LEVI
| Jaredite PN | 1. | JAREDITE king (Ether 1:20, 21; 10:14, 15) |
| Biblical PN | 2. | Son of JACOB (3 Nephi 24:3) |
Etymology
Until possible language affinities for JAREDITE names can be determined, all suggestions for etymologies of JAREDITE names must remain more speculative than substantive. With that caveat, the onomasticon does offer etymologies for some JAREDITE names, especially if it is possible that some JAREDITE names were translated into NEPHITE, or were otherwise related to one or more Semitic languages.
If JAREDITE names can be traced to Semitic roots, one may suggest the biblical PN LEVI from the HEBREW noun lābīʾ, "lioness," where the b is pronounced as a v (in linguistic terminology, the intervocalic spirantization of a stop),[1] Alternatively, the HEBREW root lwh, "to accompany" in the qal,[2] and the Mari (Old Babylonian) PN lawi-AN[3] with the Old South Arabic lwʾ, “priest,” might suggest a meaning such as “pledged/priest of God.” The biblical PN LEVI may or may not derive from the latter root.
Variants
Deseret Alphabet: 𐐢𐐀𐐚𐐌 (liːvaɪ)
Notes
