Also David separated them into divisions among the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Parallel translations
- WEB David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- KJV And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- BSB Then David divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
- NASB David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- NLT Then David divided the Levites into divisions named after the clans descended from the three sons of Levi—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David organized the Levites into divisions according to Levi's three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. He structured service along established family lines.
Overview
Following the ancient genealogical structure of Levi's sons, David grouped the Levites into orderly divisions. This rootedness in family heritage gave continuity and clarity to temple service. The careful arrangement reflects God's design for ordered worship and the faithful passing of sacred duties from one generation to the next.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Chr 8:14He appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their offices, to praise and to minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required; the doorkeepers also by their divisions at every gate, for David the man of God had so commanded.
- 1 Chr 6:1The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- Ezra 6:18They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.
- 1 Chr 6:16The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
- 2 Chr 29:25He set the Levites in Yahweh’s house with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was from Yahweh by his prophets.
- 1 Chr 24:1These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
- 2 Chr 35:10So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites by their divisions, according to the king’s commandment.
- Num 26:57–58These are those who were counted of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
- 1 Chr 26:1For the divisions of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
- 2 Chr 31:2Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of Yahweh’s camp.
- Exod 6:16–24These 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 one hundred thirty-seven years.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 23:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.