TRV
Translation
See also
See on the biblical-era map
In the KJVVerse 1,677 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Exodus 6 verses 14–30
14 ¶ These be the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben.
15 And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these are the families of Simeon.
16 And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years.
17 The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
18 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years.
19 And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations.
20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.
21 And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.
22 And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri.
23 And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
24 And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.
25 And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.
26 These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.
27 These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.
28 And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,
29 That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.
30 And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?
I. We have here a genealogy, not an endless one, such as the apostle condemns (Ti1 1:4), for it ends in those two great patriots Moses and Aaron, and comes in here to show that they were Israelites, bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh whom they were sent to deliver, raised up unto them of their brethren, as Christ also should be, who was to be the prophet and priest, the Redeemer and lawgiver, of the people of Israel, and whose genealogy also, like this, was to be carefully preserved. The heads of the houses of three of the tribes are here named, agreeing with the accounts we had, Gen. 46. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, are thus dignified here by themselves for this reason, because they were left under marks of infamy by their dying father, Reuben for his incest and Simeon and Levi for their murder of the Shechemites; and therefore Moses would put this particular honour upon them, to magnify God's mercy in their repentance and remission, as a pattern to those that should afterwards believe: the two former seem rather to be mentioned only for the sake of a third, which was Levi, from whom Moses and Aaron descended, and all the priests of the Jewish church. Thus was the tribe of Levi distinguished betimes. Observe here, 1. That Kohath, from whom Moses and Aaron, and all the priests, derived their pedigree, was a younger son of Levi, Exo 6:16. Note, The grants of God's favours do not go by seniority of age and priority of birth, but the divine sovereignty often prefers the younger before the elder, so crossing hands. 2. That the ages of Levi, Kohath, and Amram, the father, grandfather, and great grandfather, of Moses, are here recorded; they all lived to a great age, Levi to 137, Kohath to 133, and Amram to 137. Moses himself came much short of them, and fixed seventy or eighty for the ordinary stretch of human life (Psa 90:10); for now that God's Israel was multiplied and had become a great nation, and divine revelation was by the hand of Moses committed to writing and no longer trusted to tradition, the two great reasons for the long lives of the patriarchs had ceased, and therefore henceforward fewer years must serve men. 3. That Aaron married Elisheba (the same name with that of the wife of Zecharias, Elizabeth, as Miriam is the same with Mary), daughter of Amminadab, one of the chief of the fathers of the tribe of Judah; for the tribes of Levi and Judah often intermarried, Exo 6:23. 4. It must not be omitted that Moses has recorded the marriage of his father Amram with Jochebed his own aunt (Exo 6:20); and it appears by Num 26:59 that it must be taken strictly for his father's own sister, at least by the half blood. This marriage was afterwards forbidden as incestuous (Lev 18:12), which might be looked upon as a blot upon his family, though before that law; yet Moses does not conceal it, for he sought not his own praise, but wrote with a sincere regard to truth, whether it smiled or frowned upon him. 5. He concludes it with a particular mark of honour on the persons he is writing of, though he himself was one of them, Exo 6:26, Exo 6:27. These are that Moses and Aaron whom God pitched upon to be his plenipotentiaries in this treaty. These were those to whom God spoke (Exo 6:26), and who spoke to Pharaoh on Israel's behalf, Exo 6:27. Note, Communion with God and serviceableness to his church are things that, above any other, put true honour upon men. Those are great indeed with whom God converses and whom he employs on his service. Such were that Moses and Aaron; and something of this honour have all his saints, who are made to our God kings and priests.
II. In the close of the chapter Moses returns to his narrative, from which he had broken off somewhat abruptly (Exo 6:13), and repeats, 1. The charge God had given him to deliver his message to Pharaoh (Exo 6:29): Speak all that I say unto thee, as a faithful ambassador. Note, Those that go on God's errand must not shun to declare the whole counsel of God. 2. His objection against it, Exo 6:30. Note, Those that have at any time spoken unadvisedly with their lips ought often to reflect upon it with regret, as Moses seems to do here.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 14–30. Public domain.
Copy as
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Exodus 6:21 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Exodus 6:21 presents a concise genealogical record, identifying Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri as the three sons of Izhar. This verse is an integral part of a broader Levitical lineage presented in Exodus 6:14-27, which meticulously traces the ancestry of Moses and Aaron back to Levi, thereby establishing their legitimate tribal and familial credentials for their divinely appointed leadership and priestly roles within the burgeoning nation of Israel.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Exodus 6:21, though brief, employs several significant literary devices. Primarily, it functions as a Genealogy, meticulously recording the lineage of key figures. This device is not merely for historical record-keeping but serves to establish legitimacy, tribal identity, and the divine order within Israel. The inclusion of Korah's name, given his later actions, functions as powerful Foreshadowing. This subtle hint prepares the discerning reader for future narrative developments, creating dramatic irony and highlighting the pervasive nature of human rebellion even within God's chosen people. Finally, the verse's structure, listing names in a series, is a form of Enumeration, a common feature in biblical genealogies that emphasizes completeness and the systematic organization of families and tribes.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This seemingly simple genealogical entry carries profound theological weight, underscoring God's meticulous care in establishing the foundational structures for His covenant people. It highlights the divine emphasis on lineage and order, particularly for those entrusted with sacred responsibilities. The inclusion of Korah's name, while establishing his legitimate place within the Levite tribe, also subtly introduces the theme of internal challenge to God-ordained authority, a recurring motif throughout Israel's history. This verse thus serves as a reminder that even within the divinely chosen community, the potential for rebellion and deviation from God's established order exists, necessitating a constant reliance on His sovereign guidance and grace.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While a concise list of names, Exodus 6:21 offers valuable insights for contemporary believers. It underscores the profound truth that God is a God of order, intentionality, and purpose. He meticulously establishes structures and appoints individuals for His work, and recognizing and respecting this divine order is crucial for spiritual flourishing. The inclusion of Korah's name serves as a timeless cautionary tale: even those intimately connected to God's people and work can harbor pride and rebellion, leading to devastating consequences. This reminds us of the constant need for humility, submission to legitimate authority, and discernment within the community of faith. Ultimately, this verse encourages us to trust in God's sovereign plan, knowing that He sees and orchestrates every detail, even the seemingly insignificant, for His grand redemptive purposes, and that every individual, no matter how briefly mentioned, plays a part in His unfolding story.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is Korah mentioned in this genealogy, and what is his significance?
Answer: Korah is mentioned in Exodus 6:21 as one of the sons of Izhar, establishing his direct lineage within the Kohathite branch of the Levite tribe. His significance, though not immediately apparent in this verse, becomes profoundly clear later in the Pentateuch. This early inclusion serves as a powerful foreshadowing for readers familiar with the biblical narrative, alerting them to his infamous rebellion against the divinely appointed leadership of Moses and Aaron, detailed extensively in Numbers 16. His presence here highlights the meticulous nature of biblical genealogies, which often include figures who will play pivotal roles, both positive and negative, in the unfolding of God's redemptive history.
What is the broader purpose of genealogies in the Old Testament, particularly in books like Exodus?
Answer: Genealogies in the Old Testament serve multiple crucial purposes beyond mere historical record-keeping. In books like Exodus, they are fundamental for establishing identity and tribal affiliation for the nascent nation of Israel. Crucially, they validate the legitimacy of leadership and priestly roles, as seen with Moses and Aaron's detailed lineage in Exodus 6. These lists also demonstrate God's unwavering covenant faithfulness across generations, His preservation of the chosen line, and His orderly establishment of the nation of Israel as His peculiar people. Ultimately, they provide the historical framework for God's unfolding redemptive plan, tracing the lineage that would eventually lead to the Messiah.
Do Nepheg and Zichri have any further significance or mentions in the biblical narrative?
Answer: No, Nepheg and Zichri are mentioned only in Exodus 6:21 and do not appear elsewhere in the biblical narrative. Their significance lies solely in their inclusion within this specific genealogical record, which contributes to the comprehensive listing of the Levite families. Their presence underscores the meticulousness of the biblical account in documenting the family structures of Israel, even for individuals who do not play prominent or active roles in the broader historical or theological narrative.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Exodus 6:21 focuses on the earthly lineage of the Levites and the subtle foreshadowing of human rebellion, it ultimately points to Christ in profound ways. The meticulous care with which God establishes and records the lineage of His chosen servants, like Moses and Aaron, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the perfect, divinely appointed lineage of Jesus Christ. Unlike the Levitical priesthood, which was inherited and temporary, Christ's priesthood is eternal and unchangeable, established not by human descent but by divine oath, "according to the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 7:17). The rebellion of Korah, a challenge to God's appointed leadership and a stark reminder of humanity's fallen nature, underscores the pervasive need for a perfect mediator. Christ, in stark contrast to Korah, perfectly submitted to the Father's will, becoming the ultimate leader and deliverer. Through His atoning sacrifice, He overcame all rebellion and sin, establishing a new spiritual lineage for all who believe in Him, bringing them into the household of God and making them "sons of God" by faith (Galatians 3:26). He is the true and faithful High Priest, whose authority is not merely inherited but eternally established, providing access to God for all who come to Him.