לֵוִי
Levi, a son of Jacob
Definition
Levi is the third son of Jacob and Leah, born at Paddan Aram (Genesis 29:34). His name, meaning 'attached,' prophetically foreshadows the tribe's future role as priests attached to God's service. While the individual Levi is a patriarch, the name primarily refers to the tribe descended from him, which was set apart for priestly duties and temple service instead of receiving a territorial inheritance in Canaan (Numbers 18:20-24). In later biblical books, 'Levi' can also refer to the priestly tribe in general, including both the Aaronic priests and the Levitical assistants (Deuteronomy 10:8-9).
Biblical Usage
The name 'Levi' is used 61 times in the Old Testament. It first appears in Genesis, referring to the son of Jacob and his violent actions with Simeon at Shechem (Genesis 34:25-30). In Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, and the historical books, it predominantly denotes the priestly tribe, detailing their duties, cities, and inheritance (Numbers 3:5-10). The prophets Malachi and Jeremiah reference Levi in the context of God's covenant with the priesthood (Malachi 2:4-8).
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root לָוָה (lāvâ, H3867), meaning 'to join, be attached, or accompany.' The name is a passive participle, signifying 'one who is attached.' This etymology is explicitly noted in Genesis 29:34, where Leah names her son Levi, saying, 'Now this time my husband will be attached to me.' The meaning developed from a personal name to represent a tribe 'attached' to Yahweh for sacred service.
Semantic Range
Levi is central to the Old Testament theology of priesthood and atonement. God chose the tribe of Levi, specifically through Aaron, to mediate His presence, offer sacrifices, and instruct Israel in the law (Deuteronomy 33:8-10). This establishes a pattern of divine election and substitutionary service, as the Levites took the place of the firstborn (Numbers 3:11-13). The covenant with Levi (Malachi 2:4-5) and its failures point forward to the perfect priesthood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:11-28). Understanding 'Levi' enriches reading by highlighting God's provision for holiness and the need for a greater mediator.
In ancient Israel, being from the tribe of Levi defined one's entire social and religious role. Unlike other tribes, they received no large land allotment but were given 48 cities scattered among the other tribes (Joshua 21). Their livelihood came from tithes and offerings in return for their service at the tabernacle/temple, teaching the law, and maintaining ritual purity. This made them a dependent, mobile class of religious professionals, central to the nation's worship system but without a territory of their own—a significant cultural difference from modern understandings of tribe or profession.
לֵוִיִּי (Lêvîyîy, H3881) — An adjective meaning 'Levite,' specifically a member of the tribe of Levi. כֹּהֵן (kōhēn, H3548) — A priest, specifically from the line of Aaron within the tribe of Levi. לָוָה (lāvâ, H3867) — The root verb meaning 'to join' or 'be attached,' from which Levi's name is derived.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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