Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 23:13
The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chronicler lists the sons of Amram within a genealogical record assigning Levitical families to temple duties. Aaron and Moses are named as the founding fathers of two distinct service lines.
The words — וַיִּבָּדֵל (va.yi.ba.Del) denotes a permanent separation, and קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים (kodesh haqodashim) refers to the most holy things. These terms establish Aaron’s hereditary line as permanently set apart for sacred service.
The thread — The text traces Amram’s lineage back to Exodus 6:20 and links Aaron’s priestly duties to Deuteronomy 21:5 and Exodus 30:6. Verse 14 immediately clarifies that Moses’ descendants remained in the general Levitical tribe rather than the Aaronic priesthood.
Why it lands — The passage states that Aaron’s line was permanently designated to consecrate holy objects, burn incense, minister, and pronounce blessings. It requires the reader to recognize the structural division of sacred duties and the specific, enduring role assigned to the Aaronic priesthood.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.
Cross-references
- Exodus 6:20 And Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.
- Deuteronomy 21:5 And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every dispute and case of assault.
- Exodus 30:6 Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony—before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony—where I will meet with you.
- 1 Samuel 2:28 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.
- 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.
- Exodus 29:33 They must eat those things by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration. But no outsider may eat them, because these things are sacred.
- Exodus 29:44 So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests.
- Exodus 30:34 The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures,
- Exodus 40:9 Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it along with all its furnishings, and it shall be holy.
- Leviticus 9:22 Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having made the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering, he stepped down.