Levi לֵוִי
Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites
Who is Levi in the Bible?
Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah, and he became the progenitor of the Levites, Israel's priestly tribe (Genesis 29:34). Along with his brother Simeon, Levi took violent revenge against the Shechemites for the rape of their sister Dinah, an act for which Jacob rebuked him on his deathbed (Genesis 34:25-31; 49:5-7). Levi fathered three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, whose descendants formed the three main divisions of the Levitical priesthood (Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16). After the incident at Mount Sinai, the Levites were set apart by God for sacred service in the tabernacle, receiving cities throughout Israel but no territorial inheritance (Exodus 32:26-29; Numbers 3:5-13; Joshua 21:1-42). The Levites' significance lies in their role as mediators between God and Israel, serving as priests, judges, and teachers throughout Israel's history, with notable members including Moses and Aaron.
Biography
Levi was the third son of Israel (or 'Jacob') and Leah (Gen.29.34). Along with his brother Simeon, he took revenge on the Shechemites for the rape of their sister Dinah (Gen.34.25-31). Jacob rebuked them for this act on his deathbed (Gen.49.5-7). Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari (Gen.46.11; Exo.6.16). His descendants, the Levites, were set apart as the priestly tribe (Exo.32.26-29; Num.3.5-13). They were responsible for the tabernacle and its services (Num.1.47-54; 3.14-39; 4.1-49; 8.5-26). The Levites were given cities throughout Israel, but no territorial inheritance (Num.35.1-8; Jos.21.1-42). Notable Levites include Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. The Levites are frequently mentioned in the historical and prophetic books of the Old Testament, as well as in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles. In the New Testament, Levites are mentioned in connection with the temple and its services (Luk.10.32; Jhn.1.19; Act.4.36). The Levitical priesthood is contrasted with the superior priesthood of Christ (Heb.7.1-28).
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Reuben Tribe of ReubenSon of IsraelFirstborn son of Jacob and LeahView full profile →
- Simeon Tribe of SimeonSon of IsraelSon of Jacob and Leah, one of the twelve tribes.View full profile →
- Judah Tribe of JudahSon of IsraelIsraelite tribe, kingdom, and provinceView full profile →
- Dan Tribe of DanSon of IsraelFifth son of Jacob, founder of Israelite tribeView full profile →
- Naphtali Tribe of NaphtaliSon of IsraelSon of Jacob, founder of the tribe of Naphtali.View full profile →
- Gad Tribe of GadSon of IsraelIsraelite tribe; descended from Gad, son of Jacob.View full profile →
- Asher Tribe of AsherSon of IsraelSon of Jacob and Zilpah, founder of the tribe of AsherView full profile →
- Issachar Tribe of IssacharSon of IsraelSon of Jacob and Leah, forefather of tribeView full profile →
- Zebulun Tribe of ZebulunSon of IsraelIsraelite tribe, son of Jacob and LeahView full profile →
- Dinah Early PatriarchJacob's daughterDaughter of Jacob and LeahView full profile →
- Joseph Early PatriarchJacob's sonSon of Jacob, ruler in EgyptView full profile →
- Benjamin Tribe of BenjaminSon of IsraelYoungest son of Jacob and RachelView full profile →
Offspring
- Gershon Tribe of LeviSon of LeviFirstborn son of Levi; head of the Gershonite Levites.View full profile →
- Kohath Tribe of LeviLevi's sonSon of Levi; Levite clan ancestorView full profile →
- Merari Tribe of LeviSon of LeviThe third son of Levi and founder of the Merarites.View full profile →
- Jochebed Tribe of LeviSister of GershonMother of Moses, Aaron, and MiriamView full profile →
In Scripture
24 biblical books ; 15 with study contentGenesis 5 verses
- Genesis 29:34
"Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 34:25
"Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 34:30
"Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 35:23
"The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 46:11
"The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."
Study Genesis →
Exodus 5 verses
- Exodus 1:2
"Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 2:1
"Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman,"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 6:16
"These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 32:26
"So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 32:28
"The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead."
Study Exodus →
Numbers 5 verses
- Numbers 1:49
"“Do not number the tribe of Levi in the census with the other Israelites."
- Numbers 3:15
"“Number the Levites by their families and clans. You are to count every male a month old or more.”"
- Numbers 3:17
"These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."
- Numbers 4:2
"“Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families,"
- Numbers 16:7
"and tomorrow you are to place fire and incense in them in the presence of the LORD. Then the man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. It is you sons of Levi who have taken too much upon yourselves!”"
Deuteronomy 5 verses
- Deuteronomy 10:8
"At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 18:1
"The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the food offerings to the LORD; that is their inheritance."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 21:5
"And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every dispute and case of assault."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 27:12
"“When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 33:8
"Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah."
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Joshua 3 verses
- Joshua 13:14
"To the tribe of Levi, however, Moses had given no inheritance. The food offerings to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, just as He had promised them."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 13:33
"To the tribe of Levi, however, Moses had given no inheritance. The LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, just as He had promised them."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 21:10
"to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them:"
Study Joshua →
1 Chronicles 5 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:1
"These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,"
- 1 Chronicles 6:1
"The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."
- 1 Chronicles 6:16
"The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari."
- 1 Chronicles 6:38
"the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel."
- 1 Chronicles 6:43
"the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | לֵוִי | Levi | Levi , a son of Jacob |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | לֵוִי | Levi | Levi , a son of Jacob |
| Aramaic | Hebrew | לֵוָי | — | — |
| Named | Hebrew | לֵוִי | lēwiyiy | a Levite or descendant of Levi |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | לֵוִי | lēwiyiy | a Levite or descendant of Levi |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | לֵוִי | lēwiyiy | a Levite or descendant of Levi |
| Greek | Greek | Λευΐ | — | — |
| Group | Greek | Λευΐτης | Leuḯtēs | a Levite, i.e. descendant of Levi |
| Group | Greek | Λευϊτικός | — | — |
Levi (2)
pressing assurance that with the birth of this third son, her husband might be drawn closer to her in the bonds of conjugal affection. There is a play upon the name in Nu 18:2,4, where direction is given that the tribe of Levi be "joined unto" Aaron in the ministries of the sanctuary. The etymology here suggested is simple and reasonable. The grounds on which some modern scholars reject it are purely conjectural. It is asserted, e.g., that the name is adjectival, not nominal, describing one who attaches himself; and this is used to support theory that the Levites were those who joined the Semitic people when they left Egypt to return to Palestine, who therefore were probably Egyptians. Others think it may be a gentilic form le'ah, "wild cow" (Wellhausen, Prolegomena, 146; Stade, Stade, Geschichte des Volkes Israel, 152); and this is held to be the more probable, as pointing to early totem worship!
Levi shared with Simeon the infamy incurred at Shechem by the treacherous slaughter of the Shechemites (Ge 34). Jacob's displeasure was expressed at the time (Ge 34:3), and the memory was still bitter to him in his last days (Ge 49:5 f). The fate predicted for the descendants of Simeon and Levi (Ge 49:7), in the case of the latter on account of the tribe's stedfast loyalty in a period of stern testing, was changed to a blessing (Ex 32:26). In later literature the action condemned by Jacob is mentioned with approval (Judith 9:2 ff). Levi was involved in his brothers' guilt with regard to Joseph (Ge 37), and shared their experiences in Egypt before Joseph made himself known (Ge 42; 43; 44; 45). Three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, were born to him in Canaan, and went down with the caravan to Egypt (Ge 46:11). Nothing further is known of the personal history of this patriarch. He died and found sepulture in Egypt. For the tribal history and possessions, see PRIESTS AND LEVITES.
W. Ewing
le-vi'-a-than (liwyathan (Job 41:1-34), from [~lawah, "to fold"; compare Arabic name of the wry neck, Iynx torquilla, abu-luwa, from kindred lawa, "to bend"):
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