1 Chronicles 6:18 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 6:18 mean?

1 Chronicles 6:18 lists the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. This verse is part of a genealogy, showing the family line of Kohath, one of the sons of Levi, whose descendants played important roles among the Levites in Israel’s history.

This verse appears in a section where the writer is carefully recording the descendants of Levi for the people of Israel. The names mentioned—Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—are significant because their families became key clans within the tribe of Levi, who were responsible for religious duties in the tabernacle and later the temple.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 6:18

• sons (בְּנֵי, bənê): This word means "sons" or "descendants." In genealogies like this, it often refers to direct sons but can also mean later generations.
• Kohath (קְהָת, Qəhāṯ): Kohath is one of Levi’s three sons. His descendants, the Kohathites, were given special responsibilities for the most sacred objects in Israel’s worship.
• Amram (עַמְרָם, ʿAmrām): Amram is best known as the father of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, making his line especially important in Israel’s history.
• Izhar (יִצְהָר, Yiṣhār), Hebron (חֶבְרוֹן, Ḥeḇrōn), Uzziel (עֻזִּיאֵל, ʿUzzîʾēl): These are the other sons of Kohath, each becoming the ancestor of a Levitical clan with specific roles in temple service.

Why 1 Chronicles 6:18 matters

• This verse helps clarify the structure of the Levite families, which is important for understanding later passages about their duties and roles in Israel’s worship life.
• By naming Amram, the verse connects the genealogy of the Levites directly to Moses and Aaron, highlighting the priestly line’s origins.
• The listing of these specific sons sets up later references to their descendants, who appear throughout the Old Testament in various roles and stories.