Λευεί G3018
Levi; Hebrew personal name borne by the patriarch and the disciple called by Jesus
This Hebrew name (meaning 'joined' or 'attached') connects several biblical figures. Most prominently, Levi was Jacob's third son, ancestor of the priestly tribe. In the Gospels, it identifies the tax collector whom Jesus called to discipleship. Mark 2:14 and the parallel passages in Luke 5:27, 29 name him Levi son of Alphaeus, while Matthew 9:9 calls the same person Matthew. This suggests either that Levi was Matthew's birth name and Matthew his apostolic name, or that some early Gospel traditions preserved different names for the same individual. Either way, Jesus' call of a tax collector scandalized the religious establishment.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Levi, a personal name. In Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27, and 5:29, this identifies the tax collector whom Jesus called to follow him: 'Levi son of Alphaeus.' Luke 5:29 mentions 'Levi made a great feast in his house' after his calling. This Levi is commonly identified with Matthew the apostle (Matthew 9:9 calls the tax collector 'Matthew' in the parallel account), suggesting he may have had two names or that one was a nickname. The calling of a tax collector demonstrated Jesus' mission to sinners. 3×
AR["لاوي", "لاوِيَ"]·ben["লেবি"]·DE["Levi", "Λευὶν", "Λευὶς"]·EN["Leuis"]·FR["Lévi"]·heb["לֵוִי"]·HI["लेवी", "लेवी-ने"]·ID["Lewi"]·IT["leuin", "leuis"]·jav["Léwi"]·KO["레위", "레위가", "레위를"]·PT["Levi"]·RU["Левий", "Левия", "Левия,"]·ES["Leuís", "a-Leuís"]·SW["Leuí", "Leuḯs"]·TR["Levi", "Levi'yi"]·urd["بنام", "لاوی-نے", "لاوی-کو"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Λευεί (indecl.) and Λευείς (Rec. -υΐ, -υΐς), genitive Λευεί, accusative -είν, ὁ (Heb. H3878) Levi; __1. the son of Jacob: Heb.7:5, 9, Rev.7:7. __2. Son of Melchi: Luk.3:24. __3. Son of Simeon: Luk.3:29. __4. Son of Alphæus (cf. Μαθθαῖος): Mrk.2:14 (WH, mg., Ἰάκωβον), Luk.5:27, 29.† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)