Boys · Hebrew · Old Testament · classic · Exodus and wilderness
Aaron
/AIR-un/
אַהֲרֹן
"Mountain of strength; exalted"
Exodus 4:14
RoleHigh priest; prophet; leader
Etymology
Uncertain origin. Possibly from the Hebrew 'har' (mountain) and 'on' (strength), or from the Egyptian 'aha rw' meaning 'warrior lion'. Some scholars connect it to the Hebrew root for 'enlightened' or 'exalted'.
Who they were
Aaron was Moses' elder brother by three years and became his spokesperson because Moses protested that he could not speak well. When God sent Moses to confront Pharaoh, Aaron stood beside him, and it was Aaron's staff that became a serpent and Aaron's hand that stretched over the waters of Egypt to bring the plagues. After the exodus, God appointed Aaron as Israel's first high priest, establishing a priesthood that would last for centuries. His story is not without shadow — while Moses was on Sinai receiving the Law, Aaron yielded to the people's pressure and made the golden calf, one of Israel's gravest failures. Yet God did not discard him. Aaron was restored, vested in the priestly garments, and served faithfully. He died on Mount Hor at the age of 123, and the whole house of Israel mourned him for thirty days. His story is one of eloquence, weakness, restoration, and faithful service despite imperfection.
Family
Character qualities
- Eloquence
- Loyalty to Moses
- Weakness under pressure
- Faithfulness in service
- Humility after failure
Key verse
Exodus 28:1
Where they appear
Themes
Variants & related forms
Aron · Aharon · Aarón · Harun
Read their story
Aaron's story begins in Exodus.
The full passage is at Exodus 4:14. Any modern translation will do — the NLT and NIV are the most readable; the ESV and NKJV stay close to the wording the church has used for centuries.
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