Genesis 46:11 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 46:11 kjv
And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Genesis 46:11 nkjv
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Genesis 46:11 niv
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
Genesis 46:11 esv
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Genesis 46:11 nlt
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Genesis 46 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 6:16 | These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari... | Confirms Levi's three sons and their ages. |
| Num 3:17 | These also were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. | Reaffirms the three primary divisions of Levites. |
| Num 3:25-26 | The service of the sons of Gershon... the Tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen... | Details the specific duties of the Gershonites. |
| Num 3:31 | The duty of the sons of Kohath involved the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the holy vessels. | Details the specific duties of the Kohathites. |
| Num 3:36-37 | The service of the sons of Merari was to be the frames of the Tabernacle, its bars, its pillars... | Details the specific duties of the Merarites. |
| Num 4:4-15 | This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tabernacle of meeting, concerning the most holy things. | Elaborates on the Kohathites' sacred transport duties. |
| Num 4:24-28 | This is the service of the families of the Gershonites... | Elaborates on the Gershonites' transport duties. |
| Num 4:31-33 | This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari... | Elaborates on the Merarites' transport duties. |
| 1 Chron 6:1 | The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. | Repeats the lineage in later historical accounts. |
| 1 Chron 6:16 | The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. | Reiteration of lineage. |
| 1 Chron 23:6-23 | David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari... | Organizes Levites for Temple service by their ancestral lines. |
| Exo 28:1 | "Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest..." | Aaron, from Kohath's line, establishes the priestly class. |
| Num 8:6 | "Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them." | Levites' special consecration for service. |
| Num 18:21-24 | "To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance..." | God as their inheritance, contrasting with other tribes. |
| Deu 10:8 | "At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to bear the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD..." | Highlights their unique sacred responsibility. |
| Deu 18:2 | "Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the LORD is their inheritance..." | Further reinforces God as the Levites' portion. |
| Eze 44:10-14 | "And the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray..." | Prophecy showing the enduring distinction of the Levites even in exile/restoration. |
| Heb 7:11-14 | "Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law)..." | Compares and contrasts the Levitical priesthood with Christ's. |
| Rev 5:10 | "And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth." | Foreshadows spiritual priesthood of all believers. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." | Spiritual priesthood for believers, fulfillment of prophetic hope for Israel. |
| Mal 3:3 | "He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi..." | Prophetic purification of the Levitical lineage, looking to Messiah. |
| Judg 17:7 | "There was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah; he was a Levite, and he sojourned there." | Illustrates the spread of Levites throughout Israel. |
Genesis 46 verses
Genesis 46 11 meaning
This verse, found within the comprehensive genealogy of Jacob's family traveling to Egypt, specifically identifies the three direct sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. This concise statement is foundational, establishing the three primary family divisions from which all future Levites would descend, setting the stage for their divinely appointed and unique roles in the service of the Tabernacle and later the Temple, central to Israel's worship and national identity.
Genesis 46 11 Context
Genesis chapter 46 records Jacob's descent into Egypt with his entire household, comprising seventy people. God encourages Jacob to go, reaffirming the covenant promise to make him into a great nation and to bring him back (Gen 46:3-4). The list of those accompanying Jacob, beginning in verse 8, meticulously catalogs the direct descendants and their children. Verse 11, specifically listing Levi's sons, is part of this crucial genealogical account that details the fledgling "nation" going down to Egypt. It emphasizes the foundational identity of the tribes of Israel, including Levi's, before their four centuries of sojourn and growth in Egypt. This record served to solidify their tribal claims and future roles in ancient Israelite society, where genealogies were paramount for identity, inheritance, and religious function.
Genesis 46 11 Word analysis
- And: (Hebrew: wĕ) This conjunction connects the current verse to the preceding lists of Reuben's and Simeon's sons, maintaining the flow of the comprehensive genealogy of Jacob's household entering Egypt.
- the sons: (Hebrew: bənê) Directly signifies the male offspring, emphasizing lineage and patrilineal descent, which was fundamental to ancient Israelite tribal and family structures. These direct sons would become the heads of distinct ancestral families.
- of Levi: (Hebrew: Lēwî) Levi was the third son born to Jacob and Leah. While early accounts include Levi in the violent revenge on Shechem (Gen 34:25), this genealogy foregrounds his pivotal role in God's redemptive plan. His lineage would later be set apart by God for exclusive service as the priestly and assisting tribe for Israel's worship. The unique divine selection of this tribe, despite past failures, demonstrates God's sovereignty and grace in choosing His instruments.
- Gershon: (Hebrew: Gēršôn) Likely means "a sojourner there," possibly reflecting Jacob's migratory lifestyle. He is Levi's eldest son. His descendants, the Gershonites, were later designated with the sacred duty of carrying the lighter components of the Tabernacle during Israel's journeys, such as the curtains, coverings, and screens (Num 3:25-26, 4:24-26).
- Kohath: (Hebrew: Qəhāṯ) Possibly meaning "assembly" or "conjunction." He is Levi's second son. His descendants, the Kohathites, received the most solemn and sacred charge: the carrying of the Holy of Holies objects—the Ark of the Covenant, the altar, and other Tabernacle vessels (Num 3:31, 4:5-15). Moses and Aaron themselves belonged to the Kohathite lineage, signifying the deep spiritual and leadership roles emanating from this particular branch.
- and Merari: (Hebrew: Mərārî) Derived from a root meaning "bitter" or "strong." He is Levi's third son. His descendants, the Merarites, were responsible for the heavier, structural elements of the Tabernacle—its frames, bars, pillars, and bases (Num 3:36-37, 4:31-32).
Words-Group Analysis:
- "the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari": This complete phrase is not merely a list but a divine appointment and a blueprint. It immediately distinguishes Levi's direct male offspring, signifying their future special status as the progenitors of the Levitical order. Even at this early stage of Israel's formation, before the exodus or the giving of the Law, the foundational families for Israel's cultic and religious life are established through specific names, hinting at a divine order and meticulousness that would later define the worship system under the Mosaic Covenant.
Genesis 46 11 Bonus section
- The omission of the mother's name for Levi's sons is typical of patriarchal genealogies where the male line is emphasized for tribal identity and succession.
- The fact that these names are mentioned so early in Israel's history underscores the theological principle that God's plans for worship and sanctification were inherent to the nation's formation, not an afterthought.
- The distinction between the high priestly line (Aaron, from Kohath) and the other Levitical service roles (Gershonites, Merarites, and other Kohathites) shows a tiered hierarchy appointed by God for sacred duties.
- This verse contributes to the broader biblical theme of divine election and commissioning, where certain individuals or families are chosen by God for specific redemptive purposes, transcending any human merit or initial character flaws (as seen in Levi's earlier actions in Genesis 34).
Genesis 46 11 Commentary
Genesis 46:11, though appearing as a simple genealogical entry, holds profound theological and historical significance. By meticulously listing the three sons of Levi—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari—the verse lays the foundational framework for the entire Levitical priesthood and service that would be central to Israel's covenant relationship with God. This detail is crucial because the tribe of Levi, alone among Jacob's sons, would not inherit land but instead be consecrated entirely to God's service, supported by the tithes of the other tribes.
This seemingly minor detail foreshadows the intricate and divinely ordained structure of worship described later in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. The distinct duties assigned to each of these three families—the Gershonites with the Tabernacle coverings, the Merarites with its structural components, and crucially, the Kohathites with the sacred vessels, including the Ark of the Covenant (from whom Aaron and Moses would descend)—demonstrates a precise and deliberate divine design for holy service. The verse subtly underscores that even the details of the lineage were part of God's overarching plan for His chosen people, ensuring that their religious life would be meticulously organized according to His will. This commitment to precise genealogies for tribal and cultic roles highlights God's particularity in establishing His covenant people and the order of His dwelling among them.