1 Chronicles 6:1
New International Version
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

New Living Translation
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

English Standard Version
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Berean Standard Bible
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

King James Bible
The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

New King James Version
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

New American Standard Bible
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

NASB 1995
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

NASB 1977
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

Legacy Standard Bible
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Amplified Bible
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath and Merari.

Christian Standard Bible
Levi’s sons: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Levi’s sons: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

American Standard Version
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Contemporary English Version
Levi was the father of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

English Revised Version
The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Levi's sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Good News Translation
Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

International Standard Version
Levi's descendants included Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

Majority Standard Bible
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

NET Bible
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

New Heart English Bible
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Webster's Bible Translation
The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

World English Bible
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Young's Literal Translation
Sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sons of Levi were Gerson, Caath, and Merari.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

New American Bible
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

New Revised Standard Version
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THE sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The sons of Levi: Gershun and Qahath and Merari.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The sons of Levi: Gedson, Caath, and Merari.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Descendants of Levi
1The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.…

Cross References
Exodus 6:16-20
These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years. / The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans. / The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years. ...

Numbers 3:17-20
These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. / These were the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. / The sons of Kohath by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. ...

Genesis 46:11
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Numbers 26:57-59
Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans: The Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari. / These were the families of the Levites: The Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, and the Korahite clan. Now Kohath was the father of Amram, / and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She was also a daughter of Levi, born to Levi in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.

Exodus 2:1-2
Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, / and she conceived and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months.

Numbers 26:59
and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She was also a daughter of Levi, born to Levi in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.

Exodus 6:18
The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.

Numbers 3:1-4
This is the account of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. / These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, then Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. / These were Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. ...

Numbers 18:1-7
So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood. / But bring with you also your brothers from the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and assist you and your sons before the Tent of the Testimony. / And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die. ...

Hebrews 7:5
Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.

Acts 7:20-22
At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God. For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house. / When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. / So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

Matthew 1:2
Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

Luke 3:33-34
the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, / the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

Hebrews 11:23
By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.

Acts 7:35
This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.


Treasury of Scripture

The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

A.

1 Chronicles 23:6
And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Genesis 46:11
And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Exodus 6:16
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.

Gershon.

1 Chronicles 6:16,20
The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari…

Gershom.

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Gershom Gershon Kohath Levi Merari Merar'i
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Gershom Gershon Kohath Levi Merari Merar'i
1 Chronicles 6
1. The sons of Levi.
4. The line of Eleazar unto the captivity.
16. The families of Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
49. The office of Aaron, and his line unto Ahimaaz.
54. The cities of the priests and Levites.














The sons of Levi
This phrase introduces the genealogy of the Levitical line, which is crucial for understanding the priestly and religious functions in Israel. Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah, is the patriarch of the tribe set apart for religious duties. The Hebrew root for Levi, "לֵוִי" (Levi), is associated with the idea of joining or being attached, reflecting the Levites' role in being attached to the service of God and the tabernacle. Historically, the Levites were not given a territorial inheritance like the other tribes but were instead distributed among the tribes of Israel to perform their sacred duties, emphasizing their unique role in maintaining the spiritual life of the nation.

Gershon
Gershon is the first son of Levi mentioned here. His name in Hebrew, "גֵּרְשׁוֹן" (Gershon), is thought to mean "exile" or "sojourner," which may reflect the transient nature of the Levites' service as they moved with the tabernacle. The Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle's curtains, coverings, and hangings, as detailed in Numbers 3:25-26. This role highlights the importance of maintaining the sacred space where God dwelled among His people, symbolizing the need for purity and order in worship.

Kohath
Kohath, the second son, is perhaps the most prominent of Levi's sons due to his descendants, which include Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. The Hebrew name "קְהָת" (Kohath) is associated with the idea of assembly or congregation, fitting for the family line that would produce Israel's greatest leaders and priests. The Kohathites were tasked with the care of the sanctuary's most sacred objects, such as the Ark of the Covenant, the table, the lampstand, and the altars (Numbers 3:31). This responsibility underscores the holiness and reverence required in handling the symbols of God's presence and covenant with Israel.

Merari
The third son, Merari, whose name "מְרָרִי" (Merari) means "bitter" or "strong," reflects the challenges and burdens associated with their duties. The Merarites were responsible for the structural elements of the tabernacle, including the frames, bars, pillars, and bases (Numbers 3:36-37). This role was essential for the stability and integrity of the tabernacle, symbolizing the foundational support needed for the community's spiritual life. The Merarites' work, though less visible, was vital for the overall function and mobility of the tabernacle, teaching us the value of steadfastness and strength in service to God.

(1-15) THE LINE OF AARON THROUGH ELEAZAR TO JEHOZADAK.

(1-3) Aaron's descent from Levi.

(1) The sons of Levi; Gershon . . .--So Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16, and uniformly in the Pentateuch. In 1Chronicles 6:16 we have the spelling Gershom, which perhaps indicates a difference of source.

(2) The sons of Kohath.--The names are the same as in Exodus 6:18. K?hath, or K?hath, was the chief house of Levi. The name is put second in the series, perhaps for euphonic reasons. (Comp. "Sheni, Ham, and Japhet" with Genesis 9:24; Genesis 10:21.) . . .

Verse 1. - This verse gives the three branches of Levi,and is in agreement with the enumeration of them in Genesis 46:11 and Exodus 6:16, viz. Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. We have not the third parallel passage in the place of mention of the other tribes (Numbers 1:47-54), but it is compensated for somewhat later (Numbers 3:14-20).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The sons
בְּנֵ֖י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Levi:
לֵוִ֑י (lê·wî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3878: Levi -- a son of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him

Gershom,
גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן (gê·rə·šō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1648: Gershon -- a son of Levi

Kohath,
קְהָ֖ת (qə·hāṯ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6955: Kohath -- a son of Levi

and Merari.
וּמְרָרִֽי׃ (ū·mə·rā·rî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4847: Merari -- a son of Levi


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 6:1 The sons of Levi: Gershon Kohath (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 5:26
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