Levi
Israelite / Jew Hebrew; father of the tribe of Levi · Creation & Patriarchs · Old Testament
- Name means
- Joined; attached
- Role
- Third son of Jacob; ancestor of the priests and Levites
- When
- c. 1900 BC (traditional)
What they did
With Simeon he took cruel revenge on Shechem for their sister Dinah, and Jacob rebuked their anger.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
God in grace later set apart the tribe of Levi to bear the ark and minister before Him; Moses, Aaron and the priests came from Levi.
At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. Deuteronomy 10:8 (KJV)
Bible references
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. Genesis 29:34 (KJV)
And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. Genesis 34:25 (KJV)
Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. Genesis 49:5-7 (KJV)
And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years. Exodus 6:16 (KJV)
At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. Deuteronomy 10:8 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- Jacob
- Mother
- Leah
- Children
- Gershon, Kohath, Merari
- Brothers / sisters
- Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah; half-brothers Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher
Great-grandfather of Moses and Aaron through Kohath and Amram (Exodus 6:16-20).