Genesis 46:11 — Word Study
WLCוּבְנֵ֖י לֵוִ֑י גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן קְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי׃
BSAThe sonsbên [descendants, offspring] of LeviLêvîy [a son of Jacob and Leah] GershonGêrᵉshôwn [an ancestor of the tribe of Levi] KohathQᵉhâth [a leader in the priesthood] and MerariMᵉrârîy [meaning 'bitter', a head of a family of Levites]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּבְנֵ֖י | and [the] sons of | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct |
| לֵוִ֑י | Levi | Noun proper masculine |
| גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן | Gershon | Noun proper masculine |
| קְהָ֖ת | Kohath | Noun proper masculine |
| וּמְרָרִֽי׃ | and Merari | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. |
| KJV | ¶ And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. |
| ASV | And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. |
| YLT | And sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. |
| WEB | The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. |
| BBE | And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; |
The translations agree on the term בֵּן — see How Translations Differ.
The structure is a simple listing of names, emphasizing the familial relationships.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & 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 — Genesis 46:11
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 Jacob's Familygenerated
Genesis 46:11 lists the sons of Levi, who are Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. This verse is part of a larger genealogy that traces the descendants of Jacob as they enter Egypt. It highlights the importance of Levi's lineage in the priestly roles established later in Israel's history, as seen in other passages such as Exodus 6:16 and Numbers 3:17-22.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 29:34 | Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. |
| 2 | Genesis 49:5–7 | Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence. |
| 3 | Exodus 6:16 | These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years. |
| 4 | Numbers 3:17–22 | These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. |
| 5 | Numbers 4:1–49 | Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בֵּן, u.ve.Neigenerated
The word בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'descendant' and encompasses a range of meanings including grandson and even figurative uses. It is derived from a root meaning 'to build', which implies a connection to family or lineage.
In this verse, it establishes the familial relationship of the Levites, who are significant in the priesthood. The word's use here emphasizes the importance of these individuals in the broader context of Israel's history.
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 finite verb is absent, as this verse is a simple listing of names. The structure is straightforward: a noun phrase subject followed by a noun phrase predicate, listing the sons of Levi.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the descendants of Levi, highlighting their significance right at the beginning of the verse.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בֵּן as υἱοὶ (huioi), which also means 'sons' and carries the same familial implications. This choice reflects the continuity of the concept of lineage in both Hebrew and Greek traditions.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 46:11 lists the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. This verse is part of the genealogy of Jacob's family as they settle in Egypt. It highlights the importance of Levi's descendants in the history of Israel.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The sons of Levi are Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, who are significant in the priestly lineage of Israel.
Levi's lineage is important as it establishes the priestly roles within Israel, which are further detailed in later texts.
This verse connects to the broader narrative of Israel's history by establishing the family lines that will play key roles in the priesthood.
The name 'Merari' means 'bitter', reflecting the complexities of his family's history.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean to be part of a lineage, and how does it affect identity?
- How can understanding the genealogies in the Bible deepen our appreciation for the stories of these individuals?
- In what ways do family connections influence our lives today?
- What can we learn from the roles of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari in the history of Israel?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 46:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd the sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. From these sprung the priests and Levites, see Numbers 3:1.
Read John Gill on Genesis 46 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 46 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(11) Levi has three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 46 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. Gershon] In 1 Chronicles 6:16, Gershom. In Exodus 2:22 Gershom is the son of Moses. In Numbers 3:17; Numbers 3:38, the family of Gershon, and the families of Kohath and Merari, were entrusted with the care of the sanctuary.
Read Cambridge on Genesis 46 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleTHE MUSTER-ROLL OF ISRAEL, Genesis 46:8-27. “There is a painstaking minuteness in the dates and statistics of this history, which stands in wonderful contrast with the round numbers and vague statements of mythical narratives.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 46 →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 Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Tyndale line
¶ And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Also the sonnes of Leui: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Strictly literal
— And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
And sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
And sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kehath, and Merari.
and the sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
From the Latin
The sons of Levi: Gerson and Caath and Merari.
Simplified
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari;
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 confirmed by the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agree word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain part of the verse, confirming the beginning of the genealogy.
וּבְנֵ֖י לֵוִ֑י גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן קְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי׃
5 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 לוי גרשׁון קהת ומררי
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
ובני לוי
2 words of the verse are on this fragment. The rest of the verse is not on it.
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 Genesis 46:11
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)
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural constructHC/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
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…
לֵוִי (Levi) refers to a man from the tribe of Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah. The name means 'attached' or 'joined to.' He is the father of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, and is first mentioned in Genesis 29:34. The entries indicate his significance as the progenitor of the Levites.
לֵוִי n.pr.m. Levi
base
H3878 לֵוִי Levi
3878 Leviy lay-vee'
from 3867; attached; Levi, a son of Jacob:--Levi. See also
3879, 3881.
see HEBREW for 03867
see HEBREW for 03879
see HEBREW for 03881
לֵוִי (le.vi) — Levi.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.34;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812);
brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);
half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Gershon (H1648), Kohath (H6955), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115)
§ Levi = "joined to"
the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah and progenitor of tribe of Levites
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Levi
Adhesion. (1.) The third son of Jacob by Leah. The origin of the name is found in Leah’s words (Gen. 29:34), “This time will my husband be joined [Heb. yillaveh] unto me.” He is mentioned as taking a prominent part in avenging his sister Dinah (Gen. 34:25-31). He and his three sons went down with Jacob (46:11) into Egypt, where he died at the age of one hundred and thirty-seven years (Ex. 6:16).
(joined). The name of the third son of Jacob by his wife Leah. (B.C. about 1753.) The name, derived from lavah , "to adhere," gave utterance to the hope of the mother that the affections of her husband, which had hitherto rested on the favored Rachel, would at last be drawn to her: "This time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons." (Genesis 29:34) Levi, with his brother Simeon, avenged with a cruel slaughter the outrage of their sister Dinah. [DINAH] Levi, with his three sons, Gershon, Kohath and Merari, went down to Egypt with his father Jacob. (Genesis 47:11) When Jacob’s death draws near, and the sons are gathered round him, Levi and Simeon hear the old crime brought up again to receive its sentence. They no less than Reuben, the incestuous…
1. The third son of Jacob and Leah, born in Mesopotamia; and father of three sons, and of Jochebed the mother of Moses, Ge 29:34 Ex 6:16-20. For his share in the treacherous massacre of the Shechemites, Ge 34:1-31, his father at death foreboded evil to his posterity, Ge 49:5-7; but as they afterwards stood forth on the Lord’s side, Moses was charged to bless them, Ex 32:26-29 De 33:8-11. The tribe of Levi was, according to Jacob’s prediction, scattered over all Israel, having no share in the cities in the portions of other tribes. All the tithes, first fruits, and…
associated with him
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
קְהָת (Qhath) refers to Kohath, a son of Levi and an important figure in the Israelite lineage. He is noted as the progenitor of a family within the tribe of Levi, with connections to other significant figures such as Gershon and Merari. The name is associated with the concept of assembly.
קְהָת 30 n.pr.m. son of Levi
base
H6955 קְהָת son of Levi
6955 Qhath keh-hawth'
from an unused root meaning to ally oneself; allied; Kehath,
an Israelite:--Kohath.
קְהָת (qe.hat) — Kohath.
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: Gershon (H1648), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115);
father of: Amram (H6019), Izhar (H3324), Hebron (H2275B) and Uzziel (H5816)
Also named: qo.ha.ti (קְהָתִי "Kohathite" H6956)
§ Kohath = "assembly"
the 2nd of the 3 sons of Levi and progenitor of a family in the tribe of Levi
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Kohath
Assembly, the second son of Levi, and father of Amram (Gen. 46:11). He came down to Egypt with Jacob, and lived to the age of one hundred and thirty-three years (Ex. 6:18).
(assembly), second of the three sons of Levi, from whom the three principal divisions of the Levites derived their origin and their name. (Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16) In the journeyings of the tabernacle of the sons of Kohath (Kohathites) had charge of the most holy portions of the vessels. (Numbers 4:1) ... Of the personal history of Kohath we know nothing, except that he came down to Egypt with Levi and Jacob, (Genesis 46:11) that his sister was Jochebed, (Exodus 6:20) and that he lived to the age of 133 years. (Exodus 6:18) (B.C. about 1491.)
congregation; wrinkle; bluntness
מְרָרִי (Merari) refers to a son of Levi and the head of a prominent Levitical family. The name is derived from a root meaning 'bitter.' Merari is mentioned in the context of the Israelite tribes, specifically in Genesis 46:11, and is noted as the brother of Gershon and Kohath, and the father of Mahli and Mushi.
מְרָרִי n.pr.m. a son of Levi, and head of a chief Levit. family
base
H4847 מְרָרִי a son of Levi, and head of a chief Levit. family
4847 Mrariy mer-aw-ree'
from 4843; bitter; Merari, an Israelite:--Merari. See also
4848.
see HEBREW for 04843
see HEBREW for 04848
מְרָרִי (me.ra.ri) — Merari.
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: Gershon (H1648), Kohath (H6955) and Jochebed (H3115);
father of: Mahli (H4249), Mushi (H4187) and Jaaziah (H3269)
Also named: me.ra.ri (מְרָרִי "Merari" H4848)
§ Merari = "bitter"
the 3rd son of Levi and head of a Levitical family
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
me-ra'-ri (merari, "bitter"; Mararei):
(1) The 3rd son of Levi, his brothers, Gershon and Kohath, being always mentioned together with him (Ge 46:11; Ex 6:16). He was among those 70 who went down to Egypt with Jacob (Ge 46:8,11; compare 46:26 and Ex 1:5).
(2) The family of Merari, descendants of above, and always (with one exception, for which see MERARITES) spoken of as "sons of Merari" in numerous references, such as 1Ch 6:1,16,19,29, which only repeat without additional information the references to be found in the body of this article. We early find them divided into two families, the Mahli and Mushi (
Merari
Sad; bitter, the youngest son of Levi, born before the descent of Jacob into Egypt, and one of the seventy who accompanied him thither (Gen. 46:11; Ex. 6:16). He became the head of one of the great divisions of the Levites (Ex. 6:19). (See MERARITES.)
The youngest of Levi’s three sons, born in Canaan, and head of a family of the Levites, Ge 46:11; Ex 6:16; Nu 3:17; 1Ch 6:1. In the journey through the wilderness they were charged with the framework of the tabernacle, to carry from one place of encampment to another, and there set it up, Nu 4:29-33; 7:8. Twelve cities were assigned to them beyond Jordan, Jos 21:7,34-40.
bitter; to provoke