Numbers 3 19

Numbers 3:19 kjv

And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

Numbers 3:19 nkjv

And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

Numbers 3:19 niv

The Kohathite clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

Numbers 3:19 esv

And the sons of Kohath by their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

Numbers 3:19 nlt

The clans descended from Kohath were named after four of his descendants, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 19 Meaning

Numbers 3:19 enumerates the four sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These individuals are explicitly identified as the heads of the family divisions within the Kohathite clan. This listing establishes the foundational units through which the specific duties and lineage of the Kohathites, a primary Levitical subdivision responsible for the most sacred items of the Tabernacle, would be ordered and passed down.

Numbers 3 19 Context

Numbers 3 primarily focuses on the census and specific allocation of duties to the tribe of Levi. Unlike the other tribes counted for military service, the Levites are counted and organized for the exclusive service of the Tabernacle. This chapter details their various clans—Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites—and assigns them distinct responsibilities, serving as proxies for the firstborn of Israel whom the Lord had consecrated. Numbers 3:19 specifically introduces the internal structure of the Kohathite family, the clan burdened with the most solemn and potentially dangerous task: the transportation of the Ark of the Covenant, the altar, the table of showbread, the lampstand, and other sacred objects from the Holy and Most Holy Places, items that were literally the manifestation of God's presence among His people. This enumeration underscores the divine order and the crucial role each lineage played in maintaining the sacred worship.

Numbers 3 19 Word analysis

• And (וְ - ve): A simple conjunction, connecting this verse to the preceding genealogical listings of Gershon's sons (v.18) and introducing the next set of familial details.
• these (אֵלֶּה - elleh): Demonstrative pronoun, pointing to the subsequent names as the direct referents, marking them as the specific subject of the listing.
• are (implied): Hebrew often omits the verb "to be" when context makes it clear, creating a more direct and concise statement, common in genealogical registers.
• the names (שְׁמוֹת - shemot): Plural of shem, meaning "name" or "reputation." In biblical contexts, names often carried significant meaning or denoted identity and lineage, emphasizing who these individuals were and what they represented within the tribal structure.
• of the sons (בְּנֵי - b'ney): Plural of ben, "son." Refers to direct male offspring, establishing the patriarchal lines through which the Kohathite identity and duties would flow.
• of Kohath (קְהָת - Qehat): Son of Levi, ancestor of Moses and Aaron (Exod 6:18, 20). His name means "assembly" or "congregation." The family of Kohath was distinguished among the Levites for being entrusted with the "most holy things" of the Tabernacle, requiring extreme reverence and care. This designation carries immense weight, denoting proximity to the divine presence.
• by their families (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם - l'mishpechotam): A crucial phrase. Mishpachah (plural mishpechot) means "family," "clan," or "sub-division" within a tribe. This highlights the organizational principle of the Levites: duties and identity were structured along these defined familial lines. It implies not just personal names but the establishment of enduring household units that would perpetuate their assigned sacred service. This system provided order, accountability, and ensured the precise transmission of traditions and responsibilities.
• Amram (עַמְרָם - 'Amram): "Exalted people" or "their kinsman is exalted." The father of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam (Exod 6:20), linking the line of high priests and prophets directly to the Kohathite clan. His lineage underscores the profound significance of the Kohathites.
• and Izhar (וְיִצְהָר - v'Yitzhar): "Oil" or "shining." Known later for Korah's rebellion, emphasizing that even within chosen lineages, faithfulness was not guaranteed.
• Hebron (וְחֶבְרוֹן - v'Chevron): "Association" or "bond." His descendants (Hebronites) also served in various capacities.
• and Uzziel (וְעֻזִּיאֵל - v'Uzziel): "God is my strength." His descendants (Uzzielites) also held specific roles within the Levitical structure.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And these are the names of the sons of Kohath": This phrase introduces a list of direct descendants, common in the book of Numbers as it meticulously details the divine order and structure of the newly formed nation, especially for the crucial tribe of Levi. It emphasizes lineage as the basis for assigned roles.
• "by their families": This addition clarifies that the listed sons are not merely individuals, but founders of distinct family units or clans (mishpachot). These clans would endure through generations, forming the organizational backbone for the allocation of Tabernacle duties. This precise familial demarcation underscores the meticulous nature of God's command regarding service and worship. It signifies divine ordering for sacred responsibilities, ensuring that tasks are distributed, maintained, and inherited by designated groups.

Numbers 3 19 Bonus section

The Kohathites' primary duty to carry the Ark and other holy objects on their shoulders (Num 7:9) rather than by wagons, highlighted the personal, sacred nature of their burden and the intimacy of their proximity to God's presence. This also required strict obedience to the purification rites and coverings handled by Aaron and his sons before the Kohathites could even approach the items, preventing fatal errors (Num 4:15-20). The later incident of Uzzah, though a descendant of Merari, underscores the continued sanctity and danger of improperly handling the Ark (2 Sam 6:6-7), a direct consequence of defying the principles established in Numbers for the Kohathites' care. The very fact that specific families were designated for specific burdens demonstrates God's preference for order, accountability, and the proper handling of sacred things.

Numbers 3 19 Commentary

Numbers 3:19, while a concise genealogical listing, is profoundly significant. It names the four patriarchal heads of the Kohathite families, setting the stage for their unparalleled responsibility in the Tabernacle. Unlike the Gershonites who cared for the Tabernacle coverings, or the Merarites who carried its structural components, the Kohathites, from these specific family lines, were entrusted with bearing the sacred furnishings from the Holy Place and Most Holy Place: the Ark of the Covenant, the Menorah, the Altar of Incense, the Table of Showbread, and other implements. This was the most privileged and perilous of all Levitical duties, requiring not just physical strength but immense reverence and obedience, as even touching these items improperly could result in death (Num 4:15, 20).

The mention of Amram, father of Moses and Aaron, anchors this specific Kohathite branch to the spiritual and political leadership of Israel, reinforcing their prominence. The verse, therefore, is not just a dry list of names but a foundational statement about the divinely ordained order, the specific sacred duties inherent in the Levites, and the critical importance of lineage for transmitting holiness and service within Israel. It implicitly warns against human presumptions or innovations in worship, as God’s way was highly specific and through designated, ordered channels.