Exodus 6 24

Exodus 6:24 kjv

And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.

Exodus 6:24 nkjv

And the sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the families of the Korahites.

Exodus 6:24 niv

The sons of Korah were: Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans.

Exodus 6:24 esv

The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the clans of the Korahites.

Exodus 6:24 nlt

The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. Their descendants became the clans of Korah.

Exodus 6 verses

Exodus 6 24 Meaning

Exodus 6:24 provides a specific genealogical detail within the broader listing of Levi's descendants. It identifies the three sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph, specifying that these three became the progenitors of the distinct "Korhite" families or clans. This verse, though brief, serves to establish their lineage within the tribe of Levi, laying the foundational family structure that would play a significant role in later biblical narratives and Israel's history of worship.

Exodus 6 24 Context

Exodus chapter 6 details the genealogies of Moses and Aaron, establishing their credentials and lineage within the tribe of Levi before God sends them to Pharaoh again. The purpose of these genealogies is twofold: to demonstrate God's faithful remembrance of His covenant (Exo 6:4-8) through chosen individuals, and to validate the priestly and leadership roles of Moses and Aaron and their tribe.

Verse 24 specifically focuses on the sons of Korah, who was a descendant of Kohath, one of Levi's sons. This detail might seem merely procedural, but it lays crucial groundwork for future biblical events, particularly the rebellion of Korah in Numbers 16. By listing Korah's sons here, the text subtly highlights God's future actions of judgment and mercy, as these very sons would later be spared from their father's fate (Num 26:11) and go on to establish significant lines of temple servants and psalmists.

Exodus 6 24 Word analysis

• And the sons: Hebrew: Uvenei (וּבְנֵי). This connective phrase indicates a continuation of the genealogical list. "Sons" emphasizes direct lineage, crucial for identity and inherited roles in ancient Israelite society.
• of Korah: Hebrew: Qorakh (קֹרַח). A prominent Levite from the Kohathite clan. While presented here as part of a factual lineage, his name carries immense weight due to his infamous rebellion against Moses and Aaron, documented in Numbers 16. His inclusion here in a line intended to show leadership suggests that his descendants would prove distinct from him.
• Assir: Hebrew: ʾAssîr (אַסִּיר). The first son listed. His name means "prisoner" or "bound one." Some scholars have speculated whether this name holds a symbolic meaning, perhaps foreshadowing the "imprisonment" from the destructive rebellion or a spiritual "bondage" of divine selection that saved his line.
• Elkanah: Hebrew: ʾElqanah (אֶלְקָנָה). The second son. This name means "God has created" or "God has possessed/acquired." It's a fairly common biblical name, famously belonging to the father of the prophet Samuel (1 Sam 1:1). Its meaning subtly points to divine agency, perhaps in the family's survival and subsequent purpose.
• Abiasaph: Hebrew: ʾAvîʾasaph (אֲבִיאָסָף). The third son, also spelled Ebiasaph in some texts (e.g., 1 Chr 6:37). The name means "my father has gathered" or "my father has added." This name could imply the father's (Korah's) "gathering" of a people or the "adding" of descendants to his line, highlighting continuity.
• these are the families: Hebrew: ʾElle mishpekhoth (אֵלֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹת). This phrase definitively identifies Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph as the founders and heads of distinct family branches, or clans. These clans would comprise the core of the Korhite lineage, serving specific roles in the Tabernacle and later the Temple.
• of the Korhites: Hebrew: haqqorḥi (הַקָּרְחִי). This plural form designates the entire descendant group of Korah, solidifying their collective identity. Despite Korah's rebellion and demise, the persistence of "the Korhites" through his sons' lines is a significant detail, emphasizing the preservation and future service of this Levitical branch.

Exodus 6 24 Bonus section

The seemingly simple genealogical entry of Korah's sons in Exodus 6:24 provides a powerful counterpoint to Korah's later rebellion. While their father challenged God's appointed leadership, his sons became devoted servants in God's house, showcasing God's sovereign hand in distinguishing individuals even within families and preserving those He wills for His purpose. Their line eventually yielded the very individuals who penned some of the most moving expressions of longing for God, repentance, and praise within the Book of Psalms, enduring testaments to faith and service. This lineage progression highlights themes of redemption, divine grace, and the capacity for new beginnings in service to the Lord.

Exodus 6 24 Commentary

Exodus 6:24, while a straightforward genealogical statement, carries profound significance within the broader biblical narrative. It is part of the divine establishment of the chosen priestly lineage, yet its importance is dramatically amplified by events yet to unfold. The naming of Korah's sons – Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph – serves as an anticipatory historical marker. Later in the book of Numbers, Korah himself leads a major rebellion against Moses and Aaron, resulting in divine judgment that consumes him and his immediate household. However, a crucial detail emerges: "the sons of Korah did not die" (Num 26:11). This preservation, implicitly foreshadowed by their distinct identification in Exodus 6:24, is a testament to God's selective judgment and remarkable mercy.

The survival of Korah's sons allowed their descendants, the Korhites, to continue as a recognized Levitical clan. Their resilience, born from God's intervention, positioned them to serve God faithfully for generations. They later held significant roles as gatekeepers, treasurers, and, most notably, as temple musicians and composers of many Psalms (e.g., Psalms 42, 44-49, 84-85, 87-88). This genealogical verse, therefore, quietly sets the stage for a story of divine preservation amidst judgment, illustrating how God can sustain a lineage even from a contentious root, bringing forth spiritual beauty and service (like the Psalms) out of what could have been utter destruction. It underscores that God's plan can extend mercy beyond individual failures and raise up unexpected vessels for His worship.