1 Chronicles 6:16
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: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

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

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

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

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

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

Contemporary English Version
Levi's three sons had sons of their own.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Catholic Public Domain Version
So the sons of Levi were 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: Gershom, Kohath and Merari.

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

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Descendants of Levi
15Jehozadak went into captivity when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. 16The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.…

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. ...

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 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 7:11-14
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? / For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well. / He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. ...

Exodus 28:1
“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.

Leviticus 8:1-13
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “Take Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread, / and assemble the whole congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.” ...

Numbers 1:47-54
The Levites, however, were not numbered along with them by the tribe of their fathers. / For the LORD had said to Moses: / “Do not number the tribe of Levi in the census with the other Israelites. ...

Numbers 4:1-3
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, / “Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families, / men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

Numbers 8:5-26
Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, / “Take the Levites from among the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean. / This is what you must do to cleanse them: Sprinkle them with the water of purification. Have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves. ...

Deuteronomy 10:8-9
At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day. / That is why Levi has no portion or inheritance among his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God promised him.

1 Samuel 2:27-28
Then a man of God came to Eli and told him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to your father’s house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh’s house? / And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites.

1 Kings 8:4
and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting with all its sacred furnishings. So the priests and Levites carried them up.

2 Chronicles 5:5
and they brought up the ark and the Tent of Meeting with all its sacred furnishings. The Levitical priests carried them up.


Treasury of Scripture

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

A.

1 Chronicles 6:1
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.

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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
The phrase "The sons of Levi" refers to the descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, also known as Israel. Levi's lineage is significant because it was set apart for religious duties and service to God. The Levites were chosen to be the priestly tribe, responsible for the tabernacle and later the temple services. The Hebrew root for Levi, "לֵוִי" (Levi), is associated with the idea of being joined or attached, reflecting the Levites' role in connecting the people to God through worship and sacrifice. Historically, the Levites did not receive a territorial inheritance like the other tribes, emphasizing their unique role and dependence on God and the community for sustenance.

Gershom
Gershom is the first son of Levi mentioned here. The name "Gershom" (גֵּרְשֹׁם) is thought to mean "a stranger there" or "exile," which may reflect the transient and pilgrim nature of the Israelites' early history. Gershom's descendants were responsible for specific duties related to the tabernacle, particularly the care of its fabrics and coverings. This role highlights the importance of maintaining the sacred space where God dwelled among His people, underscoring the theme of holiness and separation for divine purposes.

Kohath
Kohath is the second son of Levi. The name "Kohath" (קְהָת) is associated with the idea of assembly or congregation, which is fitting given the Kohathites' responsibilities. They were tasked with the care of the most sacred objects of the tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, and the lampstand. This duty required a high level of sanctity and reverence, as these items symbolized God's presence and covenant with Israel. The Kohathites' role emphasizes the need for careful stewardship of what is holy and the reverence due to God.

and Merari
Merari is the third son of Levi. The name "Merari" (מְרָרִי) is derived from a root meaning "bitter" or "strength," possibly reflecting the hardships faced by the Levites or the strength required for their duties. The Merarites were responsible for the structural elements of the tabernacle, such as the frames, bars, pillars, and bases. Their work was foundational, ensuring the stability and integrity of the place of worship. This role highlights the importance of a strong foundation in faith and the community's collective effort to uphold the worship of God.

(16-19) The three branches of Levi with their main subdivisions. Parallel passages, Exodus 6:16-19; Numbers 3:17-20.

(16) Gershom.--See Note on 1Chronicles 6:1. In the Pentateuch, Gershom is son of Moses; Gershon, son of Levi.

(19) And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.--The word'families" (Heb., mishpehuth) does not mean single households, but groups of households, or clans. The sentence concludes the short list of the great Levitical houses, just as at Exodus 6:19. (See also Numbers 3:20, where a like formula appears to introduce what follows.) . . .

Verse 16-19. - These verses have a re-enumeration of the three sons of Levi, and differ from the enumeration of ver. 1, in being followed by the sons of each of these three, and afterwards by the line of descendants from each, instead of by the sons of only one, Kohath, and his descendant in only one stem, the high priest stem, and with only one object. All these names agree with Exodus 6:17-19 and Numbers 3:17-20 (comp. also Numbers 3:21-36 with Numbers 26:57-60), with the trifling exceptions already alluded to, in the Hebrew spelling of Gershom and the Authorized Version spelling of Shimei and the Authorized Version Mahali of Exodus 6:19. The latter half of ver. 19, according to the Hebrew, should rather refer to what has preceded, and be a "subscription," though it might best suit the connection to regard it as introducing what was to follow, and as being a "superscription." Bertheau holds with the former of these views, Keil with the latter.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

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

Gershom,
גֵּרְשֹׁ֕ם (gê·rə·šōm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1647: Gershom -- three Israelites

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 6:16 The sons of Levi: Gershom Kohath (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 6:15
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