Amram was Kohath’s eldest son and the father of Aaron and Moses. Took to wife is literally “took for a wife,” which is the Hebrew way of saying “married,” and this will be a natural expression in many languages. (The same expression occurs in 2.1.) Jochebed is mentioned only here and in Num 26.59 as Amram’s wife and the mother of Aaron and Moses (and Miriam). His father’s sister is of course “his aunt” (Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible), but the Hebrew is more specific than the English “aunt.” Such a marriage was later forbidden for Israelites (see Lev 18.12 and 20.19), but it was evidently culturally accepted when Moses’ parents were married.

And she bore him Aaron and Moses means that Jochebed became pregnant by Amram and gave birth to Aaron and Moses for Amram. (Him is literally “to him,” “by him,” or “for him.”) In some languages it will be more natural style to translate the clause she bore him Aaron … as “they [Amram and Jochebed] had two sons….” Aaron is listed first because he was older (see 7.7), but also because the purpose of the genealogy is to show the priestly line of descent through Aaron, as mentioned in the introductory comment to this section.

The years of the life of Amram being one hundred and thirty-seven years is the third example of this formula (see verses 16 and 18). It simply means that “Amram lived 137 years.” Contemporary English Version, as in verses 16 and 18, restructures the verse in a way that will be helpful for many translators:

• Amram lived to be one hundred thirty-seven. He married his father’s sister Jochebed, and they had two sons, Aaron and Moses.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .