Zichri

Biblical Record

Zichri is named only once, in Exodus 6:21: "And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri." This verse belongs to the genealogy of Exodus 6:14–25. After briefly listing the tribes of Reuben and Simeon, the genealogy treats the tribe of Levi in detail and serves to establish the lineage of Moses and Aaron.

According to the genealogy, Kohath was a son of Levi, and the sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel (Exodus 6:16–18). Because Aaron and Moses were the sons of Amram (Exodus 6:20), Zichri, as a son of Izhar, was a cousin of Moses and Aaron. His brothers Korah and Nepheg are listed with him. Apart from his name, Scripture records nothing about his life or deeds.

Significance in the Bible

The name Zichri is understood to be related to a Hebrew verb meaning "to remember." His name appears to have been included to complete the genealogy of the Kohathite clan of the tribe of Levi. The New Testament does not mention Zichri; the figure referred to in Jude 1:11 is his brother Korah.

Interpretive Issues

Numbers 16 recounts how "Korah, the son of Izhar" rose up against Moses and Aaron. Zichri's name does not appear in the account of this event, and the text says nothing about whether he took part in it or what position he took. Any explanation that connects Zichri with the rebellion of his brother Korah is therefore speculation beyond the text.

The same name appears several times in 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, and Nehemiah, but in every case it refers to a different person. These include Benjamites (1 Chronicles 8:19, 23, 27), a Levite descended from Asaph (1 Chronicles 9:15), a descendant of Eliezer the son of Moses (1 Chronicles 26:25), the father of Eliezer, ruler of the Reubenites (1 Chronicles 27:16), and a mighty man of Ephraim (2 Chronicles 28:7). These individuals should be distinguished when reading. The "sons of Korah" named in the titles of certain Psalms likewise belong to the line of Korah and have no connection with Zichri.

In the Korean Church

Zichri is rarely treated on his own in sermons or Sunday school. Church members generally encounter his name in the genealogy of Exodus 6 while reading through the Bible.