaron and Moses.
• "and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty-seven years" (וּשְׁנֵי חַיֵּי לֵוִי שֶׁבַע וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וּמֵאָה שָׁנָה, u'shnei chayyei Levi sheva u'shloshim u'me'ah shanah): This precise age statement is characteristic of patriarchal narratives. Levi’s longevity bridges the gap between the patriarchal period (when Jacob and Joseph were alive) and the generation of Moses and Aaron who were leading the Exodus. This indicates that Levi lived long enough to significantly overlap with the Israelites' stay in Egypt, establishing continuity between the generations who came into Egypt and those who were enslaved and later freed, validating the lineage's connection to God's ancient promises.

Exodus 6 16 Bonus section

The inclusion of Levi's lifespan is significant in reinforcing the veracity of the biblical narrative for its original audience. It meant that Levi would have overlapped with Jacob (his father) for many years and even with Joseph, thereby connecting the tribal leaders of the Exodus generation directly back to the very foundation of the Israelite family in Egypt. This established a continuity of knowledge and tradition that underpinned their claims. The careful enumeration of these ancestral figures, down to their specific lifespans, was a common ancient Near Eastern literary device to imbue the historical accounts with authority and divine approval, distinct from mere myth. The attention to detail concerning the "generations" also set the stage for how God meticulously ordered the Levites' duties later, underscoring that divine appointment and sacred service were rooted in specific, ordained lines rather than arbitrary selection.

Exodus 6 16 Commentary

Exodus 6:16 serves as a critical anchoring point in Israel's history. It is more than a mere record of names and a lifespan; it functions as a divinely affirmed authentication. By explicitly detailing the three sons of Levi and their progenitor's longevity, the verse establishes the lineage that will yield the leaders (Moses and Aaron) and the entire priestly class. Levi's impressive lifespan highlights continuity between the patriarchal era and the cusp of the Exodus, demonstrating God's consistent working across generations. This foundational statement validates the upcoming roles of Moses, Aaron, and the entire Levitical tribe in God's redemptive plan and in Israel's worship and national life.