Greek word · G3019

Λευΐτης

leuitēs

Levite

A member of the tribe of Levi who was not a descendant of Aaron. In the Second Temple period Levites served the temple as singers, gatekeepers and assistants to the priests, serving in rotation. Many lived away from Jerusalem for most of the year, including in the diaspora.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Λευείτης

(Rec. Λευΐτης), -ου, ὁ [in LXX for לֵוִיִּי ;]

a Levite: Luke 10:32, John 1:19, Acts 4:36.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 4:36

Range of meaning

A member of the tribe of Levi who was not a descendant of Aaron. In the Second Temple period Levites served the temple as singers, gatekeepers and assistants to the priests, serving in rotation. Many lived away from Jerusalem for most of the year, including in the diaspora.

Against the English

English 'Levite' is accurate. A modern reader may not know the status it implied or the old land rule attached to it.

Used elsewhere in the period

Num 18:20–24 and Deut 10:9; 18:1–2: Levi has 'no portion or inheritance' in land and lives on tithes. In practice this was not absolute. Jeremiah, from a priestly family, buys a field at Anathoth (Jer 32:6–15), and Josephus, a priest, mentions owning land (Life 422). Levites also appear in the Gospels (Luke 10:32; John 1:19).

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 10:32 Λευίτης a Levite

    So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.

John · 1

  1. John 1:19 Λευίτας Levites

    And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”

    Here: Members of the tribe of Levi who were not priests. They served as temple assistants, guards and singers, and sometimes as teachers of the Law. This is the only mention of Levites in John.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 4:36 Λευίτης, a Levite,

    Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),

    Here: Born into the tribe of Levi, the hereditary temple servants below the priests. It marks his family as religiously respected. It also makes it notable that he owns a field, since the Torah gave Levites no tribal land (Num 18:20–24; Deut 10:9).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.