And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
Parallel translations
- WEB These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
- BSB These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- NKJV These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- NASB These, then, are the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- NLT Levi had three sons, whose names were 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
Levi's three sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. These founded the three great Levitical clans.
Overview
The naming of Levi's sons establishes the three branches around which Levitical service was organized. Each clan would receive distinct duties in caring for the tabernacle. This genealogy provides the framework for the assignments that follow, showing God's orderly distribution of service among His ministers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Gen 46:11And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- Exod 6:16–19And 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.
- Num 24:1–25And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
- Josh 21:1–45Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
- Num 23:6–23And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.
- 1 Chr 6:16–19The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
- Num 15:5–23And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.
- Neh 11:1–12And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.
- 1 Chr 6:1–2The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- Num 26:57–58And these are they that were numbered 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.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 3:17 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
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