Numbers 4:18 — Word Study
WLCאַל־ תַּכְרִ֕יתוּ אֶת־ שֵׁ֖בֶט מִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת הַקְּהָתִ֑י מִתּ֖וֹךְ הַלְוִיִּֽם׃
BSADo notʼal [under no circumstances] allow the KohathiteQŏhâthîy [descendants of Kohath, a Levite] tribalshêbeṭ clansmishpâchâh [family groups, tribes] to be cut offkârath▸ [destroyed, eliminated] from amongtâvek the LevitesLêvîyîy [the tribe of Levi, descended from Jacob's son]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אַל־ | may not | Particle |
| תַּכְרִ֕יתוּ | you cut off | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect second person masculine plural |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| שֵׁ֖בֶט | [the] tribe of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| מִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת | [the] clans of | Noun common, feminine plural construct |
| הַקְּהָתִ֑י | the Kohathite[s] | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
| מִתּ֖וֹךְ | from among | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ | the Levites | Particle, noun gentilic masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | “Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites. |
| KJV | Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites: |
| ASV | Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites; |
| YLT | 'Ye do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathite from the midst of the Levites; |
| WEB | “Don’t cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites; |
| BBE | Do not let the family of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites; |
Where they part company is תַּכְרִ֕יתוּ — see How Translations Differ.
The structure consists of a main clause prohibiting an action, followed by a noun phrase detailing what should not be cut off and a prepositional phrase indicating the source.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbכָּרַת
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Numbers 4:18
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Instructions for the Kohathitesgenerated
Numbers 4:18 is part of a series of commands given by the LORD to Moses and Aaron concerning the responsibilities of the Levites, particularly the Kohathites. This instruction emphasizes the importance of maintaining the Kohathite clans within the tribe of Levi, who were tasked with specific duties related to the care of the tabernacle and its sacred objects. The context highlights God's concern for the proper functioning and preservation of the priestly lineage.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 16:32 | and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions. |
| 2 | Numbers 17:10 | The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.” |
| 3 | Numbers 18:5 | And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again. |
| 4 | Exodus 19:21 | and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish. |
| 5 | Leviticus 10:1–2 | Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תַּכְרִ֕יתוּ, takh.Ri.tugenerated
The verb כָּרַת (karath) means to cut off or destroy, but it also carries the connotation of making a covenant. In this context, it is a prohibition against eliminating the Kohathite clans, underscoring their vital role among the Levites.
The Hiphil form indicates causation, suggesting that the Kohathites are to be preserved actively. The use of this verb in a negative command emphasizes the seriousness of the instruction, as the Kohathites were essential for the service of the tabernacle.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses cut off to convey the meaning of תַּכְרִ֕יתוּ.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is תַּכְרִ֕יתוּ, you cut off, which governs the entire sentence. The structure includes a noun phrase indicating the object, followed by a prepositional phrase that specifies the context of the action.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the prohibition, with the negative particle אַל (al) leading the sentence, highlighting the importance of the command.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תַּכְרִ֕יתוּ with ὀλεθρεύσητε (i.e., you will destroy), which conveys a similar meaning of destruction. This choice reflects a strong interpretation of the command, emphasizing the consequences of failing to heed it.
The Greek rendering captures the gravity of the instruction, aligning with the Hebrew context of preserving the Kohathite clans.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 4:18 instructs Moses and Aaron not to allow the Kohathite clans to be cut off from the Levites. This command emphasizes the importance of the Kohathites' role within the tribe of Levi, ensuring they remain intact to fulfill their duties related to the tabernacle.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The Kohathites had specific responsibilities related to the care of the tabernacle and its sacred objects, making their preservation crucial for the proper functioning of the priestly duties.
The verb implies destruction or elimination, indicating that the Kohathite clans should not be removed or harmed in any way.
This command shows God's desire to maintain order and functionality within the priestly tribe, ensuring that all clans fulfill their designated roles.
This instruction highlights the importance of each group's role within a community, emphasizing that every member has a purpose and should be preserved.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways I can support and preserve the roles of others in my community?
- How does understanding the importance of each tribe's function help us appreciate our own roles?
- In what ways can we ensure that we do not overlook or neglect those who serve important functions in our lives?
- What lessons can we draw from God's instructions about maintaining order and purpose within our communities?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 4:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleCut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites.
Read John Gill on Numbers 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Cut ye not off ... - a solemn admonition to Moses and Aaron to beware, lest, by any negligence on their part, disorder and improprieties should
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 4 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. Do not by your neglect provoke God to cut them off for touching the holy things.
Read Matthew Poole on Numbers 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsNumbers 4:18 Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:Ver. 18. Cut ye not off,] i.e., Cause them not, by your default, to be cut off. Heed must be taken, that we neither give offence carelessly, nor take offence causelessly.
Read John Trapp on Numbers 4 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18) Cut ye not off the tribe . . . —The word shebet (tribe) is here used in a very peculiar sense, and denotes one division only of the tribe of Levi. In this and the following verses the injunction already given (Numbers 5:15) is renewed, and Moses and Aaron are charged not to be guilty of such negligence in respect of it as might expose the Kohathites to death in consequence of their unlawful treatment of the holy things. Moses and Aaron might be said to do that which would be the result of their negligence. In like manner St. Paul enjoins the Roman Christians in these words: “Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died” (Romans 14:15).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Numbers 4 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible18. Cut ye not off… the Kohathites — Hebrews, Cause ye not to cut off, etc.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 4 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
“Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites.
“Don’t cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;
“Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites.
“Do not allow the tribe of the families of the Kohathites to be cut off from among the Levites;
Tyndale line
Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;
Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
Ye shall not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Leuites:
Strictly literal
Ye shall not cut off the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites,
'Ye do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathite from the midst of the Levites;
“You do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathite from the midst of the Levites;
Do ye not cause the tribe of the families of the Kehathites to be cut off from among the Levites;
“Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be removed from among the Levites.
From the Latin
Destroy not the people of Caath from the midst of the Levites:
Simplified
“Make sure the families of Kohath are not wiped out from the Levites.
Do not let the family of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word in this verse, affirming the preservation of the Kohathite clans among the Levites. The Septuagint, while translating the verse, presents a different word order but maintains the essential meaning.
אַל־ תַּכְרִ֕יתוּ אֶת־ שֵׁ֖בֶט מִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת הַקְּהָתִ֑י מִתּ֖וֹךְ הַלְוִיִּֽם׃
6 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
אל תכריתו את שׁבט משׁפחת הקהתי מתוך הלוים
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Numbers 4:18
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.
אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
base
H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
408 'al al
a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified
negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,
nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing
(worth), rather than.
see HEBREW for 03808
אַל (al) — not.
1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)
1a) do not, let not (with a verb)
1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)
1c) not, no (with substantive)
1d) nothing (as substantive)
Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Part — ParticleHTn
כָּרַת (karath) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cut off, cut down, or make a covenant. It encompasses a range of actions from physically cutting to forming alliances, often implying destruction or elimination. The verb appears in various forms, indicating different nuances such as being cut off or destroyed. Notably, it can also refer to the act of making a covenant, which traditionally involved cutting flesh.
כָּרַת 291 vb. cut off, cut down
Qal
cut off
cut down
hew, timber
cut, or make a covenant
Niph.
be cut off
be cut down
be chewed between the teeth
be cut off, in a more general sense fail
Pual
be cut off
be cut down
Hiph.
cut off, flattering lips
cut off, destroy the life of
cut down, destroy, cities
take away
permit to perish
base
H3772 כָּרַת cut off, cut down .. cut off
. cut down
. hew, timber
. cut, or make a covenant
. . be cut off
. be cut down
. be chewed between the teeth
. be cut off, in a more general sense fail
.. be cut off
. be cut down
. . cut off, flattering lips
. cut off, destroy the life of
. cut down, destroy, cities
. take away
. permit to perish
3772 karath kaw-rath'
a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by
implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant
(i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh
and passing between the pieces):--be chewed, be
con-(feder-)ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail,
feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league ((covenant)), X
lose, perish, X utterly, X want.
כָּרַת (ka.rat) — to cut: cut.
: cut/fell
1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cut off
1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead
1a2) to cut down
1a3) to hew
1a4) to cut or make a covenant
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be cut off
1b2) to be cut down
1b3) to be chewed
1b4) to be cut off, fail
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be cut off
1c2) to be cut down
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cut off
1d2) to cut off, destroy
1d3) to cut down, destroy
1d4) to take away
1d5) to permit to perish
1e) (Hophal) cut off
כָּרַת (ka.rat) — to cut: make(covenant).
: make(covenant)
1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cut off
1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead
1a2) to cut down
1a3) to hew
1a4) to cut or make a covenant
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be cut off
1b2) to be cut down
1b3) to be chewed
1b4) to be cut off, fail
V-Hiphil-Juss-2mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine pluralHVhi2mp
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
שֵׁ֫בֶט (shebet) refers to both a physical object and a social group. It can mean a rod, staff, or sceptre, often associated with authority or punishment, as well as a tribe or clan. The word is built from a root likely meaning to branch off, indicating both literal and figurative uses.
שֵׁ֫בֶט 189 n.m. 1. rod, staff, club, sceptre. 2. tribe
base
H7626 שֵׁ֫בֶט 1. rod, staff, club, sceptre. 2. tribe
7626 shebet shay'-bet
from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion,
i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting,
ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan:--X
correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: staff.
: staff
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)
1e) clan, tribe
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe.
: tribe
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)
1e) clan, tribe
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: javelin.
: javelin
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)
1e) clan, tribe
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: ruler.
: ruler
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah) refers to a clan or family, encompassing a circle of relatives and extending to tribes or peoples. It can also denote a class of persons, species of animals, or kinds of things. The entries highlight its various uses, including guilds and aristocrats, but do not present any significant disagreement.
מִשְׁפָּחָה 303 n.f. clan
clan
= guild
= species, kind
pl. = aristocrats
base
H4940 מִשְׁפָּחָה clan . clan
. = guild
. = species, kind
. pl. = aristocrats
4940 mishpachah mish-paw-khaw'
from 8192 (compare 8198); a family, i.e. circle of relatives;
figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or
sort (of things); by extens. a tribe or people:--family,
kind(-red).
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 08198
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mish.pa.chah) — family.
1) clan, family
1a) clan
1a1) family
1a2) tribe
1a3) people, nation
1b) guild
1c) species, kind
1d) aristocrats
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural constructHNcfpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
קְהָתִי (Qohathiy) refers to a Kohathite, a descendant of Kohath, who was a member of the tribe of Levi. This term is used collectively to describe the descendants of Kohath, the second son of Levi, and is first mentioned in Genesis 46:11. The word is built from the root for Kohath (קְהָת), indicating a familial connection.
קְהָתִי adj.gent. of foreg. [s.ap.ai]. c. art. הַקּ׳ as subst. coll.
base
H6956 קְהָתִי, קֳהָתִי
6956 Qohathiy ko-haw-thee'
patronymically from 6955; a Kohathite (collectively) or
descendants of Kehath:--Kohathites.
see HEBREW for 06955
קְהָתִי (qo.ha.ti) — Kohathite.
Someone descended from Kohath who was a man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.11;
son of: Levi (H3878);
brother of: Gershon (H1648), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115);
father of: Amram (H6019), Izhar (H3324), Hebron (H2275B) and Uzziel (H5816)
Group of qe.hat (קְהָת "Kohath" H6955)
§ Kohathites, of Kohath "assembly"
the descendants of Kohath, the 2nd son of Levi
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
תָּ֫וֶךְ (tavek) means 'midst' or 'middle,' indicating a central position or location. It can also imply being 'among' or 'between' things, particularly in contexts involving separation or division. The term appears in various forms, such as 'into' or 'through,' especially after verbs of motion.
תָּ֫וֶךְ 416 subst. midst
base
H8432 תָּ֫וֶךְ subst. midst
8432 tavek taw'-vek
from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by
implication) the centre:--among(-st), X between, half, X
(there- ,where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among),
X out (of), X through, X with(-in).
תָּ֫וֶךְ (ta.vekh) — midst.
1) midst, middle
1a) midst, middle
1b) into, through (after verbs of motion)
1c) among (of a number of persons)
1d) between (of things arranged by twos)
1e) from among (as to take or separate etc)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
AMONG',
AMONGST', preposition [Gr. See Mingle.]
1. In a general or primitive sense, mixed or mingled with; as tares among wheat.
2. Conjoined or associated with, or making part of the number.
Blessed art thou among women. Luke 1:1.
3. Of the number; as, there is not one among a thousand, possessing the like qualities.
{ A‐mong″ , A‐mongst″ , } prep. [OE. amongist, amonges, amonge, among, AS. onmang, ongemang, gemang, in a crowd or mixture. For the ending -st see Amidst. See Mingle.] 1. Mixed or mingled; surrounded by.
They heard,
And from his presence hid themselves among
The thickest trees.
Milton.
2. Conjoined, or associated with, or making part of the number of; in the number or class of.
Blessed art thou among women.
Luke i. 28.
3. Expressing a relation of dispersion, distribution, etc.; also, a relation of reciprocal action.
What news among the merchants?
Shak.
לֵוִי (Leviy) refers to a Levite, a member of the tribe of Levi, which is the third son of Jacob and Leah. This term encompasses the descendants of Levi, who were set apart for religious duties. The word is linked to the Hebrew root for 'joining,' reflecting the tribe's special role in service to God. It first appears in Genesis 29:34.
לֵוִי 291 adj.gent. Levite
base
H3881 לֵוִי Levite
3881 Leviyiy lay-vee-ee'
or Leviy {lay-vee'}; patronymically from 3878; a Levite or
descendant of Levi:--Leviite.
see HEBREW for 03878
לֵוִי (le.viy.yi) — Levi.
Someone from the tribe of Levi living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.34;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812);
brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);
half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Gershon (H1648), Kohath (H6955), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115)
Another name of le.vi (לֵוִי "Levi" H3878)
§ Levite, of Levi "joined to"
1) the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah
1a) the tribe descended from Levi specially set aside by God for His service
Art | Ngmpa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ngmpa
le'-vits.
See PRIESTS AND LEVITES.
(descendants of Levi). Sometimes the name extends to the whole tribe, the priests included, (Exodus 6:25; Leviticus 25:32; Numbers 35:2; Joshua 21:3,41) etc; sometimes only to those members of the tribe who were not priests, and as distinguished from them. Sometimes again it is added as an epithet of the smaller portion of the tribe, and we read of "the priests the Levites." (Joshua 3:3; Ezekiel 44:15) The history of the tribe and of the functions attached to its several orders is essential to any right apprehension of the history of Israel as a people. It will fall…
All the descendants of Levi may be comprised under this name, Ex 6:16,25 Jos 3:3, (see LEVI;) but chiefly those who were employed in the lower services in the temple, by which they were distinguished from the priests, who were of the race of Levi by Aaron, and were employed in higher offices, Nu 3:6-10 18:2-7. God chose the Levites for the service of his tabernacle and temple, instead of the firstborn of all Israel, to whom such duties naturally belonged, and who were already sacred to God in memory of the great deliverance in Egypt. Ex 13:1-22 Nu 3:12,13,39-51. In the wilderness, the Levites took charge of the tabernacle…
→ (The descendants of Levi)
→ Set apart as ministers of religion Nu 1:47-54; 3:6-16; 16:9; 26:57-62; De 10:8; 1Ch 15:2
→ Substituted in the place of the firstborn children Nu 3:12,41-45; 8:14,16-18; 18:6
→ Religious zeal of Ex 32:26-28; De 33:9,10; Mal 2:4,5
→ Consecration of Nu 8:6-21
→ Sedition among, led by Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On, on account of jealousy toward Moses and Aaron Nu 16; with 4:19,20