Exodus 6:17
Exodus 6:17 in Multiple Translations
The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans.
The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.
The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, in the order of their families.
The sons of Gershon, by families, were Libni and Shimei.
The sonnes of Gershon were Libni and Shimi by their families.
The sons of Gershon [are] Libni, and Shimi, as to their families.
The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.
The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
The sons of Gerson: Lobni and Semei, by their kindreds.
The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei. They were ancestors of clans that have those names.
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 6:17
BAB
Word Study
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Exodus 6:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בְּנֵ֥י
גֵרְשׁ֛וֹן
לִבְנִ֥י
וְ/שִׁמְעִ֖י
לְ/מִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽ/ם
בְּנֵ֥י
bên
H1121
son
N-mp
גֵרְשׁ֛וֹן
Gêrᵉshôwn
H1648
Gershon
N-proper
לִבְנִ֥י
Libnîy
H3845
Libni
N-proper
וְ/שִׁמְעִ֖י
Shimʻîy
H8096
Shimei
Conj | N-proper
לְ/מִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽ/ם
mishpâchâh
H4940
family
Prep | N-fp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 6:17
בְּנֵ֥י
bên
H1121
"son"
N-mp
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
גֵרְשׁ֛וֹן
Gêrᵉshôwn
H1648
"Gershon"
N-proper
Gershon was a son of Levi and an ancestor of the tribe of Levi, which played a key role in the priesthood and worship of the Israelites. He is mentioned in books like Genesis and Chronicles, and his name means 'exile'.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.11; son of: Levi (H3878); brother of: Kohath (H6955), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115); father of: Libni (H3845) and Shimei (H8096); also called Gershom at 1Ch.6.16,17,20,43,62,71; 15.7; § Gershon or Gershom = "exile" firstborn son of Levi born before Jacob's family went to Egypt
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: Gershon, Gershom. See also: Genesis 46:11; Numbers 4:38; 1 Chronicles 15:7.
לִבְנִ֥י
Libnîy
H3845
"Libni"
N-proper
Libni was an Israelite from the tribe of Levi, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:29 as the son of Mahli. His name means white. Libni was a key figure in the tribe's history.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at 1Ch.6.29; son of: Mahli (H4249); brother of: Eleazar (H0499J) and Kish (H7027H); father of: Shimei (H8096M) § Libni = "white" the eldest son of Gershon and grandson of Levi
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: Libni. See also: Exodus 6:17; 1 Chronicles 6:2; 1 Chronicles 6:14.
וְ/שִׁמְעִ֖י
Shimʻîy
H8096
"Shimei"
Conj | N-proper
Shimei was a common name among Israelites, with at least 20 people having this name. One notable Shimei was the brother of David and son of Jesse, who lived during the United Monarchy.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.16.9; son of: Jesse (H3448); brother of: David (H1732), Eliab (H0446I), Abinadab (H0041I), Nethanel (H5417H), Raddai (H7288), Ozem (H0684), Zeruiah (H6870), Abigail (H0026H)(?) and Elihu (H0453J); father of: Jonadab (H3122); also called Shimei (KJV: Shimea) at 2Sa.21.21; Shammah at 1Sa.16.9; 17.13; Shimea at 1Ch.2.13; 20.7; Another name of shim.ah (שִׁמְעָה "Shimeah" H8093) § Shimei or Shimhi or Shimi or Shimea = "renowned" 1) a Benjamite, son of Gera of the house of Saul in the time of David 2) a Benjamite, son of Elah and commissariat officer in the time of Solomon 3) the Ramathite in charge of the vineyards of David 4) son of Gershon and grandson of Levi 5) a Levite, son of Jeduthun and chief of the 10th division of singers in the time of David 6) a Levite of the sons of Heman who took part in the purification of the temple in the time of king Hezekiah of Judah 7) a Levite, brother of Cononiah in charge of receiving the tithes and offerings in the reign of king Hezekiah of Judah 8) a Levite who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra 9) a Judaite, son of Pedaiah and brother of Zerubbabel 10) a Simeonite, son of Zacchur 11) a Reubenite, son of Gog and father of Micah 12) one of the sons of Hashum who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra 13) one of the sons of Bani who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra 14) a Benjamite, son of Kish, father of Jair, and grandfather of Mordecai in the time of Esther 15) a Levite, son of Jahath, grandson of Gershon, and great grandson of Levi 16) Benjamite, father of Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath. Spelled 'Shimhi'
Usage: Occurs in 40 OT verses. KJV: Shimeah (from the margin), Shimei, Shimhi, Shimi. See also: Exodus 6:17; 1 Chronicles 3:19; Esther 2:5.
לְ/מִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽ/ם
mishpâchâh
H4940
"family"
Prep | N-fp | Suff
This word refers to a family or clan, and can also mean a tribe or nation, such as the people of Israel, emphasizing the importance of family ties.
Definition: 1) clan, family 1a) clan 1a1) family 1a2) tribe 1a3) people, nation 1b) guild 1c) species, kind 1d) aristocrats
Usage: Occurs in 224 OT verses. KJV: family, kind(-red). See also: Genesis 8:19; Numbers 26:41; Esther 9:28.
Study Notes — Exodus 6:17
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Genealogies of Moses and Aaron
15The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon.
16These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
17The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans.
18The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years. 19The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites according to their records.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 6:17 | These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. |
| 2 | Numbers 3:18 | These were the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 23:7 | The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei. |
| 4 | Genesis 46:11 | The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. |
Exodus 6:17 Summary
Exodus 6:17 tells us about the sons of Gershon, who were Libni and Shimei. This verse is part of a larger list of the Levites, who were a special group of people chosen by God to serve Him and the community of Israel (as seen in Exodus 4:14 and Numbers 1:47-54). The fact that the Bible includes these details shows us that God cares about every person and every family, and wants us to understand the importance of community and order (similar to what we see in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). By studying this verse, we can gain a deeper appreciation for God's attention to detail and His desire to establish structure and organization in our own lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to know the sons of Gershon in Exodus 6:17?
Understanding the sons of Gershon, Libni and Shimei, helps us appreciate the organization and structure of the Levitical priesthood, as seen in Exodus 6:17 and supported by other scripture references like Numbers 3:21-26.
What can we learn from the genealogy of the Levites in Exodus 6?
The genealogy of the Levites, including the sons of Gershon in Exodus 6:17, demonstrates God's attention to detail and His desire to establish order and structure within the community of Israel, similar to what we see in Genesis 46:8-27.
How does the mention of clans in Exodus 6:17 relate to the broader biblical narrative?
The mention of clans in Exodus 6:17 highlights the importance of family and community in the biblical narrative, as seen in other passages like Deuteronomy 33:1-29 and Psalm 78:1-72.
What is the significance of the specific names Libni and Shimei in Exodus 6:17?
The names Libni and Shimei, as the sons of Gershon, may have held specific meanings or significance within the context of the Levitical priesthood, although the exact meanings are not provided in the text, unlike the explanations given for names like Abraham in Genesis 17:5 or Peter in Matthew 16:18-19.
Reflection Questions
- What does the detailed account of the Levites' genealogy in Exodus 6 reveal about God's character and His relationship with the Israelites?
- How does the organization of the Levitical priesthood, including the sons of Gershon, reflect God's desire for order and structure in our own lives?
- In what ways can we apply the principles of community and family seen in Exodus 6:17 to our own relationships and interactions with others?
- What can we learn from the fact that the Bible includes such detailed genealogical information, and how can we apply those lessons to our own understanding of God's Word?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 6:17
And the sons of Gershom, Libni, and Shimi, according to their families. He had only two sons, from whom came the families of the Libnites and Shimites; see Numbers 3:21.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 6:17
And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these are the families of Simeon. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 6:17
14–27. Genealogies are frequent in P (Genesis 5, 11, Genesis 25:12-16, Genesis 46:8-27, &c.); and here, at his first mention of Moses and Aaron, he is careful to define their position among the descendants of Jacob: they belonged to the tribe of Levi, which claimed descent from Jacob’s third son, Levi, and the particulars about the descendants of the two elder sons, Reuben and Simeon (vv. 14b–15), are introduced merely for the purpose of leading up to Levi, about which tribe more circumstantial particulars are given (vv. 16–25). The particulars in vv. 14, 15, 16a are identical with those given in the list of Jacob’s descendants who came down into Egypt, Genesis 46:9-11.
Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 6:17
13-19. Since Israel is now to be led forth as a nation, Moses and Aaron, their leaders, are fully set before us according to their genealogy.
Sermons on Exodus 6:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Genesis) Genesis 46-48 by Joe Focht | In this sermon, the preacher begins by highlighting the story of Jacob and his sons in the Bible. He emphasizes that God is still the same today as He was in ancient times, and tha |