Jochebed is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, known primarily as the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Her account is found in the Book of Exodus, and she is also mentioned in the genealogies of the Book of Numbers and the Book of Chronicles. Jochebed's life and actions are pivotal in the narrative of the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt.

Name and Lineage

The name Jochebed (Hebrew: יוֹכֶבֶד, Yôḵeḇeḏ) is understood to mean "Yahweh is glory" or "Yahweh is honor." She is a member of the tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. According to Exodus 6:20, Jochebed is the daughter of Levi, born to him in Egypt, and she married Amram, her nephew, who was also a Levite. This familial connection underscores the importance of the Levitical line, which would later be set apart for priestly duties.

Role in the Exodus Narrative

Jochebed's most notable act is her courageous decision to save her son Moses from Pharaoh's decree that all newborn Hebrew boys be killed. In Exodus 2:1-3 , it is recorded: "Now a man of the house of Levi married a daughter of Levi, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile."

Jochebed's faith and ingenuity are evident in her actions. By placing Moses in a basket on the Nile, she not only protected him from immediate danger but also set the stage for his adoption by Pharaoh's daughter, which would eventually lead to his role as the deliverer of Israel.

Family and Legacy

Jochebed's children played crucial roles in the history of Israel. Her son Aaron became the first high priest of Israel, establishing the Aaronic priesthood. Her daughter Miriam is recognized as a prophetess and leader among the women of Israel. Moses, her youngest son, is one of the most prominent figures in the Bible, leading the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage and receiving the Law at Mount Sinai.

The faith and actions of Jochebed are celebrated in the New Testament as well. Hebrews 11:23 commends the faith of Moses' parents: "By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict."

Significance

Jochebed's account is a testament to the power of faith and the impact of a mother's love and courage. Her actions not only preserved the life of Moses but also set in motion the events that would lead to the liberation of the Israelites from slavery. Her legacy is reflected in the lives and leadership of her children, who each played vital roles in the history and spiritual life of Israel.Jochebed

glorious; honorable

Jochebed

(whose glory is Jehovah), the wife and at the same time the aunt of Amram and the mother of Moses and Aaron. (Exodus 2:1; 6:20; Numbers 26:59)

Jochebed

Wife of Amram, and mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, Numbers 26:59. She was a daughter of Levi, and her husband's aunt, Exodus 6:20, though such marriages were afterwards prohibited, Le 18:12.

Jehovah is her glory, the wife of Amram, and the mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses (Numbers 26:59). She is spoken of as the sister of Kohath, Amram's father (Exodus 6:20; Comp. 16, 18; 2:1-10). JOCHEBED

jok'-e-bed (yokhebhedh, "Yahweh is glory"): Daughter of Levi, wife of Amram and mother of Moses (Exodus 6:20 Numbers 26:59). According to Exodus 6:20, she was a sister of Kohath, Amram's father.

2. Aaron -- Aaron, the brother of Moses
... Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Aaron Phonetic Spelling: (ah-ar-ohn') Short
Definition: Aaron Definition: Aaron, son of Amram and Jochebed, brother of Moses ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2.htm - 6k3115. Yokebed -- "the LORD is glory," mother of Moses
... Yokebed. 3116 . "the LORD is glory," mother of Moses. Transliteration: Yokebed
Phonetic Spelling: (yo-keh'-bed) Short Definition: Jochebed. ... Jochebed. ...
/hebrew/3115.htm - 6k

The Finding of Moses
... Jochebed, the poor mother, held her baby closer in her arms. ... So Jochebed thought
of a plan, and prayed to God that He would help her to carry it out. ...
/.../steedman/the babe in the bulrushes/the finding of moses.htm

The Ark among the Flags
... narrative are anonymous. We know that the names of 'the man of the house
of Levi' and his wife were Amram and Jochebed. Miriam was ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the ark among the flags.htm

The Cradle that was Rocked by a River.
... save alive. There was a man named Amrom, who, with his wife Jochebed,
had a beautiful little boy whom they tenderly loved. They ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter ix the cradle that.htm

The Child Moses.
... Now, Jochebed, one of those Hebrew mothers, lived in the city of the great king,
so close to the side of the blue Nile that the white walls of the royal palace ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/the child moses.htm

The Faith of Moses.
... The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews must admit that Jochebed's faith
was unauthorised. But does not faith always begin in folly? ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xii the faith of.htm

The Testament of Levi Concerning the Priesthood and Arrogance.
... also died. And Jochebed was born in my sixty-fourth year, in Egypt, for
I was renowned then in the midst of my brethren. 12. And ...
/.../iii the testament of levi concerning.htm

How Moses Ascended up to Mount Sinai, and Received Laws from God ...
... them to me for our common advantage; for it is not to be supposed that the author
of these institutions is barely Moses, the son of Amram and Jochebed, but He ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how moses ascended.htm

Concerning the Afflictions that Befell the Hebrews in Egypt ...
... the world. 4. When the vision had informed him of these things, Amram awaked
and told it to Jochebed who was his wife. And now the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 concerning the afflictions.htm

From Kadesh to the Death of Moses.
... on him. He it was that Jochebed with loving hands had laid in the bulrushes
when 120 years ago Pharaoh had persecuted them. He was ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter vii from kadesh to.htm

A Wise Desire
... And who will deny that it was a providence that she should say, "Go and fetch me
a woman to nurse this child," and his mother, Jochebed, should come to nurse ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/a wise desire.htm

Jochebed (2 Occurrences)
...JOCHEBED. jok'-e-bed (yokhebhedh, "Yahweh is glory"): Daughter of Levi, wife of
Amram and mother of Moses (Exodus 6:20 Numbers 26:59). ...Jochebed (2 Occurrences). ...
/j/jochebed.htm - 7k

Amram (14 Occurrences)
... Levi. He married Jochebed, "his father's sister," and was the father of
Aaron, Miriam, and Moses (Exodus 6:18, 20; Numbers 3:19). ...
/a/amram.htm - 12k

Joch'ebed (2 Occurrences)
Joch'ebed. Jochebed, Joch'ebed. Jod . ... Exodus 6:20 And Amram took him Jochebed
his father's sister to wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. ...
/j/joch'ebed.htm - 6k

Miriam (13 Occurrences)
... am (miryam; Septuagint and the New Testament Mariam; English Versions of the Bible
of the New Testament "Mary"): (1) Daughter of Amram and Jochebed, and sister ...
/m/miriam.htm - 12k

Amram's (2 Occurrences)
... Exodus 6:20 And Amram took Jochebed, his father's sister, as wife; and she gave
birth to Aaron and Moses: and the years of Amram's life were a hundred and ...
/a/amram's.htm - 7k

Moses (9295 Occurrences)
... which this cruel edict of the king brought great alarm was that of Amram, of the
family of the Kohathites (Exodus 6:16-20), who with his wife Jochebed and two ...
/m/moses.htm - 53k

Job's (11 Occurrences)

/j/job's.htm - 9k

Aaron (343 Occurrences)
... The eldest son of Amram and Jochebed, a daughter of Levi (Exodus 6:20). ... His mother's
name was Jochebed, who was also of the Levitical family (Exodus 6:20). ...
/a/aaron.htm - 56k

Beareth (108 Occurrences)
... Exodus 6:20 And Amram taketh Jochebed his aunt to himself for a wife, and she beareth
to him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram 'are' a ...
/b/beareth.htm - 34k

Sister (113 Occurrences)
... Exodus 6:20 Amram took Jochebed his father's sister to himself as wife; and she
bore him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were a hundred and ...
/s/sister.htm - 42k

Who was Moses' mother? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Moses' father? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God allow incest in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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