Levi (ancestor of Jesus)

Excerpt from the Lexham Bible Dictionary, the most advanced Bible dictionary.

The third son of Jacob and Leah (Gen 29:34). Took part in violently avenging the rape of his sister Dinah (Gen 34). Became the eponym for the Levites (Gen 35:23–26; Exod 1:2–4; Deut 27:12–13; Ezek 48:31–35; and 1 Chr 2:1–2).

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The Lexham Bible Dictionary

Levi, Son of Jacob

Levi, Son of Jacob The third son of Jacob and Leah (Gen 29:34). Took part in violently avenging the rape of his sister Dinah (Gen 34). Became the eponym for the Levites (Gen 35:23–26; Exod 1:2–4; Deut 27:12–13; Ezek 48:31–35; and 1 Chr 2:1–2).

Levi, Son of Simeon

Levi, Son of Simeon (Λευί, Leui). Found in the genealogy of Jesus as an ancestor of Joseph (Luke 3:29).

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary

Levi (Person)

LEVI (PERSON) [Heb lēwı̂ (לֵוִי)]. The name of 4 people in the Bible. The meaning of the name is uncertain. Popular etymology in the Bible for the name is “to be joined” (Gen 29:34; Num 18:2, 4). More recent suggestions have included “to coil or twist” from Ar lawa, “to borrow” from Heb lwy, “priest”

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible

Levi (Person)

Levi (Person). 1. Jacob’s third son by Leah (Gn 29:34). The etymology of the name is uncertain. Levi’s name is associated with the tragedy at Shechem, where the male inhabitants of the city were ruthlessly murdered when Levi and Simeon sought to avenge the violation of their sister Dinah by Shechem the

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised

Levi

Levi leʹvī [Heb. lēwî; Gk. Leui]; AV Apoc. also LEVIS (1 Esd. 9:14). In 1 Esd. 9:14 the AV and NEB follow the LXX (kaí Leuis, “and Levi[s]”), but this reading is probably an error for ho Leuitēs, “the Levite” (so RSV; cf. Ezr. 10:15; Neh. 8:7).

Tyndale Bible Dictionary

Levi (Person)

LEVI (Person)1. Jacob’s third son by Leah (Gn 29:34). The etymology of the name is uncertain. Levi’s name is associated with the tragedy at Shechem, where the male inhabitants of the city were ruthlessly murdered when Levi and Simeon sought to avenge the violation of their sister Dinah by Shechem the

The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated)

Levi

Levi (lee´vi; Heb., “joined”).1 The third son of Jacob and Leah. Leah gave him the name Levi, because when he was born, she said, “Now my husband will be joined to me, for I have borne him three sons” (Gen. 29:34; cf. 29:20).2 The tribe descended from 1 above. The connection with Leah associated the

The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia

Levi

LEVI1. The third son born to Leah and Jacob. The word probably is related to the verb lāvāh. “to be joined to.” When the boy was born, Leah declared that perhaps her husband might be disposed to draw even nearer to her (Gen 29:34). The brothers of Levi were Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition

Levi

LEVI. The third son of Jacob and Leah (Gn. 29:34). The name (Heb. lēwî is here linked with the root lāwâ (to join), and a play upon this meaning is found in Nu. 18:2, 4.The only detail of his life known to us, apart from those events common to all Jacob’s sons, is his treacherous attack on Shechem

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible

Levi

Levi (Heb. lēwɩ̂; Gk. Leuɩ́)1. The eponymous ancestor of the tribe of Levi and the Levites; the third son of Jacob by his first wife Leah (Gen. 29:34). At his birth Leah says, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me,” suggesting an etymology for Levi of “to be joined, attached.” This is consistent

Catholic Bible Dictionary

Levi

LEVI, LEVITES Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah (Gen 29:34) and the ancestor of the tribe of Levi (Exod 6:16–25; Deut 33:8–11; 1 Chr 6:1–81). For most of biblical history, the tribe of Levi is set apart as the clerical tribe in Israel, entrusted with all matters related to worship and religious

Smith’s Bible Dictionary

Levi

Le´vi (joined).1. The name of the third son of Jacob by his wife Leah. (b.c. about 1753.) The name, derived from lâváh, “to adhere,” gave utterance to the hope of the mother that the affections of her husband, which had hitherto rested on the favored Rachel, would at last be drawn to her: “This time

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