What does Exodus 6:24 mean?
What is the meaning of Exodus 6:24?

The sons of Korah

Exodus 6:24 opens by identifying “The sons of Korah.”

• Korah was a Levite descended from Kohath, noted later for leading a rebellion against Moses (Numbers 16).

• Even though judgment fell on Korah, his lineage was preserved—“the sons of Korah did not die” (Numbers 26:11). This highlights both God’s justice and mercy operating together.

• Their survival affirms the reliability of God’s promise that the Levitical line would continue to serve (Exodus 6:16-18; 1 Chronicles 6:22-23).


Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph

• Scripture lists the sons by name:

– Assir

– Elkanah

– Abiasaph

• Naming each son underscores the personal nature of God’s covenant dealings. Compare other lists where individual names matter, such as Shem, Ham, and Japheth in Genesis 10, or Jacob’s twelve sons in Genesis 35:22-26.

• Later genealogies repeat these three names verbatim (1 Chronicles 6:22-24), confirming the historical line and showing Scripture’s internal consistency.

• From this trio sprang generations who became gatekeepers and temple singers (1 Chronicles 9:19; 2 Chronicles 20:19).


These were the clans of the Korahites

• The phrase shifts from individuals to “clans,” pointing to the growth of a family into a recognizable division within Israel.

• By David’s time, Korahite clans were crucial in temple worship, penning psalms such as Psalm 42 and Psalm 44-49; they also guarded the thresholds of the Sanctuary (1 Chronicles 26:1-19).

• Their story illustrates redemption: a line once associated with rebellion becomes a line associated with praise, echoing Romans 5:20—where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.


summary

Exodus 6:24 records three sons of Korah—Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph—and notes that their descendants formed the Korahite clans. This brief genealogy confirms God’s faithfulness to preserve a Levitical branch despite Korah’s sin, establishing families who later served prominently in worship and temple service. The verse exemplifies Scripture’s precise historical record, God’s balance of judgment and mercy, and His ability to redeem a lineage for His glory.

How does Exodus 6:23 reflect the importance of lineage in the Bible?
Top of Page
Top of Page