According to Exodus 2, which Israelite tribe did Moses's parents belong to?

The story behind the answer

According to Exodus 2, Moses's parents belonged to the tribe of Levi.

Exodus introduces Moses's father as a man from the house of Levi and his mother as a daughter of Levi. The account therefore places Moses, Aaron, and Miriam within the Levite family line. Levi was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, whose descendants formed one of the tribes of Israel.

The tribe of Levi later became especially associated with religious service. The Levites assisted with the Tabernacle and its furnishings, while Aaron and his descendants formed the priestly line. Moses himself is not presented as a priest in the same way as Aaron, but his family connection explains why the central leaders of the Exodus story come from Levi. This answer should not be confused with Moses's birthplace, Egypt, or the land associated with his later life in Midian.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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