וּבְנֵ֣י קֹ֔רַח אַסִּ֥יר וְאֶלְקָנָ֖ה וַאֲבִיאָסָ֑ף אֵ֖לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ות הַקָּרְחִֽי׃
(Exodus 6:24)
And the sons of Qoraḥ: Assir, and Elqanah, and Avi’asaf—these are the clans of the Qoraḥites.
Opening Observation: A Family Bound by Structure
In a genealogical passage dense with names and legacy, Exodus 6:24 presents more than a list—it exhibits a coordinated syntax that clusters sons and tribes, concluding with a demonstrative summarizing clause. Though it may appear like a simple verse, the grammar provides insight into Hebrew coordination, noun apposition, and the cohesive power of demonstratives.
Coordinated Nominal Syntax: אַסִּ֥יר וְאֶלְקָנָ֖ה וַאֲבִיאָסָ֑ף
The heart of the verse lists three sons of Qoraḥ, joined by conjunctions:
- אַסִּ֥יר – Assir
- וְאֶלְקָנָ֖ה – and Elqanah
- וַאֲבִיאָסָ֑ף – and Avi’asaf
This triple coordination is syntactically significant for two reasons:
- It shows equal syntactic weight for each name (none are appositional or subordinate).
- The repeated use of וְ (conjunction “and”) slows the rhythm, emphasizing each son as a distinct entity.
Subject-Predicate Structure: וּבְנֵ֣י קֹ֔רַח … אֵ֖לֶּה
The structure opens with the construct chain:
- וּבְנֵ֣י קֹ֔רַח – “And the sons of Qoraḥ” (noun + genitive)
After listing the names, the demonstrative אֵ֖לֶּה (“these”) acts as a subject in summary form, referring back to the entire list.
Grammar Table: Demonstrative Usage
| Word | Form | Gender / Number | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| אֵ֖לֶּה | Demonstrative pronoun | Masculine plural | Summarizing subject: “These [are]…” |
The Closing Construct: מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ות הַקָּרְחִֽי
This phrase—“the clans of the Qoraḥite”—is a construct chain followed by a gentilic adjective:
- מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ות – “clans/families” (plural construct)
- הַקָּרְחִֽי – “the Qoraḥite” (gentilic adjective derived from קֹרַח)
Together, they function as a predicate nominative, completing the clause started by אֵלֶּה: “These are the clans of the Qoraḥite.”
Masoretic Features: Cadence of Legacy
The Masoretic punctuation separates the list from the summarizing clause with careful cantillation. The final phrase אֵ֖לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ות הַקָּרְחִֽי is marked as its own thought unit—deliberate, declarative, and preserving genealogical authority.
Family Grammar, Tribal Theology
While brief, the verse uses Hebrew’s grammatical resources—construct chains, conjunctions, and demonstratives—to shape how we perceive tribal identity. Grammar doesn’t just record lineage; it reinforces group identity, remembrance, and belonging. In the list of sons and the declarative “these are,” syntax becomes a genealogy of both grammar and grace.
