Exodus 6:20
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Amram marries Jochebed, his paternal aunt, and they become parents of Aaron and Moses. Amram's lifespan is recorded as 137 years.
Context
Amram's marriage to Jochebed, his father's sister, is documented with genealogical precision. In the context of early tribal societies, such relationships were permissible under ancient Near Eastern law and practice. Their union produces Aaron and Moses, the central figures of the exodus narrative. Amram's extended lifespan (137 years) connects him to the patriarchal tradition and suggests he bridged the patriarchal and exodus generations.
What Does Exodus 6:20 Mean?
Amram's marriage to Jochebed, his father's sister, is documented with genealogical precision. In the context of early tribal societies, such relationships were permissible under ancient Near Eastern law and practice. Their union produces Aaron and Moses, the central figures of the exodus narrative. Amram's extended lifespan (137 years) connects him to the patriarchal tradition and suggests he bridged the patriarchal and exodus generations.
This verse establishes the familial connection between Israel's future liberators. Moses and Aaron are presented not as isolated individuals but as products of legitimate family lines within Levi's descendants. The genealogy grounds the leaders of the exodus in Israel's tribal and family structure, validating their authority through ancestral legitimacy.