Levi

"Adhesion", "Joined." The third son of Jacob and Leah. The origin of the name is found in Leah's words,1 "This time will my husband be joined [Heb. yillaweh] unto me." He is mentioned as taking a prominent part in avenging his sister Dinah,2 was cursed, and went to Egypt with his three sons.3 There he died at the age of 137.4

His descendants are called Levites.5 However, this name came to mean the priestly branch, i.e., descendants of Aaron.6 There are three Levitical lines: Kohathite, Gershonite, and Merarite.7

Levi is also the original name of Matthew.8

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References

Notes

  1. Gen. 29:34.
  2. Gen. 34:25-31.
  3. Gen. 46:11.
  4. Ex. 6:16.
  5. Ex. 6:16-25.
  6. Josh. 3:3; 1 Kin. 8:4; Ezek. 2:70; John 1:19.
  7. Num. 3:17.
  8. Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27, 29.

Sources

  • Holy Bible (King James Version). 1979. Nashville: Holman Bible Publisher.
  • Easton, M.G. (1897). Easton's Bible Dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers.