Exodus 6:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father 's sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years.

NIV: Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.

NASB: Now Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the length of Amram’s life was 137 years.

CSB: Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.

NLT: Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she gave birth to his sons, Aaron and Moses. (Amram lived to be 137 years old.)

KJV: And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.

NKJV: Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father’s sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven.

Amram was the oldest son of Kohath (Exodus 6:16, 18). First, he is described as husband of Jochebed "his fa-ther's sister." In other words, she was considered an aunt, though the connection may refer to a more distant family member. The emphasis of this passage remains on showing both the father and mother of Moses and Aaron are Le-vites.

This verse also clearly names the parents of Moses and Aaron. They were left unnamed in Moses' birth account (Exodus 2:1). Given her role in Exodus 2 and the age difference between Aaron and Moses (Exodus 7:7), it seems Miriam was the eldest, followed by Aaron, and then Moses (Exodus 15:20). Amram's lifespan is noted as 137 years, the same as Levi (Exodus 6:16). This means Amram was possibly still alive when Moses, at age eighty (Exodus 7:7), returned to Egypt. He may have died in the wilderness before entering Canaan (Numbers 14:29), or in Egypt before the nation was freed. The Bible does not clearly comment on either view. One Jewish tradition holds that Amram lived long enough to see his own great-great-grandchildren.

Exodus 6:14–30 records the genealogies of Moses and his brother, Aaron. This supports that this is part of God's continuous plan to arrive at this very point in history. It also clarifies their status as members of the tribe of Levi. Along the way, God reiterates and re-establishes Moses' commission as His messenger. Moses is still wracked with self-doubt.

God responds to Moses, who struggles to understand recent events (Exodus 5:22–23). Pharaoh has retaliated against the Lord's message about Israel's freedom (Exodus 5:1–9). Here, the Lord repeats His predic-tion that Israel will be freed (Exodus 3:14–22). God's specific identity and relationship to Israel are key to this response. The Lord will fulfill His promises and take the Hebrews from Egypt into the Promised Land. The passage then rec-ords the genealogies of Moses and Aaron. Moses' commission from God is also repeated.

After centuries of enslavement (Exodus 1:11–14), God commissions Moses to be His representative in freeing Israel (Exodus 3:4–10). But when Moses delivers the Lord's message (Exodus 5:1–3), Pharaoh retaliates (Exodus 5:6–9). This leads to infighting (Exodus 5:20–21) and causes Moses to doubt (Exodus 5:22–23). After the Lord offers reassurances in this chapter, He will repeat an account of how the story will play out. Then God begins to bring plagues of judgment against Egypt (Exodus 7).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 3/28/2025 2:27:11 PM