Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 6:47
the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The verse operates as a genealogical link within a Levitical record, tracing a specific ancestor’s descent. It explicitly names the line from Mahli through Mushi, Merari, and Levi without narrative context.
The words — The Hebrew text repeats בֵּן (ben), meaning “son of,” to establish a four-generation chain: Mahli, Mushi, Merari, and Levi. This formulaic repetition strictly marks biological or clan descent without adding descriptive titles.
The thread — This lineage appears in Exodus 6:19 and Numbers 3:20, which identify Mahli and Mushi as the sons of Merari. Numbers 3:33 further records their descendants as the Mahlites and Mushites, the recognized clans of the Merarites.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to verify ancestral lines against established Levitical records. It demands recognition that priestly and temple service obligations were structured through documented generational succession.
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 son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
Cross-references
- Exodus 6:19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites according to their records.
- Numbers 3:20 And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families.
- Numbers 3:33 From Merari came the clans of the Mahlites and Mushites; these were the Merarite clans.
- Numbers 4:42 And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families,
- Numbers 7:8 and he gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen, as their service required, all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
- Numbers 10:17 Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting it.
- Joshua 21:7 And the descendants of Merari received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
- Joshua 21:34 This is what the Merarite clan (the rest of the Levites) were given: From the tribe of Zebulun they were given Jokneam, Kartah,
- 1 Chronicles 23:21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
- 1 Chronicles 23:28 but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God,