Exodus 6:16-17
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This verse doesn't just list names; it subtly highlights the incredible longevity of Levi's lineage, showing how his descendants, like Kohath and Amram, lived exceptionally long lives. This extended lifespan underscores God's promise of multiplying their descendants, a divine blessing that enabled a vast nation to emerge from a single family.
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 sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes amidst Moses recounting God's promises to him concerning the liberation of Israel. After detailing the lineage of Reuben and Simeon, Moses shifts to the tribe of Levi, naming its three sons and noting Levi's long lifespan. This focus on Levi is crucial because it sets the stage for tracing the direct ancestry of Moses and Aaron, who are God's chosen instruments for this monumental rescue.
Why does Exodus 6:16 mention Levi's age? It might seem like a random detail, but it points to something profound about God's timing and covenant.
This verse records Levi's age at 137 years. This is significant for a few reasons:
A Long View of Faith
God's Covenant Timing
Ask a follow-up
Exodus 6:16 lists the sons of Levi. Why is this genealogy important, especially at this moment in the Exodus story?
This verse isn't just a dry list; it's the foundational line for Israel's deliverers.
Tracing the Roots of Leadership
Divine Choice, Not Human Merit
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.
mishpachah · Hebrew Noun
Groups or families sharing a common ancestry. The clan was a fundamental unit of social and religious organization in ancient Israel, responsible for maintaining tribal integrity and inheritance.
The detailed genealogies and lifespans in Exodus 6 highlight the incredible longevity of the early patriarchs, underscoring God's faithfulness in preserving His people across generations and setting the stage for their eventual deliverance from Egypt.
c. 1876 BC
Jacob's family moves to Egypt
Jacob and his entire family, including his son Levi, move to Egypt. Levi is around 40-50 years old at this time, and his sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari are already born.
c. 1876 BC - c. 1739 BC
Levi lives in Egypt
Levi lives in Egypt for approximately 137 years, surviving his son Kohath and grandson Amram. He witnesses the early growth and eventual enslavement of his descendants.
c. 1739 BC— this verse
Death of Levi
Levi dies at the age of 137. Some traditions suggest he was the last of Jacob's sons to die, having lived through the initial decades of their Egyptian sojourn.
c. 1739 BC - c. 1446 BC
Growth and Enslavement of Israelites
Levi's descendants, particularly Kohath's line through Amram, experience centuries of growth into a great nation, followed by brutal enslavement under new Pharaohs who feared their numbers.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus
Under Moses, Levi's great-great-great-grandson, the Israelites are miraculously delivered from Egyptian bondage, fulfilling God's covenant promises to Abraham.
This verse lists the same sons of Levi, reinforcing the lineage and establishing continuity from the patriarchs to Moses' time.
Numbers 3:17This passage also names the sons of Levi, further solidifying the genealogical line and its importance for the priestly and Levitical duties.
Psalm 90:10This Psalm reflects on the shortened lifespans after the time of the patriarchs, providing context for why Levi's long life (and those of his descendants) was notable and perhaps no longer the norm.
1 Chronicles 6:1This chapter also traces the lineage of the Levites, highlighting the same sons and reinforcing the significance of this tribe in Israel's history and worship.
Exodus 6:20This verse immediately follows, naming Levi's grandson Amram and his wife, directly connecting Levi's lineage to the parents of Moses and Aaron, the key figures of the 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…
This verse doesn't just list names; it subtly highlights the incredible longevity of Levi's lineage, showing how his descendants, like Kohath and Amram, lived exceptionally long lives. This extended lifespan underscores God's promise of multiplying their descendants, a divine blessing that enabled a vast nation to emerge from a single family.
This passage comes amidst Moses recounting God's promises to him concerning the liberation of Israel. After detailing the lineage of Reuben and Simeon, Moses shifts to the tribe of Levi, naming its three sons and noting Levi's long lifespan. This focus on Levi is crucial because it sets the stage for tracing the direct ancestry of Moses and Aaron, who are God's chosen instruments for this monumental rescue.
This passage comes amidst Moses recounting God's promises to him concerning the liberation of Israel. After detailing the lineage of Reuben and Simeon, Moses shifts to the tribe of Levi, naming its three sons and noting Levi's long lifespan. This focus on Levi is crucial because it sets the stage for tracing the direct ancestry of Moses and Aaron, who are God's chosen instruments for this monumental rescue.
"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 sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans." — This verse doesn't just list names; it subtly highlights the incredible longevity of Levi's lineage, showing how his descendants, like Kohath and Amram, lived exceptionally long lives. This extended…
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Last reviewed October 2026
