Numbers 3:27 kjv
And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
Numbers 3:27 nkjv
From Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites.
Numbers 3:27 niv
To Kohath belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites; these were the Kohathite clans.
Numbers 3:27 esv
To Kohath belonged the clan of the Amramites and the clan of the Izharites and the clan of the Hebronites and the clan of the Uzzielites; these are the clans of the Kohathites.
Numbers 3:27 nlt
The descendants of Kohath were composed of the clans descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
Numbers 3 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:53 | "...the Levites shall encamp around the tabernacle of the testimony..." | Levites separated for tabernacle duty |
| Num 3:6-9 | "Bring the tribe of Levi near...to minister to him." | Levites as dedicated ministers to priests |
| Num 3:12 | "...I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead..." | Levites substitute firstborn for holy service |
| Num 3:17 | "These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari." | Ancestry of the Levite clans |
| Num 3:28 | "...in the charge of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest." | Kohathites' oversight under the priesthood |
| Num 3:29-31 | "...the charge of the Kohathites was the ark, the table, the lampstand..." | Specific holy duties of the Kohathites |
| Num 4:4-15 | Detailed instructions for Kohathites regarding holy objects. | Elaboration of their precise responsibilities |
| Num 7:9 | "But to the sons of Kohath he gave none..." | Uniquely, they carried holy objects directly |
| Num 16:1-35 | Korah's rebellion against God's appointed order and priesthood. | Disobedience to divine order results in judgment |
| Num 18:21 | "...to the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance..." | Their support for Tabernacle service |
| Exod 6:18 | "The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel..." | Identifies Kohath's four direct sons |
| Exod 6:20 | "...Amram took Jochebed his father's sister to himself for a wife...she bore him Aaron and Moses." | Amramites include Moses and Aaron |
| Deut 10:8 | "At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark..." | Confirms the Levites' sacred calling and duty |
| Josh 21:5 | "The remainder of the Kohathites received cities from the tribe of Ephraim..." | Allocation of cities for the Kohathites |
| 1 Chr 6:2-3 | Lists sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. | Confirms lineage and continues genealogies |
| 1 Chr 9:17-34 | Details duties of gatekeepers, treasury keepers, etc. of Levites. | Diversity of Levitical temple duties |
| 1 Chr 15:2 | "Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God..." | Reinforces sacred role in Ark transport |
| 1 Chr 23:24 | "These were the descendants of Levi according to their fathers' houses...who performed the work for the service of the house of the LORD..." | Later organization of Levite duties in Temple |
| 1 Chr 26:20-28 | Mentions other specific duties of the Levites in David's time. | Variety of Levitical service |
| Rom 12:4-5 | "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function..." | Analogy of spiritual gifts and functions |
| 1 Cor 12:12-27 | Describes the body of Christ with diverse but interconnected parts. | Each part of the body has its unique function |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "But all things should be done decently and in order." | God's preference for order and structure |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "...he gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry..." | Diverse roles for the body of Christ today |
| Heb 8:5 | "They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things." | Tabernacle service as a type of heavenly reality |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." | Believers as spiritual priests with service |
Numbers 3 verses
Numbers 3 27 Meaning
Numbers 3:27 enumerates the specific familial divisions descended from Kohath, one of Levi's three sons: the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites. These families comprised the Kohathites, who were designated for a specialized and highly sacred service in the Tabernacle. This verse highlights the precise and orderly structure established by God for the care and transport of the most holy articles of the divine dwelling.
Numbers 3 27 Context
Numbers 3 details the divine command for the census and assignment of the Levite tribe, setting them apart for sacred service in the Tabernacle. Unlike the other Israelite tribes counted for warfare, the Levites were dedicated to ministering to the Lord and assisting the Aaronic priesthood. Chapter 3 first establishes their role as substitutes for the firstborn, then lists their family divisions—Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites—assigning them specific stations around the Tabernacle and particular duties concerning its structure, furnishings, and sacred vessels. This verse, Num 3:27, is part of this meticulous organization, specifically outlining the foundational family units descending from Kohath, preparing the reader for their designated and uniquely sacred responsibilities in transporting the most holy components of the Tabernacle in the wilderness journey. The historical and cultural context reflects a nomadic society, where divine order and a visible system of worship reinforced the identity and holiness of Israel in contrast to surrounding nations, who often had less defined and divinely appointed religious leadership.
Numbers 3 27 Word analysis
- And: Links this specific detail about Kohath's families to the broader description of the Levites' census and assignment of duties within the chapter.
- of Kohath: (Hebrew: קְהָת, Qehath). The second son of Levi (Exod 6:18, Num 3:17). His lineage was chosen for the most critical and sensitive task within the Tabernacle service: carrying its holiest articles. This high privilege also came with great responsibility, as seen later with Korah's rebellion.
- was: Establishes a direct ancestral and familial connection, denoting the formation of these distinct clan units under his name.
- the family: (Hebrew: מִשְׁפָּחָה, mishpachah). Refers to a clan or sub-division within a tribe. These were not just genealogical lists, but operational units within the Levitical system, each assigned specific tasks.
- of the Amramites: (Hebrew: עַמְרָמִי, Amrami). Descendants of Amram, Kohath's first son. This family held immense significance as it was the lineage through which Moses, Aaron, and the high priestly line originated (Exod 6:20), granting them a unique position within the Levitical hierarchy, being close kin to the priestly leadership.
- and the family of the Izharites: (Hebrew: יִצְהָרִי, Yitshari). Descendants of Izhar, Kohath's second son. This family is tragically notable as the source of Korah (Num 16:1), whose rebellion against the divinely appointed authority of Moses and Aaron underscored the sanctity of the Levitical order and the severe consequences of challenging God's established structure.
- and the family of the Hebronites: (Hebrew: חֶבְרוֹנִי, Hevroni). Descendants of Hebron, Kohath's third son.
- and the family of the Uzzielites: (Hebrew: עֻזִּיאֵלִי, Uzzieli). Descendants of Uzziel, Kohath's fourth son. Eleazaphan, who was appointed as chief of the house of the father of the Kohathite families, was from this lineage (Num 3:30), highlighting the specific leaders within these sub-clans.
- these are the families of the Kohathites: This concluding phrase succinctly confirms the direct association of these four named families with the overall Kohathite division. It underscores their collective identity and responsibility for the most sacred elements of the Tabernacle service, emphasizing the hierarchical structure and the precision with which divine duties were delineated by lineage.
Numbers 3 27 Bonus section
- Unlike the Gershonites and Merarites who used wagons for transporting their designated Tabernacle parts (Num 7:7-8), the Kohathites were uniquely instructed to carry their assigned, intensely holy items on their shoulders (Num 7:9), a testament to the immense sacredness and reverence required for the Ark of the Covenant and other articles from the Holy and Most Holy Places.
- The exactitude of the lineage and family divisions, common throughout the early books of the Bible, reveals the importance of divine preservation of purity and distinction in ancestry, especially concerning those appointed for sacred service. This was a form of quality control for Israel's worship system, ensuring proper succession and accountability.
- The precise allocation of duties by family within the Levites foreshadows the concept in the New Testament Church, where while not by genetic lineage, the Body of Christ functions with diverse spiritual gifts and roles, all under a single divine head, with each part contributing to the whole (Rom 12, 1 Cor 12), ensuring order and effectiveness in service to God.
Numbers 3 27 Commentary
Numbers 3:27 is far more than a simple genealogical list; it's a foundational verse for understanding the meticulously ordered divine blueprint for the Israelite worship system. By precisely delineating the four families descended from Kohath, it establishes the distinct units responsible for handling and transporting the Tabernacle's most sacred articles—the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Lampstand, and the Altars (Num 3:31; 4:4-15). This detailed specificity underscores God's emphasis on holiness, order, and accountability in worship and service. The inclusion of the Amramites (Moses and Aaron's lineage) and the Izharites (Korah's lineage) implicitly highlights both the privilege and the profound responsibility associated with serving in God's presence, foretelling future obedience and rebellion respectively. The rigorous organizational structure, extending even to the sub-families, demonstrates that true service to God is not chaotic or self-appointed, but flows from divine design and delegated authority, ensuring reverence for His presence.