Exodus 6:22 — Word Study
WLCוּבְנֵ֖י עֻזִּיאֵ֑ל מִֽישָׁאֵ֥ל וְאֶלְצָפָ֖ן וְסִתְרִֽי׃
BSAThe sonsbên [descendants, offspring] of Uzziel [were]ʻUzzîyʼêl [my strength is God] MishaelMîyshâʼêl [a godly friend] ElzaphanʼĔlîytsâphân [a leader, God's secret] and SithriÇithrîy△ [protection, refuge]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּבְנֵ֖י | and [the] sons of | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct |
| עֻזִּיאֵ֑ל | Uzziel | Noun proper masculine |
| מִֽישָׁאֵ֥ל | [were] Mishael | Noun proper masculine |
| וְאֶלְצָפָ֖ן | and Elzaphan | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וְסִתְרִֽי׃ | and Sithri | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. |
| KJV | And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri. |
| ASV | And the sons of Uzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri. |
| YLT | And sons of Uzziel [are] Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri. |
| WEB | The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. |
| BBE | And the sons of Uzziel: Mishael and Elzaphan and Sithri. |
Where they part company is in the spelling of אֶלְצָפָן — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is straightforward, with a main clause followed by a simple predicate listing the sons.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, AdamClarke, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 5 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Exodus 6:22
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Lineage of the Levitesgenerated
Exodus 6:22 provides a genealogy of the Levites, specifically naming the sons of Uzziel. This lineage is crucial for understanding the roles and responsibilities of the Levites in ancient Israel, as they were set apart for service in the tabernacle and later the temple. The context includes names of other Levite families, showing the structure of the priestly tribe and their heritage.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 10:4 | Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry the bodies of your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” |
| 2 | Nehemiah 3:20 | Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai diligently repaired another section, from the angle to the doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עֻזִּיאֵל, 'u.zi.'Elgenerated
The name עֻזִּיאֵל ('Uzi'el) means 'my strength is God.' It reflects a strong connection to divine support and strength, indicating the importance of this lineage within the Israelite community. The parsing as a proper masculine noun shows it refers specifically to a person rather than a general concept.
Uzziel is a significant figure in the genealogy of the Levites, as he is mentioned multiple times in the Old Testament. His name suggests a heritage of strength and reliance on God, which is fitting for a tribe set apart for sacred duties.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the word sons to translate בֵּן.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, with a main clause introduced by the finite verb וּבְנֵ֖י, and the sons of, followed by a noun phrase that identifies the subject, עֻזִּיאֵ֑ל, Uzziel, and a predicate that lists the names of his sons.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the lineage, highlighting the connection between Uzziel and his sons, which is typical in genealogical listings.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word עֻזִּיאֵל is rendered as οζιηλ, which maintains the meaning of 'my strength is God.' This choice reflects the translators' intention to preserve the significance of the name while adapting it to Greek phonetics.
The choice of υἱοὶ for בֵּן indicates a direct translation of 'sons,' emphasizing the familial lineage in both texts.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 6:22 lists the sons of Uzziel, naming Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. Each name carries a meaning that reflects their character or role within the Israelite community, emphasizing the importance of lineage in the context of the Levites.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Uzziel means 'my strength is God,' indicating a strong connection to divine support.
They were the sons of Uzziel, each playing a role within the Levite community.
Genealogy establishes lineage, inheritance, and roles within the community, especially for the priestly tribe of Levi.
The meanings of the names often indicate their character or divine protection, which was significant for their responsibilities as Levites.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean to rely on God as my strength, as reflected in Uzziel's name?
- How can I understand the importance of lineage and heritage in my own life?
- In what ways do the characteristics of Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri inspire me to reflect on my own identity?
- How can I apply the lessons from the Levites' roles in my spiritual community today?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 6:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd the sons of Uzziel, Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zichri. The two first of these were the men that were ordered by Moses to carry out of the camp the two sons of Aaron, who were killed by lightning
Read John Gill on Exodus 6 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 6 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 22. Uzziel] He is called Aaron's uncle, Leviticus 10:4.
Read AdamClarke on Exodus 6 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges22. The family of Kohath’s fourth son, Uzziel. The family of his third son, Hebron, is passed by; presumably, though Hebronites are mentioned elsewhere (see on v. 18), there were no separate families which traced their descent to him. Mishael and Elzaphan] cousins of Moses and Aaron. See Leviticus 10:4; for Elzaphan, also, Numbers 3:30 (‘Elizaphan’), 1 Chronicles 15:8, 2 Chronicles 29:13.
Read Cambridge on Exodus 6 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
Tyndale line
And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri.
And the sons of Uzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri.
And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri.
And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri.
And the sonnes of Vzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri.
Strictly literal
And the sons of Uzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri.
And sons of Uzziel [are] Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri.
And sons of Uzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri.
And the sons of 'Uzziah Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri,
The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
From the Latin
The sons also of Oziel: Mizael, and Elizaphan, and Sethri.
Simplified
The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
And the sons of Uzziel: Mishael and Elzaphan and Sithri.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree on most of the wording, with the exception of the spelling of אֶלְצָפָן, which appears as אליצפן in the Samaritan Pentateuch. This variation does not change the meaning but reflects different textual traditions.
וּבְנֵ֖י עֻזִּיאֵ֑ל מִֽישָׁאֵ֥ל וְאֶלְצָפָ֖ן וְסִתְרִֽי׃
4 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ובני עזיאל מישׁאל ואליצפן וסתרי
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: אליצפן (Elizaphan)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 6:22
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural constructHC/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word עֻזִּיאֵל (*Uzziy'el*) means 'my strength is God.' It refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, including a Levite, a Simeonite captain, and a Benjamite. The name is built from the roots for 'strength' and 'God.' Notably, it appears in contexts related to the tribe of Levi and the repair of the wall under Nehemiah.
עֻזִּיאֵל n.pr.m. (my strength is Ēl)
Levites
Simeonite
Benjamite
repairer of wall
base
H5816 עֻזִּיאֵל (my strength is Ēl) . Levite names
. a Benjamite
5816 `Uzziy'el ooz-zee-ale'
from 5797 and 410; strength of God; Uzziel, the name of six
Israelites:--Uzziel.
see HEBREW for 05797
see HEBREW for 0410
עֻזִּיאֵל (uz.zi.el) — Uzziel.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.18;
son of: Kohath (H6955);
brother of: Amram (H6019), Izhar (H3324) and Hebron (H2275B);
father of: Mishael (H4332), Elizaphan (H0469), Sithri (H5644), Micah (H4318J) and Isshiah (H3449I)
Also named: oz.zi.e.li (עׇזִּיאֵלִי "Uzzielite" H5817)
§ Uzziel = "my strength is God"
1) the 4th son of Kohath and grandson of Levi, uncle of Moses and Aaron
2) a Simeonite captain, son of Ishi, in the days of king Hezekiah of Judah
3) descendant of Bela, head of a family in the tribe of Benjamin
4) a musician of the sons of Heman in the time of David
5) a Levite of the sons of Jeduthun in the days of king Hezekiah of Judah
6) son of Harhaiah, probably a priest and a goldsmith, who took part in repairing the wall under Nehemiah
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Uzziel
Strength of God. (1.) One of the sons of Kohath, and uncle of Aaron (Ex. 6:18; Lev. 10:4).
(2.) A Simeonite captain (1 Chr. 4:39-43).
(3.) A son of Bela, and grandson of Benjamin (1 Chr. 7:7).
(4.) One of the sons of Heman (1 Chr. 25:4); called also Azareel (18).
(5.) A son of Jeduthan (2 Chr. 29:14).
(6.) The son of Harhaiah (Neh. 3:8).
(my strength is God). Fourth son of Kohath, father of Mishael, Eizaphan or Elizaphan and Zithri, and uncle to Aaron. (Exodus 6:18,22; Leviticus 10:4) (B.C. before 1491.) A Simeonite captain, son of Ishi, in the days of Hezekiah. (1 Chronicles 4:42) Head of a Benjamite house, of the sons of Bela. (1 Chronicles 7:7) (B.C. 1706.) A musician, of the sons of Heman in David’s reign. (1 Chronicles 25:4) A Levite, of the sons of Jeduthun, in the days of Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles 29:14,18) (B.C. 726.) Son of Harhaiah, probably a priest in the days of Nehemiah, who took part in…
מִישָׁאֵל (Miysha'el) means "who is what God is?" It refers to a man from the tribe of Levi, a cousin of Moses, and notably one of Daniel's companions, also known as Meshach. He is recognized for refusing to eat the king's food and for surviving the fiery furnace. The name appears in several contexts, including Exodus and Daniel.
מִישָׁאֵל n.pr.m. (Who is what God is ?)
a cousin of Moses
one of Daniel’s companions
base
H4332 מִישָׁאֵל (Who is what God is ?) . a cousin of Moses
. one of Daniel’s companions
4332 Miysha'el mee-shaw-ale'
from 4310 and 410 with the abbrev. insep. relatively (see
834) interposed; who (is) what God (is)?; Mishael, the name of
three Israelites:--Mishael.
see HEBREW for 04310
see HEBREW for 0410
see HEBREW for 0834
מִישָׁאֵל (mi.sha.el) — Mishael.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.22;
son of: Uzziel (H5816);
brother of: Elizaphan (H0469), Sithri (H5644), Micah (H4318J) and Isshiah (H3449I)
§ Mishael = "who is what God is"
1) the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Meshach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord
2) a son of Uzziel and a cousin of Moses and Aaron
3) one of those who stood at the left hand of Ezra when he read the law to the people
מִישָׁאֵל (mi.sha.el) — Mishael.
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Mishael
Who is like God! (1.) A Levite; the eldest of the three sons of Uzziel (Ex. 6:22).
(2.) One of the three Hebrew youths who were trained with Daniel in Babylon (Dan. 1:11, 19), and promoted to the rank of Magi. He and his companions were afterwards cast into the burning fiery furnace for refusing to worship the idol the king had set up, from which they were miraculously delivered (3:13-30). His Chaldean name was Meshach (q.v.).
(who is what God is?). One of the sons of Uzziel, the uncle of Aaron and Moses. (Exodus 6:22) when Nadab and Abihu were struck dead for offering strange fire, Mishael and his brother Elzaphan, at the command of Moses, removed their bodies from the sanctuary, and buried them without the camp, their loose-fitting tunics serving for winding-sheets. (Leviticus 10:4,5) One of those who stood at Ezra’s left hand when he read the law to the people. (Nehemiah 8:4) [MESHACH]
who is asked for or lent
אֱלִיצָפָן (Eliytsaphan) means "God has protected" and refers to a person in the Old Testament. It identifies a chief of the Kohathites and a chief of Zebulun. The name is associated with Elizaphan, a son of Uzziel and brother of Mishael, as well as another Elzaphan, son of Parnach. The entries consistently highlight these roles without significant disagreement.
אֱלִיצָפָן n.pr.m. (God has protected)
chief of the Kohathites
chief of Zebulun
base
H469 אֱלִיצָפָן (God has protected) . chief of the Kohathites
. chief of Zebulun
469 'Eliytsaphan el-ee-tsaw-fawn'
or (shortened) Eltsaphan {el-tsaw- fawn'}; from 410 and
6845; God of treasure; Elitsaphan or Eltsaphan, an
Israelite:--Elizaphan, Elzaphan.
see HEBREW for 0410
see HEBREW for 06845
אֱלִיצָפָן (e.li.tsa.phan) — Elizaphan.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.22;
son of: Uzziel (H5816);
brother of: Mishael (H4332), Sithri (H5644), Micah (H4318J) and Isshiah (H3449I); also called Elzaphan at Exo.6.22; 1x
§ Elizaphan or Elzaphan = "my God has protected"
1) a Kohathite chief in the wilderness
2) a Zebulunite chief
3) Uzziel's son, Mishael's brother in time of Moses
אֱלִיצָפָן (e.li.tsa.phan) — Elizaphan.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.34.25;
son of: Parnach (H6535)
§ Elizaphan or Elzaphan = "my God has protected"
1) a Kohathite chief in the wilderness
2) a Zebulunite chief
3) Uzziel's son, Mishael's brother in time of Moses
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
el-za'-fan.
See ELIZAPHAN.
(whom God protects), second son of Uzziel, who was the son of Kohath son of Levi. (Exodus 6:22)
God of the northeast wind
→ See ELIZAPHAN
סִתְרִי (sithri) refers to a Levite mentioned in Exodus 6:22, identified as the son of Uzziel and brother to several others. The name is derived from a root meaning 'protective.' The entries consistently emphasize his lineage and role within the tribe of Levi.
סִתְרִי n.pr.m. a Levite;—Ex 6:22
ref
H5644 סִתְרִי a Levite
5644 Cithriy sith-ree'
from 5643; protective; Sithri, an Israelite,: --Zithri.
see HEBREW for 05643
סִתְרִי (sit.ri) — Sithri.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Exo.6.22;
son of: Uzziel (H5816);
brother of: Mishael (H4332), Elizaphan (H0469), Micah (H4318J) and Isshiah (H3449I)
§ Zithri = "protection of Jehovah"
1) son of Uzziel and grandson of Kohath the son of Levi
1a) more properly 'Sithri'
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
sith'-ri (cithri): A grandson of Kohath (Ex 6:22).