Bible Strands
Genesis 46:11
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jacob records his household members as they prepare to descend into Egypt, listing Levi’s line immediately after Simeon and before Judah.
The words — The Hebrew phrase וּבְנֵי לֵוִי (uve.Nei le.Vi) literally means "and the sons of Levi," directly naming גֵּרְשׁוֹן (Gershon), קְהָת (Kohath), and מְרָרִי (Merari).
The thread — This exact trio appears again in Exodus 6:16 as Levi’s recorded sons, and Genesis 49:5 identifies Simeon and Levi as brothers whose swords are weapons of violence.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to treat Levi’s lineage as a fixed genealogical fact rather than a later theological construct. It anchors tribal identity in documented descent before any subsequent covenantal developments.
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
And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Cross-references
- 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.
- Genesis 49:5 Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.
- Exodus 6:16 These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
- Numbers 3:17 These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- Numbers 4:1 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
- Numbers 8:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
- Numbers 26:57 Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans: The Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari.
- Deuteronomy 33:8 Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.
- 1 Chronicles 2:1 These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
- 1 Chronicles 2:11 Nahshon was the father of Salmon, and Salmon was the father of Boaz.