Numbers 26 59

Numbers 26:59 kjv

And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.

Numbers 26:59 nkjv

The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.

Numbers 26:59 niv

the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born to the Levites in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses and their sister Miriam.

Numbers 26:59 esv

The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. And she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister.

Numbers 26:59 nlt

and Amram's wife was named Jochebed. She also was a descendant of Levi, born among the Levites in the land of Egypt. Amram and Jochebed became the parents of Aaron, Moses, and their sister, Miriam.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 59 Meaning

Numbers 26:59 identifies Jochebed as Amram’s wife and establishes her lineage as a daughter of Levi, born in Egypt. The verse further records her as the mother of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. This genealogical record is crucial for affirming the legitimate lineage of the key figures of the Exodus, especially establishing the divinely appointed Aaronic priesthood through Aaron, and the foundational leadership through Moses, underscoring their authorized place within God's covenant people.

Numbers 26 59 Context

Numbers chapter 26 records the second census of Israel, taken in the plains of Moab before crossing into Canaan. This census, contrasting with the first one in Numbers 1, lists the generation appointed to enter the Promised Land, replacing the wilderness generation that had perished due to disobedience (Num 26:64-65). While other tribes are enumerated for military service and land distribution, the tribe of Levi is enumerated separately (Num 26:57-62). Verse 59 focuses specifically on a significant sub-group within the Kohathite clan of Levi, identifying the lineage of Aaron and Moses, the designated spiritual and national leaders. This section not only maintains meticulous records crucial for tribal identity and divine assignments but also emphasizes the special, set-apart role of the Levites in serving the Tabernacle, distinct from other tribes. The precise mention of "in Egypt" anchors these pivotal figures in the historical narrative of Israel's deliverance from bondage.

Numbers 26 59 Word analysis

• And the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed:

  • Amram: אָמְרָם (Amram). Son of Kohath, grandson of Levi. He is a prominent figure as the patriarch of the family line from which Moses and Aaron emerge, validating their status and authority.
  • wife: אִשָּׁה (ishshah). Indicates the marital relationship foundational to the family line.
  • Jochebed: יוֹכֶבֶד (Yocheved). Meaning "The LORD is glory" or "Yahweh is glorious." Her name reflects God's character, subtly foreshadowing the glorious acts God would perform through her sons, Moses and Aaron, in bringing deliverance and establishing His worship.

• the daughter of Levi, whom she bare to Levi in Egypt:

  • daughter: בַּת (bat). While bat can denote a descendant, the immediate context (and parallel Ex 6:20 explicitly calling her Amram's "father's sister," meaning Kohath's sister) implies she was the literal daughter of Levi. This would mean Amram (Levi's grandson through Kohath) married his paternal aunt. Such unions were permissible before the specific prohibitions of Lev 18 and 20.
  • whom she bare to Levi: This grammatically refers to Jochebed herself being born to Levi. The "she" implicitly refers to Levi's wife (not named here, but for example, "Adina" in Rabbinic tradition). This phrasing reinforces that Jochebed was born directly into the Levitical family and in Egypt.
  • in Egypt: מִצְרָיִם (Mitsrayim). This geographical and historical marker signifies that this crucial family, bearing the future leaders, emerged from the crucible of slavery and oppression. It links their birth and identity directly to the time of God's miraculous intervention and deliverance, reminding Israel that God remembered His covenant people even in their bondage.

• and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister:

  • she bare: Means Jochebed was the biological mother, asserting the clear parentage of these figures.
  • Aaron: אַהֲרֹן (Aharon). Likely means "lofty," "mountain of strength." He was God's chosen high priest, mediator between God and Israel, and founder of the hereditary priesthood. His mention validates the sacred lineage of the high priesthood established for Israel.
  • Moses: מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh). Meaning "drawn out" (from the water, Exo 2:10). The deliverer, lawgiver, and prophet of Israel, central to God's plan of salvation and revelation. His inclusion here cements his Israelite and Levitical heritage, which was crucial for his divinely appointed leadership role.
  • Miriam their sister: מִרְיָם (Miryam). Potentially meaning "bitterness," "rebellion," or "chosen one." She was a prophetess, poetess, and a leader alongside her brothers (Exo 15:20-21; Mic 6:4). Her mention highlights the prominence of this entire family unit.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi": This phrase establishes the immediate family unit crucial for Israel's leadership. It highlights a unique situation where a literal daughter of Levi, Jochebed, marries her nephew, Amram (Levi's grandson), emphasizing the close-knit and foundational nature of this lineage within the nascent Israelite nation.
  • "whom she bare to Levi in Egypt": This parenthetical clause firmly grounds Jochebed's origin within the period of Egyptian bondage and the tribal family of Levi. It emphasizes the direct link between the future leaders and God's faithfulness during a time of immense hardship and underscores their pure Levitical bloodline even while in exile.
  • "she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister": This statement confirms the direct sibling relationship and immediate parentage of these three foundational leaders. It underscores the divine wisdom in choosing this specific family for pivotal roles in the Exodus and the formation of the nation of Israel. Their unified identity through this verse points to God's deliberate formation of leadership from within the very heart of His suffering people.

Numbers 26 59 Bonus section

The specific mention of this family lineage in Numbers 26:59 is part of the comprehensive Levitical register (Num 26:57-62) that serves as a divine affirmation of the continuity of the Aaronic priesthood after the rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16), which had challenged priestly authority. By reiterating the established family, God reaffirms the legitimate succession plan for the Tabernacle service and high priestly office. The fact that Levi was not included in the main military census but had their males (Num 3:39) enumerated for sacred service indicates their distinct, non-inheritable yet supremely vital role in mediating between God and His people, foreshadowing aspects of Christ's priestly and prophetic offices.

Numbers 26 59 Commentary

Numbers 26:59 provides a concise yet vital genealogical entry. In the midst of a census designed to order the new generation for inheritance and military service, the exclusion and special listing of Levi underscores their unique priestly and service role to God. This verse highlights the very specific family line from which the key leaders of Israel — Aaron (the first High Priest), Moses (the great deliverer and lawgiver), and Miriam (a prophetess) — originated.

The precise identification of Jochebed as Levi's daughter born "in Egypt" serves multiple purposes:

1. Legitimacy: It validates the direct, untainted Levitical heritage of Aaron and Moses, crucial for their authoritative roles in God’s chosen nation. Genealogies in the ancient Near East were essential for establishing legal rights, land claims, and hereditary offices.
2. God's Sovereignty: It affirms God's providential care in preserving and preparing the deliverers even within the context of slavery and oppression. Their birth "in Egypt" speaks to God's continued faithfulness to His covenant (Gen 15:13-14) during Israel's lowest point.
3. Humble Beginnings: These foundational leaders were not born into royalty or power, but from a common, oppressed family, yet of a significant tribal lineage. This reflects a divine pattern of choosing unlikely vessels to demonstrate His power and glory.This verse, though brief, thus reinforces the theological themes of divine election, covenant faithfulness, and the carefully structured foundation of Israel's spiritual and national identity.