Jochebed יוֹכֶ֫בֶד
Mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam
Who is Jochebed in the Bible?
Jochebed was the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, three of the most important figures in Israelite history. The daughter of Levi and wife of Amram, she is mentioned in Exodus 6:20 and Numbers 26:59 in the genealogical records of the Levites. Her name means "Yahweh is glory," reflecting her faith and role in God's plan. When Pharaoh ordered the death of all male Hebrew infants, Jochebed courageously hid her newborn son Moses for three months and then placed him in a basket on the Nile River, where he was discovered and raised by Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:1-10). Jochebed's faithful protection of Moses proved pivotal to Israel's deliverance, as Moses would eventually lead the Hebrew people out of Egyptian slavery.
Biography
Jochebed, meaning "Yahweh is glory," was the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. She is mentioned in Exo.6.20 and Num.26.59 in the genealogical records of the Levites. Jochebed was the daughter of Levi, born to him in Egypt. She married her nephew Amram, the son of her brother Kohath. This marriage took place before the laws prohibiting such unions were given (Lev.18.12).
Jochebed gave birth to three children who would play significant roles in Israel's history: Miriam, the eldest, followed by Aaron and Moses. According to Exo.2.1-10, when Moses was born, Jochebed hid him for three months to protect him from Pharaoh's edict to kill all male Hebrew babies. When she could no longer hide him, she placed him in a basket among the reeds of the Nile River, where he was found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. Jochebed's faith and courage in protecting her son led to Moses being raised in the Egyptian court, ultimately preparing him for his future role as Israel's deliverer.
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In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study contentExodus 1 verse
- Exodus 6:20
"And Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years."
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Numbers 1 verse
- Numbers 26:59
"and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She was also a daughter of Levi, born to Levi in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יוֹכֶ֫בֶד | Jokebed , the mother of Moses |