Topical Bible: Levite

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Easton's Bible Dictionary

A descendant of the tribe of Levi (Exodus 6:25; Leviticus 25:32; Numbers 35:2; Joshua 21:3, 41). This name is, however, generally used as the title of that portion of the tribe which was set apart for the subordinate offices of the sanctuary service (1 Kings 8:4; Ezra 2:70), as assistants to the priests.

When the Israelites left Egypt, the ancient manner of worship was still observed by them, the eldest son of each house inheriting the priest's office. At Sinai the first change in this ancient practice was made. A hereditary priesthood in the family of Aaron was then instituted (Exodus 28:1). But it was not till that terrible scene in connection with the sin of the golden calf that the tribe of Levi stood apart and began to occupy a distinct position (Exodus 32). The religious primogeniture was then conferred on this tribe, which henceforth was devoted to the service of the sanctuary (Numbers 3:11-13). They were selected for this purpose because of their zeal for the glory of God (Exodus 32:26), and because, as the tribe to which Moses and Aaron belonged, they would naturally stand by the lawgiver in his work.

The Levitical order consisted of all the descendants of Levi's three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; whilst Aaron, Amram's son (Amram, son of Kohat), and his issue constituted the priestly order.

The age and qualification for Levitical service are specified in Numbers 4:3, 23, 30, 39, 43, 47.

They were not included among the armies of Israel (Numbers 1:47; 2:33; 26:62), but were reckoned by themselves. They were the special guardians of the tabernacle (Numbers 1:51; 18:22-24). The Gershonites pitched their tents on the west of the tabernacle (3:23), the Kohathites on the south (3:29), the Merarites on the north (3:35), and the priests on the east (3:38). It was their duty to move the tent and carry the parts of the sacred structure from place to place. They were given to Aaron and his sons the priests to wait upon them and do work for them at the sanctuary services (Numbers 8:19; 18:2-6).

As being wholly consecrated to the service of the Lord, they had no territorial possessions. Jehovah was their inheritance (Numbers 18:20; 26:62; Deuteronomy 10:9; 18:1, 2), and for their support it was ordained that they should receive from the other tribes the tithes of the produce of the land. Forty-eight cities also were assigned to them, thirteen of which were for the priests "to dwell in", i.e., along with their other inhabitants. Along with their dwellings they had "suburbs", i.e., "commons", for their herds and flocks, and also fields and vineyards (Numbers 35:2-5). Nine of these cities were in Judah, three in Naphtali, and four in each of the other tribes (Joshua 21). Six of the Levitical cities were set apart as "cities of refuge" (q.v.). Thus the Levites were scattered among the tribes to keep alive among them the knowledge and service of God. (see PRIEST.)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) One of the tribe or family of Levi; a descendant of Levi; esp., one subordinate to the priests (who were of the same tribe) and employed in various duties connected with the tabernacle first, and afterward the temple, such as the care of the building, bringing of wood and other necessaries for the sacrifices, the music of the services, etc.

2. (n.) A priest; -- so called in contempt or ridicule.

Greek

3019. Leuites -- a Levite, a descendant of Levi
... a Levite, a descendant of Levi. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Leuites Phonetic Spelling: (lyoo-ee'-tace) Short Definition: a Levite Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3019.htm - 6k

3009. leitourgia -- a service, a ministry
... ah) Short Definition: a charitable gift, public service Definition: a charitable
gift, public service in the widest sense; service as of priest or Levite ritual ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3009.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

4187. Mushi -- "sensitive," a Levite
... 4186, 4187. Mushi or Mushshi. 4188 . "sensitive," a Levite. Transliteration:
Mushi or Mushshi Phonetic Spelling: (moo-shee') Short Definition: Mushi. ...
/hebrew/4187.htm - 6k

2792. Cheresh -- a Levite
... Cheresh. 2793 . a Levite. Transliteration: Cheresh Phonetic Spelling: (kheh'-resh)
Short Definition: Heresh. ... The same as cheresh -- Cheresh, a Levite -- Heresh ...
/hebrew/2792.htm - 6k

2381. Chaziel -- "vision of God," a Levite
... 2380, 2381. Chaziel. 2382 . "vision of God," a Levite. Transliteration: Chaziel
Phonetic Spelling: (khaz-ee-ale') Short Definition: Haziel. ...
/hebrew/2381.htm - 6k

2621. Chosah -- a Levite, also a place in Asher
... 2620, 2621. Chosah. 2622 . a Levite, also a place in Asher. Transliteration:
Chosah Phonetic Spelling: (kho-saw') Short Definition: Hosah. ...
/hebrew/2621.htm - 6k

3815. Lael -- "belonging to God," a Levite
... 3814, 3815. Lael. 3816 . "belonging to God," a Levite. Transliteration:
Lael Phonetic Spelling: (law-ale') Short Definition: Lael. ...
/hebrew/3815.htm - 6k

7501. Rephael -- "God has cured," a Levite
... 7500, 7501. Rephael. 7502 . "God has cured," a Levite. Transliteration: Rephael
Phonetic Spelling: (ref-aw-ale') Short Definition: Rephael. ...
/hebrew/7501.htm - 6k

3360. Yeqamam -- "may kinsman establish," a Levite
... 3359, 3360. Yeqamam. 3361 . "may kinsman establish," a Levite. Transliteration:
Yeqamam Phonetic Spelling: (yek-am'-awm) Short Definition: Jekameam. ...
/hebrew/3360.htm - 6k

3496. Yathniel -- "God hires," a Levite
... 3495, 3496. Yathniel. 3497 . "God hires," a Levite. Transliteration: Yathniel
Phonetic Spelling: (yath-nee-ale') Short Definition: Jathniel. ...
/hebrew/3496.htm - 6k

6934. Qadmiel -- "God is the ancient one," a Levite name
... 6933, 6934. Qadmiel. 6935 . "God is the ancient one," a Levite name.
Transliteration: Qadmiel Phonetic Spelling: (kad-mee-ale') Short Definition: Kadmiel. ...
/hebrew/6934.htm - 6k

1229. Baqbuqyah -- "emptying of Yah," a Levite
... 1228, 1229. Baqbuqyah. 1230 . "emptying of Yah," a Levite. Transliteration:
Baqbuqyah Phonetic Spelling: (bak-book-yaw') Short Definition: Bakbukiah. ...
/hebrew/1229.htm - 6k

Library

The Crime Committed by the Inhabitants of Gibeah against the Wife ...
... Book III. Chapter XIX. The crime committed by the inhabitants of Gibeah
against the wife of a certain Levite? The crime committed ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xix the crime committed.htm

And Phinees a Priest, and Adas a Teacher, and Haggai a Levite...
... Part I."The Acts of Pilate. First Greek Form. Chapter 14. And Phinees
a priest, and Adas a teacher, and Haggai a Levite? And ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /chapter 14 and phinees a.htm

In Short, what Patriarch, what Prophet, what Levite, or Priest...
... Chapter IX. In short, what patriarch, what prophet, what Levite, or priest?
In short, what patriarch, what prophet, what Levite ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter ix in short what.htm

The Good Samaritan
... And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed
by on the other side." Luke 10:30-32, RV This was no imaginary scene, but an ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 54 the good samaritan.htm

The Whole Church Affected by what Has Occurred.
... It happened that a certain Levite [444] was injured in the person of his wife; and,
when he considered the exceeding greatness of the pollution (for the woman ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 1 the whole church.htm

"Who is My Neighbor?"
... service at all. We read that a Levite next came along the highway where this
wounded man was lying in his helplessness. As he passed ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/moody/to the work to the work/chapter viii who is my.htm

Parable of the Good Samaritan.
... He did this although the law commanded mercy and help to a neighbor"Exodus 23:4;
Deuteronomy 22:1-4.] 32 And in like manner a Levite also [A temple minister. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxiv parable of the good.htm

Neighbours Far Off
... side.32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked
on him, and passed by on the other side.33. But a certain ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/neighbours far off.htm

The Good Samaritan.
... side of the road. Then there came by a Levite, who also, as an official
of the church, should have given help. But he merely came ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the new testament/the good samaritan.htm

And Finees a Certain Priest, and Addas a Teacher...
... And Finees a certain priest, and Addas a teacher, and Egias a Levite, coming down
from Galilee to Jerusalem, reported to the rulers of the synagogue, and the ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /chapter 14 and finees a.htm

Thesaurus

Levite (43 Occurrences)
...Levite (43 Occurrences). Luke 10:32 In the same way a Levite also, when he
came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. ...
/l/levite.htm - 26k

Shemaiah (40 Occurrences)
... (4.) A priest (Nehemiah 12:42). (5.) A Levite (1 Chronicles 9:16). ... (8.) A Levite
(1 Chronicles 24:6). (9.) The eldest son of Obed-edom (1 Chronicles 26:4-8). ...
/s/shemaiah.htm - 29k

Shebaniah (7 Occurrences)
... (1.) A Levite appointed to blow the trumpet before the ark of God (1 Chronicles
15:24). (2.) Another Levite (Nehemiah 9:4, 5). ... (4.) A Levite (Nehemiah 10:4). ...
/s/shebaniah.htm - 10k

Elkanah (20 Occurrences)
... (2.) Another Levite of the line of Heman the singer, although he does not
seem to have performed any of the usual Levitical offices. ...
/e/elkanah.htm - 14k

Amariah (14 Occurrences)
... of the line of Ithamar. (2.) A Levite, son of Hebron, of the lineage of Moses
(1 Chronicles 23:19; 24:23). (3.) A "chief priest" who ...
/a/amariah.htm - 14k

Rejoiced (83 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). Exodus 4:14 And the anger of Jehovah burneth against
Moses, and He saith, 'Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? ...
/r/rejoiced.htm - 33k

Kore (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Partridge. (1.) A Levite and temple-warder of
the Korahites, the son of Asaph. He was father of Shallum ...
/k/kore.htm - 10k

Kish (18 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A bow. (1.) A Levite of the family of Merari (1 Chronicles
23:21; 24:29). ... (3.) A Levite in the time of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:12). ...
/k/kish.htm - 15k

Orphan (25 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 14:29 and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with
you, and the foreigner living among you, and the fatherless, and the widow ...
/o/orphan.htm - 15k

Obed-edom (16 Occurrences)
... (1.) "The Gittite" (probably so called because he was a native of Gath-rimmon),
a Levite of the ... He is probably the same as the Levite of 1 Chronicles 15:25. ...
/o/obed-edom.htm - 15k

Resources

What can we learn from the story of the Levite and his concubine? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Gibeah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Dathan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Levite: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Levite (43 Occurrences)

Luke 10:32
In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 4:36
Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 2:1
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
(See NIV)

Exodus 4:14
The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Moses, and he said, "What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he comes forth to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 6:25
Eleazar Aaron's son took one of the daughters of Putiel as his wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites according to their families.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 25:33
The Levites may redeem the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, and it shall be released in the Jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 3:20
The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 18:23
But the Levites shall do the service of the Tent of Meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations; and among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 26:57
These are those who were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 26:58
These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.
(Root in KJV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Deuteronomy 12:12
You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God, you, and your sons, and your daughters, and your male servants, and your female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 12:18
but you shall eat them before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates: and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God in all that you put your hand to.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 12:19
Take heed to yourself that you don't forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 14:27
The Levite who is within your gates, you shall not forsake him; for he has no portion nor inheritance with you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 14:29
and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the foreigner living among you, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 16:11
and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates, and the foreigner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are in the midst of you, in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 16:14
and you shall rejoice in your feast, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite, and the foreigner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 18:6
If a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel, where he lives as a foreigner, and comes with all the desire of his soul to the place which Yahweh shall choose;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 26:11
You shall rejoice in all the good which Yahweh your God has given to you, and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the foreigner who is in the midst of you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 26:12
When you have made an end of tithing all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 26:13
You shall say before Yahweh your God, "I have put away the holy things out of my house, and also have given them to the Levite, and to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all your commandment which you have commanded me: I have not transgressed any of your commandments, neither have I forgotten them:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 17:7
There was a young man out of Bethlehem Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he sojourned there.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 17:9
Micah said to him, "Where did you come from?" He said to him, "I am a Levite of Bethlehem Judah, and I am looking for a place to live."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 17:10
Micah said to him, "Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver per year, a suit of clothing, and your food." So the Levite went in.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS)

Judges 17:11
The Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was to him as one of his sons.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 17:12
Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 17:13
Then said Micah, "Now know I that Yahweh will do good to me, seeing I have a Levite to my priest."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 18:3
When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; and they turned aside there, and said to him, "Who brought you here? What do you do in this place? What do you have here?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 18:15
They turned aside there, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even to the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 19:1
It happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehem Judah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 20:4
The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, "I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 6:19
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:33
These are the singers, heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, who lived in the chambers and were
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:34
These were heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men: these lived at Jerusalem.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 15:22
Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the song: he instructed about the song, because he was skillful.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 24:6
Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers' house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 27:17
Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:
(Root in KJV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 20:14
Then on Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of Yahweh in the midst of the assembly;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 31:12
They brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: and over them Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was second.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 31:14
Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east gate, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the offerings of Yahweh, and the most holy things.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 8:33
On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 10:15
Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this matter : and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 13:13
I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Levite

Minneiah

Related Terms

Shemaiah (40 Occurrences)

Shebaniah (7 Occurrences)

Elkanah (20 Occurrences)

Amariah (14 Occurrences)

Rejoiced (83 Occurrences)

Kore (4 Occurrences)

Kish (18 Occurrences)

Orphan (25 Occurrences)