Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Levite tribe

Levite tribe

8.9
A group from ancient Israel who descend from Levi and serve in the temple
  • proper noun
translation icon : tribu levita
  • Members of the Levite tribe were responsible for maintaining the sacred sites in the Temple.

Examples

  • The Levite tribe played a crucial role in ancient Israelite worship and religious ceremonies.

  • Throughout history, the Levite tribe has been recognized for its dedication to religious service.

  • If you are attempting to quote Leviticus, please be aware that the same book you are quoting says that it is not for all people, but for the Levite tribe.

    Blog text (30)

Surface Forms

Levite tribe main

Morphology

Levite + tribe

The phrase is directly compositional: 'Levite' names members descended from Levi with religious duties, and 'tribe' denotes a kin/social group, so 'Levite tribe' straightforwardly means the tribe descended from Levi. This proper-name + noun pattern is a standard, cross-linguistically transparent construction, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Levite tribe comes from a man named Levi, whose family were chosen to work in the Temple. They carried holy objects and helped the priests, so the name came to mean people set aside for 'religious duties'.