And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

EXODUS 6:23KJV
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Exodus 6:23 (KJV)

What does Exodus 6:23 mean?

Exodus 6:23 identifies Aaron’s wife and children within a family record. By naming Elisheba’s father and brother as well as her four sons, the verse connects Aaron’s household with another known family in Israel.

The narrator gives these details immediately after naming Aaron and Moses as brothers. The wording “took him … to wife” is an older way of saying that Aaron married Elisheba.

Why Exodus 6:23 matters

  • Elisheba’s family belongs to a different line of Israel from Aaron’s. Her brother Naashon is identified with the tribe of Judah in Numbers 1:7, while Aaron belongs to the family of Levi in Exodus 6:16–20.
  • The names of Aaron’s sons matter for following later events. Nadab and Abihu die in Leviticus 10:1–2, and Eleazar and Ithamar continue serving as priests, the men appointed to serve at Israel’s place of worship, in Leviticus 10:6–7.

Where else these words appear

“Naashon” Hebrew H5177 · used in 9 verses

  • Numbers 1:7 Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
  • Numbers 7:12 And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:
  • Ruth 4:20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,

“Amminadab” Hebrew H5992 · used in 12 verses

  • Numbers 1:7 Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
  • Numbers 7:17 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:10 And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;

“Abihu” Hebrew H30 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 24:1 And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
  • Leviticus 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
  • Numbers 26:61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

“Nadab” Hebrew H5070 · used in 20 verses

  • Exodus 24:1 And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
  • Numbers 26:60 And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:28 And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur.