Exodus 6 20

Exodus 6:20 kjv

And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.

Exodus 6:20 nkjv

Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father's sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven.

Exodus 6:20 niv

Amram married his father's sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.

Exodus 6:20 esv

Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father's sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years.

Exodus 6:20 nlt

Amram married his father's sister Jochebed, and she gave birth to his sons, Aaron and Moses. (Amram lived to be 137 years old.)

Exodus 6 verses

Exodus 6 20 Meaning

This verse serves as a crucial genealogical record within Exodus, establishing the parental lineage of Moses and Aaron—Amram and Jochebed—who were key figures in Israel's deliverance. It specifies Jochebed as Amram's "father's sister" and notes Amram's lifespan. The primary significance is to legitimize the roles of Moses and Aaron, demonstrating their Levitical descent, which was essential for their divine appointment and for Aaron's future role as High Priest. It grounds their supernatural calling within a historically identifiable lineage.

Exodus 6 20 Context

Exodus 6:20 is embedded within a significant genealogical section (Exod 6:14-27) that immediately follows God's reaffirmation of His covenant name, Yahweh, and His promise to deliver Israel, specifically to Moses (Exod 6:2-13). This reaffirmation precedes Moses and Aaron's crucial confrontations with Pharaoh. The inclusion of the genealogies, particularly the details of Levi's lineage, serves to establish the authentic tribal and familial background of Moses and Aaron, proving their right and fitness for the monumental tasks ahead. By anchoring them firmly in the tribe of Levi, from whom the priesthood would later emerge, the text provides credibility and authority to their divinely ordained mission, both for the original audience in their wilderness journey and for subsequent generations reading the Torah. The mention of Amram's lifespan also aligns with the patriarchal traditions of detailing the ages of significant figures.

Exodus 6 20 Word analysis

• And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife;

  • Amram (עַמְרָם, 'Amram): Father of Moses and Aaron, of the tribe of Levi. His name likely means "Exalted People" or "My kinsman is exalted." He is a central figure in establishing the legitimate lineage of the liberators.
  • took him... to wife: Standard biblical phrase denoting marriage. It implies a legitimate, customary union.
  • Jochebed (יוֹכֶבֶד, Yokheved): Mother of Moses and Aaron. Her name means "Yahweh is Glory" or "The Lord is glorious," possibly indicating a deep faith or divine expectation associated with her even before the great deliverance. She bravely preserved Moses (Exod 2:2).
  • his father's sister (דֹדָתוֹ, dodato): This phrase has been extensively debated.
    • Literally "paternal aunt." If this is the case, it refers to Jochebed being Amram's literal aunt, meaning she was the sister of Amram's father, Kohath. This would imply she was the sister of Kohath. This interpretation faces a challenge with Num 26:59, which states Jochebed was "the daughter of Levi." If she was Kohath's sister (who was Levi's son), then she would be Levi's daughter, supporting the idea.
    • Alternatively, "father's sister" or "aunt" could be a broader term in ancient Hebrew, meaning a close kinswoman, such as a first cousin.
    • Significance: This detail highlights marriage practices before the giving of the Mosaic Law. Later, Leviticus 18:12 explicitly forbids marriage to a "father's sister" ("Your father's sister is your aunt; do not have sexual relations with her, for she is your father's near relative"). This shows God's progressive revelation of laws and the developing distinctiveness of the Israelite covenant community. The fact that the parents of Israel's deliverers were born of such a union, later deemed unlawful, subtly emphasizes God's sovereign choice transcends human laws of lineage that had not yet been codified. It could also serve as an indirect polemic against rigid human-made religious strictures if applied retroactively, asserting that God works through real, imperfect, human lineage.

• and she bare him Aaron and Moses:

  • bare (תֵּלֶד, teled): Emphasizes natural birth and lineage continuity, tying these divinely chosen leaders to specific family origins. This validates their identity within the tribal system.
  • Aaron (אַהֲרֹן, 'Aharon): The elder brother of Moses, appointed by God as the first High Priest of Israel (Exod 28:1). His name likely means "light-bringer" or "mountain of strength."
  • Moses (מֹשֶׁה, Mosheh): The central figure of the Exodus, God's chosen deliverer and lawgiver. His name, possibly of Egyptian origin, means "to draw out" (Exod 2:10).

• and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.

  • years of the life: Standard ancient Near Eastern genealogical practice to record longevity, often associated with divine favor and a complete life (Gen 5). It authenticates the historical claims of the narrative and aligns Amram with the patriarchs of Genesis, whose long lives are often noted.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife": This phrase directly addresses the parentage, focusing on a specific detail of the marriage (Jochebed's relation). It legitimizes the children, Moses and Aaron, despite what would later become a prohibited union under the Mosaic Law. This nuance underscores God's grace and ability to work through existing customs to achieve His purposes, even before His full revelation of ethical standards to His people.
  • "and she bare him Aaron and Moses": This simply and powerfully states the birth of the two central figures of the Exodus, highlighting their common brotherhood and their dual roles in God's plan. Aaron's name appears first, signifying his birth order, which is genealogically significant, though Moses becomes the more prominent leader.

Exodus 6 20 Bonus section

The genealogical context of Exodus 6, particularly verses 14-27, primarily serves to re-emphasize the credentials of Moses and Aaron after God reaffirms His covenant with Moses. The list, therefore, is not a full-blown tribal genealogy but rather focuses specifically on Levi to legitimize Moses' and Aaron's priestly heritage. While Moses himself would be the prophet and lawgiver, Aaron would initiate the Aaronic priesthood (Exod 28-29), solidifying Levi's role in the service of God's sanctuary. The ambiguity surrounding "father's sister" points to the scholarly discussion regarding endogamy within tribal systems in the ancient Near East and highlights the shift in Israel's socio-religious laws after Sinai. It reinforces that divine revelation unfolds progressively.

Exodus 6 20 Commentary

Exodus 6:20 precisely outlines the parentage of Aaron and Moses, anchoring them within the Levitical tribe. This genealogical information is not merely for record-keeping but functions to provide authoritative legitimacy to the leadership roles God bestows upon them. The specification of Jochebed as Amram's "father's sister," or paternal aunt, is noteworthy because such a union would later be forbidden under the very Law delivered through Moses. This subtle detail demonstrates God's sovereignty over the historical context of human practices, showing that His chosen instruments come from various human situations, even those later superseded by divine decree. The long lifespan attributed to Amram further connects him to the revered patriarchal figures whose generations are marked by longevity as a sign of divine favor. This verse thus lays foundational familial authority for the narrative of deliverance, confirming their rightful place to represent God before Pharaoh and Israel.