Exodus 6:17 — Word Study
WLCבְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֛וֹן לִבְנִ֥י וְשִׁמְעִ֖י לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃
BSAThe sonsbên [descendants, male offspring] of Gershon [were]Gêrᵉshôwn [a son of Levi, an ancestor of the tribe of Levi] LibniLibnîy [meaning white, a son of Gershon] and ShimeiShimʻîy [a common Israelite name, brother of Conway] by their clansmishpâchâh [families, tribes, or nations, emphasizing their ancestral heritage]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בְּנֵ֥י | [the] sons of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| גֵרְשׁ֛וֹן | Gershon | Noun proper masculine |
| לִבְנִ֥י | [were] Libni | Noun proper masculine |
| וְשִׁמְעִ֖י | and Shimei | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃ | to clans their | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans. |
| KJV | The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families. |
| ASV | The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families. |
| YLT | The sons of Gershon [are] Libni, and Shimi, as to their families. |
| WEB | The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families. |
| BBE | The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, in the order of their families. |
Where they part company is in the use of terms for 'clans' — see How Translations Differ.
The structure is straightforward, with a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase that adds detail about the familial connections.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Exodus 6:17
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Genealogy of Levigenerated
Exodus 6:17 is part of a genealogical record that outlines the descendants of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This passage specifically names Gershon's sons, Libni and Shimei, and highlights their familial connections, which are important for understanding the structure of the Israelite tribes. This genealogy serves to establish the heritage and roles of the Levites in the community, as seen in other passages such as Numbers 3:18 and 1 Chronicles 6:17.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 46:11 | The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. |
| 2 | Numbers 3:18 | These were the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 6:17 | These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. |
| 4 | 1 Chronicles 23:7 | The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בֵּן, be.Neigenerated
The word בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants and members of a tribe. It indicates family relationships and inheritance, as seen in the context of the Levites, where lineage is significant for their roles in worship and service.
In this verse, it identifies the sons of Gershon, linking them to their father and clan, thus establishing their place within the tribe of Levi.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the subject בְּנֵי (the sons) and the predicate גֵרְשׁוֹן (Gershon), followed by the names of his sons, לִבְנִי (Libni) and וְשִׁמְעִי (Shimei), and concluding with the prepositional phrase לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם (to their clans).
The structure emphasizes the familial relationships and the significance of clan identity within the Levite tribe.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בְּנֵי as υἱοὶ (sons), which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning but is rendered in a more general Greek term. This choice maintains the focus on lineage while adapting to the Greek-speaking audience.
The other names are similarly translated, indicating a consistent understanding of the familial relationships being described.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 6:17 tells us that Gershon had two sons named Libni and Shimei, and it emphasizes their family connections by mentioning their clans. This verse is part of a list that shows the lineage of the Levites, highlighting the importance of family in their heritage.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, who were part of the tribe of Levi.
The clans indicate the family lineage and heritage of the Levites, which is important for their roles within the Israelite community.
Genealogy establishes identity, heritage, and the roles of individuals within the community, particularly for the priestly tribe of Levi.
This verse connects to other genealogical records in the Bible, such as in 1 Chronicles 6:17, which also lists the descendants of Levi.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can I learn from the family connections mentioned in this verse?
- How does understanding genealogy enhance my knowledge of the Bible?
- In what ways can I honor my own family heritage?
- How does the concept of clan or family play a role in my community today?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 6:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd 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.
Read John Gill on Exodus 6 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd 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.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 6 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges14–27. 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.
Read Cambridge on Exodus 6 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible13-19. 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.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 6 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans.
The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.
The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans.
The sons of Gershon, by their families, were Libni and Shimei.
Tyndale line
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, according to their families.
The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
The sonnes of Gershon were Libni and Shimi by their families.
Strictly literal
The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.
The sons of Gershon [are] Libni, and Shimi, as to their families.
The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimi, as to their families.
The sons of Gershon: Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei.
From the Latin
The sons of Gerson: Lobni and Semei, by their kindreds.
Simplified
The sons of Gershon, by families, were Libni and Shimei.
The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, in the order of their families.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which matches four of the five words in this verse. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, using the word משׁפחותם (clan) instead of the Masoretic term. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a partial restoration, indicating some textual preservation but also editorial input.
בְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֛וֹן לִבְנִ֥י וְשִׁמְעִ֖י לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃
4 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ובני גרשׁון לבני ושׁמעי למשׁפחותם
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: משׁפחותם (clan)
[בני] [גרשון] [לבני] [ושמעי] למשפחת׳ם
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 6:17
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
See SON, SONS.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
גֵּרְשׁוֹן (Gershon) refers to the son of Levi, a figure from the Israelite tribes. The name is associated with the meaning 'refugee' or 'exile.' He is first mentioned in Genesis 46:11 and is noted as the brother of Kohath and Merari, and the father of Libni and Shimei. Gershon is also referred to as Gershom in several passages.
גֵּרְשׁוֹן n.pr.m. son of Levi
base
H1648 גֵּרְשׁוֹן son of Levi
1648 Gershown gay-resh-one'
or Gershowm {gay-resh-ome'}; from 1644; a refugee; Gereshon
or Gereshom, an Israelite:--Gershon, Gershom.
see HEBREW for 01644
גֵּרְשׁוֹן (ge.re.shon) — Gershon.
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
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Gershon
=Ger’shom expulsion, the eldest of Levi’s three sons (Gen. 46:11; Ex. 6:16).
In the wilderness the sons of Gershon had charge of the fabrics of the tabernacle when it was moved from place to place, the curtains, veils, tent-hangings (Num. 3: 21-26). Thirteen Levitical cities fell to the lot of the Gershonites (Josh. 21:27-33).
(exile). The eldest of the three sons of Levi, born before the descent of Jacob’s family into Egypt. (Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16) (B.C. before 1706.) But, though the eldest born, the families of Gershon were outstripped in fame by their younger brethren of Kohath, from whom sprang Moses and the priestly line of Aaron.
The eldest son of Levi, and head of one of the three branches of the Levitical tribe, Ge 46:11; Ex 6:16. The Gershonites encamped west of the tabernacle in the wilderness, and carried its curtains and other parts form station to station, Nu 3:17,25; 4:24-28,38- 41; 10:17. Thirteen cities were assigned to them in northern Canaan, Jos 21:6; 1Ch 6:62,71.
his banishment; the change of pilgrimage
לִבְנִי (Libni) refers to a Levite, specifically the son of Gershom, and is noted for meaning 'white.' He is mentioned in Exodus 6:17 and is identified as the eldest son of Gershon. Additionally, another Libni is mentioned as the son of Mahli, with references in 1 Chronicles. The name appears to signify a connection to purity or brightness.
לִבְנִי n.pr.m. a Levite, son of Gershom
base
H3845 לִבְנִי a Levite, son of Gershom
3845 Libniy lib-nee'
from 3835; white; Libni, an Israelite:--Libni.
see HEBREW for 03835
לִבְנִי (liv.ni) — Libni.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.17;
son of: Gershon (H1648);
brother of: Shimei (H8096G);
father of: Jehieli= Jehiel (H3171H), Zetham (H2241), Joel (H3100O); also called Jahath at 1Ch.6.43; Ladan (KJV: Laadan) at 1Ch.23.7,9; 26.21;
§ Libni = "white"
the eldest son of Gershon and grandson of Levi
לִבְנִי (liv.ni) — Libni.
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
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
(white). The eldest son of Gershon the son of Levi, (Exodus 6:17; Numbers 3:18; 1 Chronicles 6:17,20) and ancestor of the family of the Libnites. (B.C. after 1700.) The son of Mahli or Mahali, son of Merari, (1 Chronicles 6:29) as the text at present stands. It is probable, however, that he is the same with the preceding, and that something has been omitted. Comp. ver. (1 Chronicles 6:29) with 1Chr 6:20,42
same as Libnah
The Hebrew word שִׁמְעִי (*Shim'i*) means 'renowned' and refers to various individuals in the Old Testament, primarily from the tribes of Benjamin and Levi. It is associated with several notable figures, including a Levite and a Benjamite, and appears in contexts ranging from the time of David to the post-exilic period. The entries highlight multiple bearers of the name, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
שִׁמְעִי 43 n.pr.m.
in Benj.
a Ramathite
Levites
brother of Zerub.
in Simeon
in Reuben
1
post-ex. names
grandfather of Mordecai
2
base
H8096 שִׁמְעִי . in Benj.
. a Ramathite
. Levites
. brother of Zerub.
. in Simeon
. in Reuben
. 1
. post-ex. names
. grandfather of Mordecai
. 2
8096 Shim`iy shim-ee'
from 8088; famous; Shimi, the name of twenty
Israelites:--Shimeah (from the margin), Shimei, Shimhi,
Shimi.
see HEBREW for 08088
שִׁמְעִי (shim.i) — Shimei.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.17;
son of: Gershon (H1648);
brother of: Libni (H3845G);
father of: Jahath (H3189I), Zizah (H2126), Jeush (H3266J) and Beriah (H1283J)
Also named: shim.i (שִׁמְעִי "Shimeite" H8097)
§ 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
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
shim'-e-i (shim`i, possibly "hear me (El)" or "(Jah)"; Semeei, Semei): A name of frequent occurrence throughout the Old Testament records, sometimes varying slightly in form in English Versions of the Bible. The King James Version has "Shimi" in Ex 6:17; "Shimhi" in 1Ch 8:21; "Shimeah" in 2Sa 21:21. the Revised Version (British and American) has "Shimeites" in Zec 12:13, where the King James Version has "Shimei," and Nu 3:21 for the King James Version "Shimites." English Versions of the Bible has "Shema" in 1Ch 8:13,21 margin for the "Shimei" of 8:21. In all others…
Shimei
Famous. (1.) A son of Gershon, and grandson of Levi (Num. 3:18; 1 Chr. 6:17, 29); called Shimi in Ex. 6:17.
(2.) A Benjamite of the house of Saul, who stoned and cursed David when he reached Bahurim in his flight from Jerusalem on the occasion of the rebellion of Absalom (2 Sam. 16:5-13). After the defeat of Absalom he “came cringing to the king, humbly suing for pardon, bringing with him a thousand of his Benjamite tribesmen, and representing that he was heartily sorry for his crime, and had hurried the first of all the house of Israel to offer homage to the king” (19:16-23). David forgave him; but on his death-bed he gave Solomon special instructions regarding Shimei…
(renowned). Son of Gershon the son of Levi, (Numbers 3:18; 1 Chronicles 6:17,29; 23:7,9,10; Zechariah 12:13) called SHIMI in (Exodus 6:17) (B.C. after 1706.) Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of the house of Saul, who lived at Bahurim. (B.C. 1023.) When David and his suite were seen descending the long defile, on his flight from Absolom, (2 Samuel 16:5-13) the whole feeling of the clan of Benjamin burst forth without restraint in the person of Shimei. He ran along the ridge, cursing and throwing stones at the king and is companions. The next meeting was very different. The king was now returning from his successful…
Shimi, that hears or obeys; my reputation; my fame
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah) refers to a clan or family, encompassing a circle of relatives and extending to tribes or peoples. It can also denote a class of persons, species of animals, or kinds of things. The entries highlight its various uses, including guilds and aristocrats, but do not present any significant disagreement.
מִשְׁפָּחָה 303 n.f. clan
clan
= guild
= species, kind
pl. = aristocrats
base
H4940 מִשְׁפָּחָה clan . clan
. = guild
. = species, kind
. pl. = aristocrats
4940 mishpachah mish-paw-khaw'
from 8192 (compare 8198); a family, i.e. circle of relatives;
figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or
sort (of things); by extens. a tribe or people:--family,
kind(-red).
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 08198
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mish.pa.chah) — family.
1) clan, family
1a) clan
1a1) family
1a2) tribe
1a3) people, nation
1b) guild
1c) species, kind
1d) aristocrats
Prep | N-fp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp