Λευΐτης (G3019) — Greek Lexicon

Λευΐτης

Leuḯtēs

G3019 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A male descendant of Levi; specifically, a member of the Israelite tribe of Levi. In Greco-Roman and Second Temple contexts, used to refer to one belonging to the specific hereditary clan tasked with particular religious, cultic, and ritual duties, distinct from the priestly sub-group (descendants of Aaron). More generally, denotes a person of Levitical lineage entrusted with supporting roles in sacred service, including temple maintenance, singing, guard duty, and assisting priests.

Semantic Range

male member of the tribe of Levi, Levitical official assisting priests, functionary with cultic duties, hereditary religious servant, participant in temple services

Root / Etymology

From Λευΐ (Leuí, 'Levi'), the eponymous ancestor; suffix -της (-tēs) forms ethnic or patronymic nouns: 'descendant of Levi.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Λευΐτης is a Hellenized adaptation of the Hebrew לֵוִי (Levi), appearing in the Septuagint, Josephus, Philo, and the New Testament (Luke 10:32; John 1:19; Acts 4:36). It refers to males who trace their ancestry to Levi, one of Jacob's sons, but not specifically to the high-priestly lineage of Aaron. In Second Temple and New Testament usage, 'Levite' denoted a hereditary religious functionary, distinct from (though often assisting) the priests (ἱερεῦς). English 'Levite' generally conveys the core meaning, but may obscure nuances of Israelite tribal structure and the spectrum of Levitical roles. The term served as both a marker of ancestry and office. In Hellenistic Jewish literature, Λευΐτης can function as an ethnic or quasi-civil title (cf. Josephus). Its use in Greek parallels the distinction in Hebrew between כֹּהֵן (kohen, 'priest') and לֵוִי (levi, 'Levite'), though functions sometimes overlapped in popular understanding. Not used to refer to Israelites in general; always a subset. In non-biblical Koine sources, the word usually appears in Jewish or biblical contexts, rarely or never in pagan Greek literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Λευΐ; a Levite, i.e. descendant of Levi:--Levite.

Root Family

Λευΐ- (Leuḯ) — proper name, Levi, ancestor, individual

Root Λευΐ- descendant of Levi, member of the tribe of Levi, Levitical functionary

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G3017	Λευΐ	of Levi

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3019-02`	Λευείτης	leueites	`N NOM M SG`	a Levite	Levite	Levite	2
`G3019-01`	Λευείτας	leueitas	`N ACC M PL`	Levites	Levitical functionaries	Levites	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3019-02`	Luke 10:32	Λευείτης	leueites	`N NOM M SG`	Levite	Levite	Levite
`G3019-01`	John 1:19	Λευείτας	leueitas	`N ACC M PL`	Levites	Levitical functionaries	Levites
`G3019-02`	Acts 4:36	Λευείτης	leueites	`N NOM M SG`	a Levite	Levite	Levite

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