These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse notes Levi's age to highlight God's blessing on the lineage from which Moses and Aaron came, emphasizing the extraordinary longevity of these patriarchs as a sign of divine favor, even as human lifespans would soon shorten after revelation was recorded. This unusual detail underscores that the miraculous deliverance wasn't by chance but rooted in God's specific covenant with Abraham's descendants.
These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a significant genealogical listing in Exodus, immediately following God's reaffirmation of His covenant promises to Moses and the assurance of Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The text specifically focuses on the lineage of Levi, tracing the descendants who would ultimately bear significant roles, including Aaron and Moses themselves, as the people of Israel begin their exodus.
Ever feel like your family history is just a bunch of names and dates? This verse might change how you see it. It's more than just a record; it's a roadmap of God's faithfulness.
This verse introduces the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. This isn't just a roll call of names; it's the beginning of a significant lineage.
A Foundation for God's Service
The tribe of Levi, and specifically the descendants of Kohath (Moses' grandfather), were set apart for service to God. These names represent the foundational families through whom God would bring about mighty acts, including the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and the giving of the Law.
Tracing God's Promise
By listing these names and their lineage, the text emphasizes the continuity of God's covenant promises. Even as generations pass, God remains faithful to His chosen people. These names are not forgotten; they are part of a divine plan unfolding through time.
People living over 130 years? In ancient times? This verse gives us a clue about why God might have allowed such long lives for these patriarchs.
The verse states that Levi lived for 137 years. This is a remarkable age, especially when compared to the lifespan of Moses and subsequent generations (often cited as around 70-80 years).
A Bridge Between Generations
These exceptionally long lives served as a vital bridge. They allowed for the oral transmission of God's commands and history across multiple generations, ensuring the integrity of the covenant before written revelation became widespread. Levi, as the son of Jacob, would have carried direct memories of the patriarchs and the early days of Israel in Egypt.
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Shifting Eras of Revelation
Commentators suggest that as God's word began to be written down (through Moses, in this era), the need for such extreme longevity decreased. The long lives of Levi, his son Kohath, and his grandson Amram (Moses' father) ensured a strong, living connection to God's promises and history during a crucial transitionary period for Israel. Their long lives underscored God's blessing and the stability of His covenant through changing times.
Understand the original words
ben · Hebrew Noun
In a genealogical context, this refers to those born of a particular ancestor, serving to establish lineage, inheritance rights, and covenantal connection. It emphasizes the continuity of God's promise through successive generations.
Levi · Hebrew Proper Noun
The third son of Jacob and Leah. The tribe of Levi was eventually set apart by God for priestly service and the maintenance of the tabernacle.
toledah · Hebrew Noun
This term refers to the process of procreation and the chronological descent of families. In Scripture, it often underscores God's faithfulness to His promises across time.
The recording of Levi's age, along with his descendants Kohath and Amram, emphasizes the deep patriarchal lineage leading to Moses and Aaron. These long lifespans, spanning the majority of the Israelite sojourn in Egypt, connect the divine promises made to Abraham to the eventual deliverance, highlighting God's faithfulness across generations even as the nation faced hardship.
c. 1876 BC
Jacob and family move to Egypt
Jacob and his entire family, including his son Levi, migrate to Egypt at the invitation of Joseph. Levi is around 40-50 years old at this time.
c. 1876 BC - c. 1740 BC— this verse
Levi lives in Egypt
Levi lives for 137 years in Egypt, witnessing the initial settlement and early years of his family's presence in the land.
c. 1740 BC
Death of Levi
Levi dies at the age of 137, reportedly being the last of Jacob's sons to pass away. His death marks the end of the first generation born in Egypt.
c. 1730 BC - c. 1600 BC
Generations of Kohath and Amram
Levi's son Kohath lives to 133 years, and Kohath's son Amram lives to 137 years, the same age as Levi. These long lifespans span a significant period within the Israelites' time in Egypt.
c. 1600 BC
Birth of Moses
Amram's son Moses is born. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather (Amram, Kohath, and Levi) have all lived exceptionally long lives, reaching back to Jacob's migration.
c. 1550 BC
Israelites' Growth and Oppression
By this time, the Israelite population has grown immensely, leading to a new Pharaoh rising who knew 'not Joseph' and beginning their enslavement.
This verse lists the same three sons of Levi – Gershon, Kohath, and Merari – providing an earlier mention of this lineage.
Numbers 3:17-20These verses also name the sons of Levi (Gershon, Kohath, Merari) and their descendants, detailing their roles within the tabernacle service.
1 Chronicles 6:1-3This passage reiterates the genealogy of Levi's sons, emphasizing their lineage and descent, echoing the information found in Exodus.
Psalm 90:10This psalm speaks of the lifespan of people, noting that the usual age is seventy or eighty years, which contrasts with the exceptionally long lives of Levi and his descendants mentioned in Exodus.
Matthew 1:1-2This New Testament passage lists the lineage of David, demonstrating how genealogies were important for tracing ancestry and divine promises, similar to the tracing of Levi's line in Exodus.
bensonExodus 6:16: "And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years."
Exodus 6:16 . The age of Levi, Kohath, and Amram, the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of Moses, is here recorded; and they all lived to a great age; Levi to one hundred thirty-seven, Kohath to one hundred thirty- three, and Amram to one hundred thirty-seven: Moses himself came much short o…
gillExodus 6:16: "And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years."
And these are the names of the sons of Levi, according to their generations,.... Whose sons, according to the order of their birth, were as follow: Gershom, and Kohath, and Merari; see Genesis 46:11, and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty seven years; and exactly the same numbe…
The verse notes Levi's age to highlight God's blessing on the lineage from which Moses and Aaron came, emphasizing the extraordinary longevity of these patriarchs as a sign of divine favor, even as human lifespans would soon shorten after revelation was recorded. This unusual detail underscores that the miraculous deliverance wasn't by chance but rooted in God's specific covenant with Abraham's descendants.
This passage is part of a significant genealogical listing in Exodus, immediately following God's reaffirmation of His covenant promises to Moses and the assurance of Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The text specifically focuses on the lineage of Levi, tracing the descendants who would ultimately bear significant roles, including Aaron and Moses themselves, as the people of Israel begin their exodus.
This passage is part of a significant genealogical listing in Exodus, immediately following God's reaffirmation of His covenant promises to Moses and the assurance of Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The text specifically focuses on the lineage of Levi, tracing the descendants who would ultimately bear significant roles, including Aaron and Moses themselves, as the people of Israel begin their exodus.
"These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years." — The verse notes Levi's age to highlight God's blessing on the lineage from which Moses and Aaron came, emphasizing the extraordinary longevity of these patriarchs as a sign of divine favor, even as h…
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Last reviewed October 2026