A son of Levi and father of Mahli, Mushi, and Jaaziah.
About Merari
In Hebrew, Arabic, and Akkadian languages, the word Merari means “bitter,” “bitter drink,” or “to be bitter.” In Ugaritic, it means “to strengthen, to bless.” Most people have understood the name to mean “gall” or “bitterness” based on its Hebrew meaning. But the Ugaritic meaning “to strengthen, to bless” also fits with Hebrew thinking. When used as a person's name, it probably means “strength” or “blessing.” This meaning makes more sense in many Bible references.
For Merari, the third son of Levi, the meaning “strength” or “blessing” seems better because of his importance and his family's role. It would be strange for the youngest son to have a name meaning “gall” or “bitterness” when he had the greatest responsibility and received the greatest reward for his service.
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Levi
- Half-siblings 3
- Gershon, Kohath, Jochebed
- Children 3
- Mahli, Mushi, Jaaziah
- Nieces & Nephews 9
- Libni, Shimei, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel, Moses, Aaron, Miriam
- Aunt
- Dinah
- Uncles 11
- Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Dan (Patriarch), Naphtali, Gad (Patriarch), Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin
- Cousins 53
- Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Carmi, Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zerah, Shaul, Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, Zerah, Hushim (Genesis 46:23), Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, Shillem, Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arod, Areli, Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi (Genesis 46:17), Beriah, Serah, Tola, Puah, Jashub, Shimron, Sered, Elon (Genesis 46:14), Jahleel, Manasseh (Son of Joseph), Ephraim, Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, Ard, Ahiram, Jediael
Key References
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families.
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son,
Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son.
All Scripture References (38)
Genesis (1)
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Exodus (2)
These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites according to their records.
Numbers (12)
These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families.
From Merari came the clans of the Mahlites and Mushites; these were the Merarite clans.
The leader of the families of the Merarites was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.
The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items,
As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families,
This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”
And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families,
These were counted from the Merarite clans, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the LORD’s command through Moses.
and he gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen, as their service required, all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting it.
Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans: The Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari.
Joshua (3)
And the descendants of Merari received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
This is what the Merarite clan (the rest of the Levites) were given: From the tribe of Zebulun they were given Jokneam, Kartah,
In all, twelve cities were allotted to the clans of Merari, the remaining Levite clans.
1 Chronicles (17)
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas was the father of Abishua,
Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak.
The descendants of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
They ministered with song before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. And they performed their duties according to the regulations given them.
Their fellow Levites were assigned to every kind of service of the tabernacle, the house of God.
The Gershomites, according to their clans, were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh in Bashan.
From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a descendant of Merari;
from the Merarites, Asaiah the chief and 220 of his relatives;
So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah;
Then David divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
The descendants of Merari from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
Hosah the Merarite also had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him as the first),
These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.
2 Chronicles (2)
Then the Levites set to work: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah from the Kohathites; Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel from the Merarites; Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah from the Gershonites;
And the men did the work faithfully. The Levites overseeing them were Jahath and Obadiah, descendants of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descendants of Kohath. Other Levites, all skilled with musical instruments,
Ezra (1)
also Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and their sons, 20 men.