What the Bible Says About the Meaning of Levi

In the Bible, Levi is one of the twelve sons of Jacob and Leah, from whom the Levite tribe descends. The Levites were designated for priestly duties and religious leadership, playing a crucial role in the worship and service of God in ancient Israel.

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Scripture

31 When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.
34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

Genesis 29:31-35

Meaning of Levi in the Bible

The significance of Levi in the Bible extends beyond his position as one of Jacob’s sons; he represents the institution of priesthood and covenant responsibilities within the Israelite community. Levi was called to serve in a unique capacity, as seen in Exodus 32:26, where Moses declares, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” This moment highlights Levi’s descendants, the Levites, stepping up to defend God’s honor amidst Israel’s sin of idolatry. This act of loyalty transformed them into a tribe dedicated to temple service, as delineated in Numbers 3:6-10, where God set aside the Levites for the task of caring for the sanctuary and assisting the priests.

Furthermore, the name Levi itself carries significant biblical meaning, which translates to “joined” or “attached.” In Genesis 29:34, Leah names Levi, reflecting her desire for a husband who would be “attached” to her. This notion of attachment parallels the Levites’ relationship with God, as they were to be intimately linked with divine service and the priestly role of mediating between God and the people. Throughout the Scriptures, the Levites are portrayed as guardians of worship practices, underscoring their crucial role in maintaining the covenantal relationship between Yahweh and Israel. Their commitment emphasizes the importance of devoted service, community accountability, and the sanctity of worship, which resonate in contemporary spiritual contexts where believers are called to embody faithfulness and devotion.

Levi’s legacy is also intricately tied to the concept of holiness in the biblical narrative. The priestly duties assigned to his descendants highlight the importance of purity and the sanctity of worship within the Israelite community. As the tribe responsible for the care and management of the tabernacle, the Levites were set apart not only by their designated roles but also by the strict regulations concerning their lives and behavior. Their unique position underscored the necessity of living in accordance with divine standards, making them exemplars of holiness in the midst of the community. This emphasis on holiness is evident in the regulatory frameworks found in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, where strict codes of conduct guide the Levites in their service to God and the nation of Israel.

Additionally, the role of Levi and his descendants serves as a foreshadowing of the New Testament understanding of the priesthood. In the New Covenant, Jesus is often seen as a fulfillment of the high priestly role, transcending the limitations of the Levitical priesthood. The author of Hebrews makes a profound connection by emphasizing that Jesus, from the tribe of Judah, embodies a new order of priesthood that is perfect and eternal. This shift from the Levitical lineage serves as a reminder that God continually redefines and revitalizes His covenantal relationship with humanity. As a consequence, the Levites’ original call to be leaders in worship transitions into a broader invitation for all believers to engage in spiritual service, exemplifying a direct and personal connection to God through faith in Christ. Such continuity highlights the enduring relevance of the Levitical tribe’s legacy, as it encourages a deep commitment to the principles of holiness, worship, and service which continue to resonate in the life of the Church today.

The Role of the Levites in Worship and Service

Levi, as a tribe, is significant in the context of worship and religious service in ancient Israel. The Levites were set apart for the priestly duties and responsibilities associated with the Tabernacle and later the Temple. This designation highlights the importance of dedicated service to God and the community, emphasizing that certain individuals are called to lead others in spiritual matters. The Levites’ role underscores the concept of holiness and the necessity of having a designated group to facilitate worship and maintain the sanctity of religious practices.

The Symbolism of Separation and Dedication

The name Levi itself is often associated with the idea of being “joined” or “attached.” This can be interpreted as a symbol of the close relationship between God and His people, as well as the commitment required from those who serve in spiritual capacities. The Levites’ separation from other tribes signifies a deeper calling to be dedicated to God’s work, illustrating the broader biblical theme of being set apart for divine purposes. This notion of separation can also reflect the call for all believers to live lives that are distinct and dedicated to God, fostering a sense of community and shared mission among those who follow Him.

The Legacy of Levi and Its Impact on Israel

The legacy of Levi extends beyond the tribe itself, influencing the entire nation of Israel. The Levites played a crucial role in maintaining the religious and moral fabric of society, serving as teachers, judges, and leaders. Their influence is seen in the establishment of cities of refuge and the preservation of the Law. This broader meaning emphasizes the importance of leadership and moral integrity within a community, illustrating how the actions and commitments of one group can have lasting effects on the collective identity and spiritual health of a nation. The legacy of Levi serves as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with leadership and the impact it can have on future generations.

How to Embrace the Spirit of Service and Sacrifice

Embracing the spirit of service and sacrifice is truly at the heart of what it means to follow Christ. It begins with a heart open to the needs of others, just as Jesus demonstrated throughout His life. Start by looking for small ways to serve those around you—whether it’s helping a neighbor, volunteering at a local charity, or simply offering a listening ear to a friend in need. Remember, service doesn’t always have to be grand; it’s often the little acts of kindness that reflect God’s love most profoundly. As you step out in faith, you may find that sacrifice becomes a natural part of your journey. It’s about prioritizing others and recognizing that our time, resources, and talents are gifts meant to be shared. In doing so, you’ll not only grow closer to those you serve but also deepen your relationship with God, who calls us to love and serve as He did. So, take that first step today—your willingness to serve can be a powerful testament to your faith and a beautiful way to live out the love of Christ.

Bible References to the Meaning of Levi:

Genesis 34:25-31: 25 On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males.
26 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and went away.
27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
28 They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field.
29 All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered.
30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.”
31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?”

Genesis 35:22-26: 22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine. And Israel heard of it.
23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
24 the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, were Dan and Naphtali.
26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant: Gad and Asher.

Genesis 46:8-11: 8 Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
9 The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.
11 And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Exodus 2:1-10: 1 Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman.
2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.
3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.
4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.
5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it.
6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”
8 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him.
9 She said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”
10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

Exodus 6:16-25: 16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years.
17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans.
18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were 133 years.
19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations.
20 Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father’s sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years.
21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
23 Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph.
25 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites by their clans.

Leviticus 1:1-17: 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.”
3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord.
4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
5 Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
6 And he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces,
7 The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.
8 And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar;
9 but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
10 “But if his offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from sheep or goats, he shall offer a male without blemish.
11 And he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar.
12 And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar,
13 But he shall wash the entrails and the legs with water. And the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
14 “If his offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or pigeons.”
15 And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.
16 And he shall remove its crop with its contents and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes.
17 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.

Numbers 1:47-54: 47 But the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe.
48 For the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel.”
50 but appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and shall camp around the tabernacle.
51 When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.
52 The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard.
53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.”
54 Thus the people of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses; so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, each one in his clan, according to his father’s house.

Numbers 3:5-13: 5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.
7 They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle.
8 They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle.
9 And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the people of Israel.
10 And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.”
11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
12 “Now behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the people of Israel. The Levites shall be mine,”
13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast. They shall be mine: I am the Lord.”

Numbers 8:5-26: 5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
6 “Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them.
7 Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification upon them, and let them go with a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves.
8 Then let them take a bull from the herd and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another bull from the herd for a sin offering.
9 And you shall bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the whole congregation of the people of Israel.
10 And you shall bring the Levites before the Lord, and the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites,
11 And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the Lord.
12 And the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the Lord to make atonement for the Levites.
13 And you shall set the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and shall offer them as a wave offering to the Lord.
14 Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.
15 And after that the Levites shall go in to serve at the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering.
16 For they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself.
17 For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself.
18 But I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel.
19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague among the people of Israel when the people of Israel come near the sanctuary.”
20 Thus did Moses; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did.
21 Thus did the Levites. They purified themselves and washed their clothes. Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the Lord, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.
22 And after that the Levites went in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and his sons; as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.
23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
24 “This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting.”
25 And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more.
26 They minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard, but they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties.”

Numbers 18:1-7: 1 So the Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood.
2 And with you bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.
3 They shall keep guard over you and over the whole tent, but shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary or to the altar lest they, and you, die.
4 They shall join you and attend to the needs of the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent, and no outsider shall come near you.
5 And you shall keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar, that there may never again be wrath on the people of Israel.
6 Behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to the Lord, to do the service of the tent of meeting.
7 And you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”

Deuteronomy 10:8-9: 8 At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.
9 Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God said to him.

Deuteronomy 18:1-8: 1 “The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the Lord’s food offerings as their inheritance.”
2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them.
3 And this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach.
4 The firstfruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the first fleece of your sheep, you shall give him.
5 For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for all time.
6 “And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel, where he lives—and he may come when he desires—to the place that the Lord will choose,
7 then he may minister in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand to minister there before the Lord.
8 They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what comes from the sale of his patrimony.

Joshua 13:14-33: 14 Only to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance. The offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance, as he said to him.
15 Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the people of Reuben according to their clans.
16 So their territory was from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland by Medeba;
17 Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the tableland; Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon,
18 but to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance. The offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance, as he said to him.
19 and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar on the hill of the valley,
20 and Beth-peor, and the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth,
21 all the cities of the tableland and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses defeated with the leaders of Midian, Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land.
22 Balaam also, the son of Beor, the one who practiced divination, was killed with the sword by the people of Israel among the rest of their slain.
23 And the border of the people of Reuben was the Jordan as a boundary. This was the inheritance of the people of Reuben, according to their clans with their cities and villages.
24 Moses gave an inheritance also to the tribe of Gad, to the people of Gad, according to their clans.
25 Their territory was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites, to Aroer, which is east of Rabbah,
26 and from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir,
27 and in the valley Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, having the Jordan as a boundary, to the lower end of the Sea of Chinnereth, eastward beyond the Jordan.
28 This is the inheritance of the people of Gad according to their clans, with their cities and villages.
29 and Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was allotted to the half-tribe of the people of Manasseh according to their clans.
30 With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the Lord gave them:
31 and in the half-tribe of Manasseh,
32 These are the inheritances that Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho.
33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them.

1 Chronicles 6:1-15: 1 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
2 Amram fathered Aaron, and Aaron fathered Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3 The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
4 Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua,
5 Abishua fathered Bukki, Bukki fathered Uzzi,
6 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.
7 The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
8 Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Ahimaaz;
9 Ahimaaz fathered Azariah, Azariah fathered Johanan,
10 and Johanan fathered Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem).
11 Azariah fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub,
12 and Ahitub fathered Zadok, and Zadok fathered Ahimaaz;
13 and Ahitub fathered Zadok, and Zadok fathered Ahimaaz;
14 Azariah fathered Seraiah, Seraiah fathered Jehozadak;
15 Jehozadak went into exile when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into captivity by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

1 Chronicles 23:1-32: 23 When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
2 David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites.
3 The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men.
4 “Of these, 24,000 were to have charge of the work in the house of the Lord, 6,000 were officers and judges,
5 and 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments that I have made for praise.”
6 And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7 The sons of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei.
8 The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ houses of Ladan.
10 And the sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina, and Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
11 Thus they were divided by lot, one as well as another, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar.
12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the Lord and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever.
14 But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.
15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.
16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.
17 The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
18 But the sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the Lord and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever.
19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second.
21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
22 Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters; their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them.
23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
24 These were the sons of Levi by their fathers’ houses, the heads of fathers’ houses as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
25 For David said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever.
26 So the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.”
27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward.
28 For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God.
29 For both the sons of Aaron, the priests, and the Levites shall have a portion before the Lord in all the towns, the pasturelands of the cities.
30 And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening,
31 and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the Lord on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, regularly before the Lord.
32 Thus they were to keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and to attend the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the service of the house of the Lord.

Malachi 2:4-9: 4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts.
5 “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name.”
6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.
7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,
9 “Therefore I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

Hebrews 7:5-10: 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.
6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.