In brief
Jochebed is the wife of Amram, of the tribe of Levi, and the mother of Aaron and Moses. At a time when Egypt oppresses the Hebrews, she hides her newborn son for three months, then places him in a basket of reeds on the river. God watches over him: Pharaoh's daughter takes the child in, and Jochebed becomes his nurse. Her story shows a mother who protects, then entrusts her child to God. She is named in Exodus 6:20.
What does the name Jochebed mean?
The name Jochebed is generally linked to a Hebrew expression meaning "the LORD is glory." The Bible does not explain this name. It does give her family ties: Amram took as his wife Jochebed, his father's sister (Exodus 6:20). In the account of Exodus 2 she is not named; the text speaks only of "a woman."
The story of Jochebed
A son hidden for three months
Exodus 2:1-2A man of the house of Levi takes a daughter of Levi as his wife. She gives birth to a son. She sees that he is beautiful and hides him for three months. In a land where the Hebrew boys are being sought out to be killed, hiding this child is an act of courage and faith.
The basket of reeds
Exodus 2:3-4Unable to hide him any longer, his mother takes a basket of reeds, coats it with bitumen and pitch, puts the child in it and sets it among the reeds at the river's edge. His sister stands at a distance to see what will happen to him. Jochebed does everything she can, then lets God act.
Nurse to her own son
Exodus 2:5-10Pharaoh's daughter finds the basket and takes pity on the crying child. The child's sister offers to go and find a nurse. She calls the mother, and Pharaoh's daughter tells her to nurse the child for her and promises to pay her wages. When the child grows older, he is brought to Pharaoh's daughter, who names him Moses.
A mother named in the genealogy
Exodus 6:16-20Later, the genealogy of Levi names Jochebed. She is Amram's wife and bears him Aaron and Moses. The woman who had been unnamed in the account of the birth is here recorded by name in the family God chose to lead his people.
What Jochebed teaches us
- A mother, even in fear, can choose faith over resignation.
- Doing your part, then entrusting to God what you can no longer carry, is an act of trust.
- God uses ordinary, hidden actions to prepare his plans of deliverance.
- God sees the tears of mothers and can give back what has been placed in his hands.
Key verses
She sees that the child is beautiful and hides him for three months. This verse shows the love and courage of a mother who refuses to give in to fear.
Pharaoh's daughter asks the mother to nurse the child and promises wages. God gives the child back to his mother in the most unexpected way.
Amram takes Jochebed as his wife and she bears him Aaron and Moses. This verse at last gives a name to the mother of Israel's deliverer.
Sermons about Jochebed
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jochebed in the Bible?
Jochebed is the mother of Aaron and Moses. She is the wife of Amram, of the tribe of Levi, and also his father's sister (Exodus 6:20). To save her newborn son, she hides him, then places him in a basket of reeds on the river (Exodus 2:1-4).
What does the name Jochebed mean?
Her name is generally linked to a Hebrew expression meaning "the LORD is glory." The Bible does not explain it itself, so caution is needed. What is certain is that her name, recorded in Exodus 6:20, ties her to the family of Levi.
Where can I find the story of Jochebed in the Bible?
The account of the birth of Moses and the basket of reeds is found in Exodus 2:1-10, where the mother is not yet named. Her name, Jochebed, appears later in the genealogy of Levi, in Exodus 6:20.