Exodus 6:21
The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Exodus 6:21
The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse might seem like just a dry list of names, but it includes Korah, the infamous rebel mentioned later in Numbers. Including him here, alongside his less prominent brothers, highlights the impartiality of Scripture—even those destined for rebellion are recorded in their lineage, a reminder that God's accounting of people isn't solely based on their future actions.
This passage is part of a lengthy genealogy of Moses and Aaron's lineage, tracing their descent from Levi. While the names of many ancestors are listed to establish their heritage, the inclusion of Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri as sons of Izhar is particularly significant because Korah will later lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, a story detailed in the book of Numbers.
Why list these names? In a genealogy, every name carries weight, especially when one figure later becomes infamous.
This verse, Exodus 6:21, is part of a longer genealogy in chapter 6, tracing the lineage of Moses and Aaron. It lists the sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
The Significance of Mentioning Korah
While Nepheg and Zichri are not mentioned again in Scripture, Korah becomes a central figure in a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, detailed in the book of Numbers. The inclusion of his name here, among the lineage of the faithful, highlights a few things:
When God’s story is told, even the rebels get their name on the page. What does this tell us about divine truth?
The inclusion of Korah's name is a powerful testament to the impartiality of Scripture. Moses, the author of Exodus, was deeply involved in the events that followed Korah’s rebellion. Yet, he records this genealogy factually.
A Lesson in Divine Honesty
Understand the original words
ben · Hebrew Noun
A term referring to male descendants or children, often used in genealogical lists to establish lineage, inheritance rights, and tribal identity. It frequently denotes the next generation of a particular patriarch or family line.
Qorach · Hebrew Noun
A common Hebrew name meaning "bald" or "ice," used here as a proper noun identifying a descendant of Levi in the priestly lineage.
This genealogical verse isn't just a dry list of names; it sets the stage by introducing Korah, a figure who will later lead a significant rebellion against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16). His inclusion here, even before his infamous act, highlights the complex and sometimes challenging dynamics within even the most divinely appointed leadership structures.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Enslaved in Egypt
Generations after Jacob's family settled in Egypt, the Israelites had become a vast population, leading to their enslavement and oppression under a new Pharaoh.
c. 1446 BC
Moses and Aaron Commissioned
God appears to Moses at the burning bush, commissioning him and his brother Aaron to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Genealogy of Levi's Descendants
Moses records the lineage of the Levites, including the sons of his father Amram and grandfather Kohath, tracing back to Levi and Jacob. This genealogy highlights key figures and family lines within the tribe. The inclusion of Korah, son of Izhar, is notable due to his later rebellion.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Following the ten plagues, Pharaoh finally allows the Israelites to leave Egypt, marking the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
This passage directly references Korah, the son of Izhar, as the instigator of a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, highlighting the significant, albeit negative, historical context of this particular descendant mentioned in Exodus.
1 Chronicles 6:38This genealogical record further situates Korah as a descendant of Kohath and Levi, reinforcing the lineage presented in Exodus and linking him to the Levitical service.
Numbers 26:58-59This passage provides a more detailed genealogy of the tribe of Levi, listing Izhar as the father of Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri, and further elaborating on Korah's descendants, underscoring the importance of this family line.
Jude 1:11The New Testament author Jude uses the rebellion of Korah as an example of a destructive path, showing how this historical figure's lineage, first mentioned in Exodus, became a byword for apostasy and challenging legitimate authority.
gillExodus 6:21: "And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri."
And the sons of Izhar, Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri. These seem to be mentioned for the sake of Korah, concerning whom is a remarkable history in the following book; for the other two are nowhere else spoken of.
clarkeExodus 6:21: "And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri."
Korah - Though he became a rebel against God and Moses, (see Numbers 16:1 , etc)., yet Moses, in his great impartiality, inserts his name among those of his other progenitors.
This verse might seem like just a dry list of names, but it includes Korah, the infamous rebel mentioned later in Numbers. Including him here, alongside his less prominent brothers, highlights the impartiality of Scripture—even those destined for rebellion are recorded in their lineage, a reminder that God's accounting of people isn't solely based on their future actions.
This passage is part of a lengthy genealogy of Moses and Aaron's lineage, tracing their descent from Levi. While the names of many ancestors are listed to establish their heritage, the inclusion of Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri as sons of Izhar is particularly significant because Korah will later lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, a story detailed in the book of Numbers.
This passage is part of a lengthy genealogy of Moses and Aaron's lineage, tracing their descent from Levi. While the names of many ancestors are listed to establish their heritage, the inclusion of Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri as sons of Izhar is particularly significant because Korah will later lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, a story detailed in the book of Numbers.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Exodus 6:21 is available in the Sola app.
It's a profound reminder that God's narrative includes everyone, and the unfolding of His plan is not hindered by the bad choices of individuals, even those closely related to His key figures.
c. 1445 BC
Korah's Rebellion
Korah, a Levite and descendant of Izhar, leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, challenging their authority and the established order within the Israelite community.
"The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri." — This verse might seem like just a dry list of names, but it includes Korah, the infamous rebel mentioned later in Numbers. Including him here, alongside his less prominent brothers, highlights the im…