King James Version
What Does Exodus 2:1 Mean?
“And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.”
Context
1
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
2
And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
3
And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English ReadersII.
THE BIRTH, EDUCATION, AND EARLY LIFE OF MOSES.
(1) **There went.**—Comp. Genesis 35:22; Hosea 1:3. The expression is idiomatic, and has no special force.
**A man of the house of Levi.**—Note the extreme simplicity of this announcement; and compare it with the elaborate legends wherewith Oriental religions commonly surrounded the birth of those who were considered their founders, as Thoth, Zoroaster, Orpheus. Even the name of the man is here omitted as unimportant. It is difficult to conceive any one but Moses making such an omission.
**A daughter of Levi**—i.e., a woman of the same tribe as himself, a descendant of Levi—not a daughter in the literal sense, which the chronology makes impossible.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Exodus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Exodus 2:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Exodus 2:1
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge