Numbers 3:17

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

The Summary of Families These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּֽהְיוּ־אֵ֥לֶּה בְנֵֽי־לֵוִ֖י בִּשְׁמֹתָ֑ם גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן וּקְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי׃

Transliteration

wa-yihyû-ʾēlleh bənê-Lēwî bi-šmōtām Gēršôn û-Qəhāt û-Mərārî

Grammar Details

• *wa-yihyû*: conjunction + verb, Qal imperfect consecutive, 3rd common plural - and were
• *ʾēlleh*: demonstrative pronoun, masculine plural - these
• *bənê*: noun, masculine plural construct - sons of
• *Lēwî*: proper noun - Levi
• *bi-šmōtām*: preposition + noun, feminine plural + 3rd masculine plural suffix - by their names
• *Gēršôn*: proper noun, masculine singular - Gershon
• *û-Qəhāt*: conjunction + proper noun, masculine singular - and Kohath
• *û-Mərārî*: conjunction + proper noun, masculine singular - and Merari

Word Meanings

• *bi-šmōtām*: by their names/according to their names/as named

Referenced Verses

• Gen 46:11 : 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
• Exod 6:16-19 : 16 Now these are the names of the sons of Levi, according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.(The length of Levi’s life was 137 years.) 17 The sons of Gershon, by their families, were Libni and Shimei. 18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.(The length of Kohath’s life was 133 years.) 19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of Levi, according to their records.
• Num 15:5-9 : 5 You must also prepare one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering with the burnt offering or the sacrifice for each lamb. 6 Or for a ram, you must prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with one-third of a hin of olive oil, 7 and for a drink offering you must offer one-third of a hin of wine as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 8 And when you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice for discharging a vow or as a peace offering to the LORD, 9 then a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with half a hin of olive oil must be presented with the young bull, 10 and you must present as the drink offering half a hin of wine with the fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 11 This is what is to be done for each ox, or each ram, or each of the male lambs or the goats. 12 You must do so for each one according to the number that you prepare. 13 “‘Every native-born person must do these things in this way to present an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 14 If a resident foreigner is living with you– or whoever is among you in future generations– and prepares an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, he must do it the same way you are to do it. 15 One statute must apply to you who belong to the congregation and to the resident foreigner who is living among you, as a permanent statute for your future generations. You and the resident foreigner will be alike before the LORD. 16 One law and one custom must apply to you and to the resident foreigner who lives alongside you.’” 17 Rules for First Fruits The LORD spoke to Moses: 18 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them,‘When you enter the land to which I am bringing you 19 and you eat some of the food of the land, you must offer up a raised offering to the LORD. 20 You must offer up a cake of the first of your finely ground flour as a raised offering; as you offer the raised offering of the threshing floor, so you must offer it up. 21 You must give to the LORD some of the first of your finely ground flour as a raised offering in your future generations. 22 Rules for Unintentional Offenses“‘If you sin unintentionally and do not observe all these commandments that the LORD has spoken to Moses– 23 all that the LORD has commanded you by the authority of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses and continuing through your future generations–
• Num 23:6-9 : 6 So he returned to him, and he was still standing by his burnt offering, he and all the princes of Moab. 7 Then Balaam uttered his oracle, saying,“Balak, the king of Moab, brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying,‘Come, pronounce a curse on Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.’ 8 How can I curse one whom God has not cursed, or how can I denounce one whom the LORD has not denounced? 9 For from the top of the rocks I see them; from the hills I watch them. Indeed, a nation that lives alone, and it will not be reckoned among the nations. 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let the end of my life be like theirs.” 11 Balaam Relocates Then Balak said to Balaam,“What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but on the contrary you have only blessed them!” 12 Balaam replied,“Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?” 13 Balak said to him,“Please come with me to another place from which you can observe them. You will see only a part of them, but you will not see all of them. Curse them for me from there.” 14 So Balak brought Balaam to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, where he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15 And Balaam said to Balak,“Station yourself here by your burnt offering, while I meet the LORD there.” 16 Then the LORD met Balaam and put a message in his mouth and said,“Return to Balak, and speak what I tell you.” 17 When Balaam came to him, he was still standing by his burnt offering, along with the princes of Moab. And Balak said to him,“What has the LORD spoken?” 18 Balaam Prophesies Again Balaam uttered his oracle, and said,“Rise up, Balak, and hear; Listen to me, son of Zippor: 19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen? 20 Indeed, I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. 21 He has not looked on iniquity in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; his acclamation as king is among them. 22 God brought them out of Egypt. They have, as it were, the strength of a wild bull. 23 For there is no spell against Jacob, nor is there any divination against Israel. At this time it must be said of Jacob and of Israel,‘Look at what God has done!’
• Num 24:1-9 : 1 Balaam Prophesies Yet Again When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to seek for omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 Then he uttered this oracle:“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; 4 the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: 5 ‘How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwelling places, O Israel! 6 They are like valleys stretched forth, like gardens by the river’s side, like aloes that the LORD has planted, and like cedar trees beside the waters. 7 He will pour the water out of his buckets, and their descendants will be like abundant water; their king will be greater than Agag, and their kingdom will be exalted. 8 God brought them out of Egypt. They have, as it were, the strength of a young bull; they will devour hostile people and will break their bones and will pierce them through with arrows. 9 They crouch and lie down like a lion, and as a lioness, who can stir him? Blessed is the one who blesses you, and cursed is the one who curses you!’” 10 Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam,“I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless them these three times! 11 So now, go back where you came from! I said that I would greatly honor you, but now the LORD has stood in the way of your honor.” 12 Balaam said to Balak,“Did I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 13 ‘If Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD to do either good or evil of my own will, but whatever the LORD tells me I must speak’? 14 And now, I am about to go back to my own people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in the future.” 15 Balaam Prophesies a Fourth Time Then he uttered this oracle:“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; 16 the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, and who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: 17 ‘I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close at hand. A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab, and the heads of all the sons of Sheth. 18 Edom will be a possession, Seir, his enemies, will also be a possession; but Israel will act valiantly. 19 A ruler will be established from Jacob; he will destroy the remains of the city.’” 20 Balaam’s Final Prophecies Then Balaam looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle:“Amalek was the first of the nations, but his end will be that he will perish.” 21 Then he looked on the Kenites and uttered this oracle:“Your dwelling place seems strong, and your nest is set on a rocky cliff. 22 Nevertheless the Kenite will be consumed. How long will Asshur take you away captive?” 23 Then he uttered this oracle:“O, who will survive when God does this! 24 Ships will come from the coast of Kittim, and will afflict Asshur, and will afflict Eber, and he will also perish forever.” 25 Balaam got up and departed and returned to his home, and Balak also went his way.
• Num 26:57-58 : 57 And these are the Levites who were numbered according to their families: from Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; from Merari, the family of the Merarites. 58 These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram.
• Josh 21:1-9 : 1 Levitical Cities The tribal leaders of the Levites went before Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the Israelite tribal leaders 2 in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said,“The LORD told Moses to assign us cities in which to live along with the grazing areas for our cattle.” 3 So the Israelites assigned these cities and their grazing areas to the Levites from their own holdings, as the LORD had instructed. 4 The first lot belonged to the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. 5 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, and from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 6 Gershon’s descendants were allotted thirteen cities from the clans of the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribes of Asher and Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. 7 Merari’s descendants by their clans were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. 8 So the Israelites assigned to the Levites by lot these cities and their grazing areas, as the LORD had instructed Moses. 9 They assigned from the tribes of Judah and Simeon the cities listed below. 10 They were assigned to the Kohathite clans of the Levites who were descendants of Aaron, for the first lot belonged to them. 11 They assigned them Kiriath Arba(Arba was the father of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding grazing areas. 12 (Now the city’s fields and surrounding towns they had assigned to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his property.) 13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron(a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Libnah, 14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 15 Holon, Debir, 16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of nine cities taken from these two tribes. 17 From the tribe of Benjamin they assigned Gibeon, Geba, 18 Anathoth, and Almon, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of four cities. 19 The priests descended from Aaron received thirteen cities and their grazing areas. 20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim. 21 They assigned them Shechem(a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer, 22 Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of four cities. 23 From the tribe of Dan they assigned Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 24 Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of four cities. 25 From the half-tribe of Manasseh they assigned Taanach and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of two cities. 26 The rest of the Kohathite clans received ten cities and their grazing areas. 27 They assigned to the Gershonite clans of the Levites the following cities: from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan(a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) and Beeshtarah, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of two cities; 28 from the tribe of Issachar: Kishon, Daberath, 29 Jarmuth, and En Gannim, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of four cities; 30 from the tribe of Asher: Mishal, Abdon, 31 Helkath, and Rehob, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of four cities; 32 from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee(a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of three cities. 33 The Gershonite clans received thirteen cities and their grazing areas. 34 They assigned to the Merarite clans(the remaining Levites) the following cities: from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah, 35 Dimnah, and Nahalal, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of four cities; 36 from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz, 37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of four cities; 38 from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead(a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Mahanaim, 39 Heshbon, and Jazer, along with the grazing areas of each– a total of four cities. 40 The Merarite clans(the remaining Levites) were allotted twelve cities. 41 The Levites received within the land owned by the Israelites forty-eight cities in all and their grazing areas. 42 Each of these cities had grazing areas around it; they were alike in this regard. 43 So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had solemnly promised to their ancestors, and they conquered it and lived in it. 44 The LORD made them secure, in fulfillment of all he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could resist them. The LORD handed all their enemies over to them. 45 Not one of the LORD’s faithful promises to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; every one was realized.
• 1 Chr 6:1-2 : 1 Levi’s Descendants(5:27) The sons of Levi:Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2 The sons of Kohath:Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
• 1 Chr 6:16-19 : 16 (6:1) The sons of Levi:Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17 These are the names of the sons Gershom:Libni and Shimei. 18 The sons of Kohath:Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari:Mahli and Mushi.These are the clans of the Levites by their families.
• Neh 11:1-9 : 1 The Population of Jerusalem So the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, while the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to settle in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine remained in other cities. 2 The people gave their blessing on all the men who volunteered to settle in Jerusalem. 3 These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem.(While other Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple attendants, and the sons of the servants of Solomon settled in the cities of Judah, each on his own property in their cities, 4 some of the descendants of Judah and some of the descendants of Benjamin settled in Jerusalem.) Of the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, from the descendants of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, from the descendants of Shelah. 6 The sum total of the descendants of Perez who were settling in Jerusalem was 468 exceptional men. 7 These are the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah, 8 and his followers, Gabbai and Sallai– 928 in all. 9 Joel son of Zicri was the officer in charge of them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second-in-command over the city. 10 From the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jakin, 11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, supervisor in the temple of God, 12 and their colleagues who were carrying out work for the temple– 822; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah,