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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text mentions Amram married his father's sister, which might seem unusual, but "father's sister" here likely refers more broadly to a close female relative, possibly a cousin. This detail, often overlooked, highlights how family structures and marriage customs differed, and underscores Moses' commitment to recording history truthfully, even when it involved his own family's unconventional relationships.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a genealogy tracing the lineage of Moses and Aaron, highlighting their descent from Levi. It specifically details Amram's marriage to Jochebed, who is identified as his father's sister (though some translations suggest cousin), and their bearing of Aaron and Moses. The verse concludes by noting Amram's lifespan, emphasizing the longevity of these early patriarchal figures as a sign of God's blessing on Levi's house.
How can Scripture feel both true and complex when it describes seemingly unusual family relationships?
This verse tells us Amram married his father's sister, Jochebed. While this might raise eyebrows today, it's important to remember that the Law of Moses, which later strictly prohibited such unions (Leviticus 18:12), hadn't yet been given. Marriages between close relatives, like aunts and nephews or cousins, were more common in the ancient Near East and even within patriarchal families before the Law.
But why include this detail? Moses, the writer, was being incredibly honest! He wasn't trying to hide anything that might reflect on his own family. Instead, he prioritized recording the truth and tracing the lineage that God would use for Israel's salvation. This shows us that God's work can happen through imperfect people and within circumstances that might seem complicated or even questionable by later standards. The focus is on God's faithfulness, not on achieving human perfection in every detail.
Why does the Bible spend time listing names and ages, especially for figures from so long ago?
The genealogies in Exodus aren't just dry record-keeping; they're a testament to God's faithfulness and the longevity He granted to key figures within the lineage leading to Moses and Aaron. We see Levi lived 137 years, his son Kohath lived 133 years, and now Amram, Kohath's son and father of Moses, also lived 137 years.
These extended lifespans were remarkable, even for that era. They suggest God's blessing was specifically resting on this family line, the very line He would use to bring about the deliverance of His people. It paints a picture of generations of faithful men stewarding God's promises and His people, even during the challenging period of slavery in Egypt. Their long lives allowed for the transmission of faith and the growth of their family, setting the stage for the miraculous multiplication of Israelites.
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Understand the original words
ishshah · Hebrew Noun
A legally recognized partner in marriage. In biblical theology, this relationship serves as a foundational covenantal union, mirroring the relationship between God and His people.
The verse highlights the lineage of Israel's most significant leaders, Moses and Aaron, placing their birth within the context of their long-lived, blessed family line, even as the Israelites faced harsh oppression.
c. 1570 BC
Birth of Amram
Amram, son of Kohath and grandson of Levi, is born. He would live to be 137 years old.
c. 1550 BC— this verse
Marriage of Amram and Jochebed
Amram marries Jochebed, his father's sister (or possibly cousin). This union, though later forbidden by Mosaic law, would produce key figures in Israel's history.
c. 1490 BC
Birth of Aaron
Aaron, the elder son of Amram and Jochebed, is born. He would become the first High Priest of Israel.
c. 1447 BC
Birth of Moses
Moses, the younger son of Amram and Jochebed, is born during a time of intense oppression for the Israelites in Egypt.
c. 1393 BC
Death of Amram
Amram dies at the age of 137, having lived through generations of Israel's enslavement in Egypt.
This passage directly prohibits marrying one's aunt, making the union of Amram and Jochebed a practice that was later forbidden by Mosaic Law. It highlights a shift in divine instruction and moral standards over time.
Numbers 26:59This verse explicitly names Jochebed as Levi's daughter, confirming her relationship to Amram and clarifying the lineage, despite the textual nuance of her being his aunt or cousin.
Exodus 2:1This verse introduces Amram and Jochebed as the parents of Moses, echoing Exodus 6:20 and framing their union within the context of raising the future deliverer of Israel.
Psalm 77:20This psalm describes God leading His people 'like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron,' connecting the sons born from this union to their crucial roles in the Exodus narrative initiated in Exodus 6.
Matthew 1:2This verse in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus mentions 'Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth,' showing a similar genealogical focus on significant ancestors, though it doesn't contain the same marital nuance as the Amram/Jochebed account.
gillExodus 6:20: "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."
And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife,.... This Amram was the first son of Kohath, and the father of Moses, as after related, and so must be the same with the man of the house of Levi, and his wife the daughter of Levi, as in Exodus 2:1 and though such a marriage was afterwards prohibited, Moses…
bensonExodus 6:20: "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."
Exodus 6:20-23 . His father’s sister — That is, kinswoman, as the Hebrew word frequently means. Amminadab — A prince of the tribe of Judah. The Levites might marry into any tribe, there being no danger of confusion or loss of inheritance thereby.
The text mentions Amram married his father's sister, which might seem unusual, but "father's sister" here likely refers more broadly to a close female relative, possibly a cousin. This detail, often overlooked, highlights how family structures and marriage customs differed, and underscores Moses' commitment to recording history truthfully, even when it involved his own family's unconventional relationships.
This passage is part of a genealogy tracing the lineage of Moses and Aaron, highlighting their descent from Levi. It specifically details Amram's marriage to Jochebed, who is identified as his father's sister (though some translations suggest cousin), and their bearing of Aaron and Moses. The verse concludes by noting Amram's lifespan, emphasizing the longevity of these early patriarchal figures as a sign of God's blessing on Levi's house.
This passage is part of a genealogy tracing the lineage of Moses and Aaron, highlighting their descent from Levi. It specifically details Amram's marriage to Jochebed, who is identified as his father's sister (though some translations suggest cousin), and their bearing of Aaron and Moses. The verse concludes by noting Amram's lifespan, emphasizing the longevity of these early patriarchal figures as a sign of God's blessing on Levi's house.
"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." — The text mentions Amram married his father's sister, which might seem unusual, but "father's sister" here likely refers more broadly to a close female relative, possibly a cousin. This detail, often…
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Last reviewed October 2026