Original Word: לֵוִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Leviy
Pronunciation: lay-VEE
Phonetic Spelling: (lay-vee')
KJV: Levi See also H3879, H3881
NASB: Levi, Levi's
Word Origin: [from H3867 (לָוָה - To join)]

1. attached
2. Levi, a son of Jacob

Levi

From lavah; attached; Levi, a son of Jacob -- Levi. See also Leviy, Leviyiy.

see HEBREW lavah

see HEBREW Leviy

see HEBREW Leviyiy

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a son of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him
NASB Translation
Levi (65), Levi's (1).

I. לֵוִי proper name, masculine Levi (√ and meaning dubious; Genesis 29:34 (J) interpreted as joined, i. e. husband to wife; Numbers 18:2,4 (P; apparently in word-play) of Levites as joined to, attendant upon, Aaron; originally as attached to, accompanying Israel from Egypt, Lag^{Or. ii. 20 f.}; as attached to, attending upon the ark, Bau^{Priest. 74}; in this case

I.לֵוִי would be derived from

II. לֵוִי in priestly sense; Hom^{A. u. A. 1890, 30 f.} proposes Minaean לוא, lau'ân, priest, compare Id^{Süd-Arab. Chrest. 127}; against all such views see Kau^{SK 1890, 771 f.} We^{Prol. ed. 5, 141; Hist. Israel 145} Sta^{ZAW i (1881), 112 ff.} Gray^{Prop. Names, p. 96}, compare Nö^{ZMG xi (1886). 167}, make לֵוִי name, of a people from לֵאָה (q. v.); compare a further suggestion We^{Skizzen iii. 114}) — ᵐ5 Λευ(ε)ι(ν); —

1. a. Levi, son of Jacob and Leah, as individual, Genesis 29:34; Genesis 34:25,30; Genesis 35:23; Genesis 49:5 (all J); Genesis 35:23; Genesis 46:11; Exodus 1:2; Exodus 6:16; Exodus 16:16; Numbers 3:17; Numbers 16:1 (all P); 1 Chronicles 21; 1 Chronicles 5:22; 1 Chronicles 6:1; 1 Chronicles 6:4; 1 Chronicles 6:23; 1 Chronicles 6:28; 1 Chronicles 6:32; 1 Chronicles 23:6; Ezra 8:18; so ׳בַּתלֿ [אֶתֿ] Exodus 2:1 (E), Numbers 26:59 (P).

b. as head of a family of descendants, in phrase בֵּית לֵוִי Exodus 2:1 (E), and (with reference to tribe; late) Numbers 17:23, ׳מִשְׁמַּחַת בֵּית ל Zechariah 12:13.

c. often ׳בְּנֵי(ֿ) ל Exodus 32:26,28 (E), Joshua 21:10 (P), ׳בְּנֵי(ֿ) ל with tribal reference Numbers 3:15; Numbers 4:2; Numbers 18:21 (charged with service of tabernacle, and hence to receive tithes; all P); as priests הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי לֵוִי Deuteronomy 21:5; Deuteronomy 31:9, compare Malachi 3:3, and ׳לֹא הָיוּ מִבְּנֵי ל 1 Kings 12:31; from the ׳בְּנֵי ל the Zadokites are selected as priests Ezekiel 40:46; according to 1 Chronicles 9:18; 1 Chronicles 23:24,27 ׳בְּנֵי ל are subordinate officials in temple (compare 1 Chronicles 23:28f.), compare 1 Chronicles 24:20; sharply distinguished from priests Ezra 8:15; Nehemiah 12:23 (compare Nehemiah 12:22); so also in later stratum of story of Korah's revolt Numbers 16:7,8,10 (P²).

2 as name of tribe, ׳שֵׁבֶט ל Deuteronomy 18:1 (priestly tribe), ׳מַטֵּה ל Numbers 1:49 (in charge of tabernacle), Numbers 3:6; Numbers 18:2 (ministers unto Aaron); לֵוִי alone = (tribe of) Levi Deuteronomy 27:12; Deuteronomy 33:8 (earlier poem), Numbers 26:58 (P), Ezekiel 48:31; Malachi 2:4 (priestly tribe, compare Malachi 2:1), 1 Chronicles 21:6; 1 Chronicles 27:17; ׳מַטֵּה ל =rod of (the tribe of) Levi Numbers 17:18 (P); also (no inheritance, because charged with service of tabernacle) Deuteronomy 10:9.

[לֵוָי] name, of a people Levite (Biblical Hebrew לִוֵי); — plural emphatic לויא Kt, לְוָאֵי Qr (K^{§§ 61, 6}); 52. d), Ezra 6:16,18; Ezra 7:13,24 (all + priests).

Meaning and Thematic Emphasis

Leah named her third son Levi, saying, “Now my husband will become attached to me” (Genesis 29:34). The idea of being “joined” or “attached” becomes a thematic thread: Levi is joined to his brothers in violent zeal (Genesis 34), the tribe is joined to the sanctuary in priestly service (Numbers 3:6-9), and ultimately joined to the covenant of life and peace (Malachi 2:4-5).

Birth and Early Narrative (Genesis)

Levi appears first as the third son of Jacob and Leah (Genesis 29:34). With Simeon he masterminds the retribution against Shechem (Genesis 34:25-31). Jacob’s dying words condemn that violence (“Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty…” Genesis 49:5-7), yet even this curse becomes a providential channel through which God later separates Levi from land inheritance and dedicates the tribe to sanctuary service.

Selection for Sanctuary Service (Exodus–Numbers)

When Israel sins with the golden calf, “Moses stood at the camp entrance and said, ‘Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.’ And all the Levites rallied to him” (Exodus 32:26). This decisive loyalty positions the tribe for sacred service. Numbers 1:47-53 exempts Levi from military census, assigning them to guard the tabernacle. Numbers 3–4 details their division into Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites, each family bearing specific tabernacle responsibilities.

Priestly and Levitical Duties

1. Guarding and transporting the sanctuary furnishings (Numbers 4).
2. Assisting Aaronic priests in sacrificial procedure (Numbers 8:13-19).
3. Teaching Israel the statutes (Deuteronomy 33:10; 2 Chronicles 17:8-9).
4. Acting as worship leaders and musicians (1 Chronicles 15:16-24).
5. Serving as gatekeepers, treasurers, and judges (1 Chronicles 26; 2 Chronicles 19:8-11).

Territorial Distribution and Cities

Levi received no contiguous territory; “The LORD is their inheritance” (Deuteronomy 10:9). Instead, forty-eight cities with pasturelands were allotted among the tribes, six being cities of refuge (Joshua 21). This dispersion fulfilled Jacob’s prophecy (“I will scatter them in Israel,” Genesis 49:7) while enabling spiritual influence throughout the nation.

Covenantal Blessing and Prophetic Role

Moses blessed Levi: “They will teach Your ordinances to Jacob… bless his substance, LORD” (Deuteronomy 33:8-11). Centuries later Malachi recalls that covenant: “My covenant with him was one of life and peace… True instruction was in his mouth” (Malachi 2:5-6). Failure of certain priests brings warning, yet the promise of a purified Levitical ministry endures (Malachi 3:3-4).

Historical Highlights after Settlement

• Levites lead worship when the ark is moved (1 Chronicles 15).
• Hezekiah’s reforms rely on Levites for cleansing the temple (2 Chronicles 29:12-36).
• Josiah stations Levites to teach and administer Passover (2 Chronicles 35:3-6).
• In Ezra-Nehemiah, Levites read the Law aloud and explain it so the people understand (Nehemiah 8:7-8).

Levi in Prophetic and Eschatological Perspective

Jeremiah 33:17-18 binds the permanence of the Levitical priesthood with the Davidic covenant, pointing forward to the ultimate Priest-King. Ezekiel 44–48 envisions a restored Levitical order in the millennial sanctuary. Both anticipate the consummate fulfillment of priesthood in Jesus Christ, “a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7), yet still affirm God’s faithfulness to promises given to Levi.

Representative Old Testament References (select)

Genesis 29:34; 34:25; 49:5-7

Exodus 6:16; 32:26-29

Leviticus 25:32-34

Numbers 1:47-53; 3:5-39; 8:5-26; 18:21-24

Deuteronomy 10:8-9; 18:1-8; 33:8-11

Joshua 13:14; 21:1-45

1 Chronicles 23:24-32; 24:20-31

2 Chronicles 5:11-14; 29:12-17; 35:3-6

Ezra 7:7; Nehemiah 8:7-9

Jeremiah 33:17-22

Ezekiel 44:10-16

Malachi 2:4-7; 3:3-4

Theological Significance

Levi embodies the principle that zeal, once surrendered to God, becomes sanctified service. The tribe’s dispersion, lack of land inheritance, and close association with worship underscore that spiritual ministry, not temporal possession, marks true blessing. Their covenant functions as a living witness to the holiness of God, mediating His instruction and foreshadowing the perfect mediation of Christ.

הַ֭לֵּוִי הַלֵּוִ֔י הַלֵּוִ֖י הַלֵּוִ֗י הַלֵּוִֽי׃ הלוי הלוי׃ וְלֵוִ֖י וְלֵוִ֜י וְלֵוִ֣י וְלֵוִי֙ וּלְלֵוִ֣י ולוי וללוי לְלֵוִ֖י לֵוִ֑י לֵוִ֔י לֵוִ֖י לֵוִ֛י לֵוִ֜י לֵוִ֣י לֵוִֽי׃ לֵוִי֒ לֵוִי֙ לֵוִי֩ לֵוִי֮ לוי לוי׃ ללוי hal·lê·wî halleVi hallêwî lə·lê·wî lê·wî leleVi ləlêwî leVi lêwî ū·lə·lê·wî uleleVi ūləlêwî veleVi wə·lê·wî wəlêwîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts