[b-hebrew] The Name "Levi"
Uri Hurwitz
uhurwitz at yahoo.com
Wed Dec 12 11:34:18 EST 2007
There is no agreement on the etymology of "Levi".
The interpretation of the name by an ancient
biblical editor as cited below is not neccessarly
correct. A similar example of a wrong editorial
explanation is that of the Egyptian name "Mosheh",
Exod. 2:11.
For the PN "Levi" another possiblity was discussed by Th. Meek.
Applied to the name Levi, the root means "slither" or "Coil"
as in Arabic, and exists in a the noun LWYTN, Livyatan,
which is also found in Ugaritic ,in both cases it is a coiling
sea- dragon.
This is directly related to serpents
or snakes, and they in turn are related to magic.
That the Levites traditionally indulged in a great
deal of magic is attested numerous times in HB. To
cite only two of many examples: Ex. 2: 2 ff, and the
famous rods contest won by Aron Ex. 7:10 ff.
The connection between snakes and magic was widespread
in Egypt, as is known from many extra-biblical sources.
A linguistic direct parallel to this in BH is the root
Nun Het Shin. Among its meanings: the noun "snake",
or in verbal form, in Piel: "to engage in divinations".
Also, consider the mystical Nahshon, attributed to Moses
and removed by Hezekaiah in his efforts to purify the
temple from idolatry.
A full discussion of the above with biblical
citations and bibliography is in "Hebrew Origins" by
Theophile James Meek, Harper Torchbook edition,
p122 ff .
Uri Hurwitz
Jim Steinhart wrote:
<snip>
Levi The JPS1917 translation of the text regarding
the name Levi is as follows: And she conceived again,
and bore a son; and said: 'Now this time will my husband
be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons.'
Therefore was his name called Levi. Genesis 29: 34
.... LAMED-VAV-heh = be joined or be attached or
accompany [At Genesis 29: 34, this word appears
in the following form: yod-LAMED-VAV-heh.]
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