English · KJV
H3867

לָוָה

lâvâh /law-vaw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningproperly, to twine, i.e. (by implication) to unite, to remain; also to borrow (as a form of obligation) or (caus.) to lend
KJV usageabide with, borrow(-er), cleave, join (self), lend(-er).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of lâvâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word lâvâh, represented by H3867, is a primitive root properly meaning to twine or unite. It appears 26 times across 22 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning extends from the literal act of joining or cleaving to the financial obligation of borrowing and lending, and even to the idea of remaining or abiding with someone.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its various contexts, H3867 carries significant relational and economic weight. The concept of being "joined" is established in Genesis 29:34, where Leah names her third son Levi H3878, hoping her husband will now be joined to her. This idea of being joined for service is later institutionalized with the tribe of Levi, who are to be joined to Aaron to minister in the tabernacle Numbers 18:2. The word also describes financial transactions, highlighting the power dynamics between a lender H3867 and a borrower H3867, where the latter becomes a servant to the former Proverbs 22:7. Furthermore, lending to the poor is framed as lending to the LORD himself Proverbs 19:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of H3867 in its different applications:

  • H3878 Lêvîy (attached; Levi): This proper name is directly derived from lâvâh. The connection is explicitly made in the narrative of Levi's birth, where his name signifies the hope of being "joined" Genesis 29:34.
  • H1285 bᵉrîyth (covenant): This term for a compact or league often appears in contexts where people are joined to God. Believers are called to join H3867 themselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant H1285 Jeremiah 50:5.
  • H5383 nâshâh (creditor, lend on usury): This word provides a specific and often negative aspect of the financial dealings related to lâvâh. While lending is permitted, God's people were forbidden from acting as an usurer H5383 to their poor brethren when they lend H3867 money Exodus 22:25.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H3867 is multifaceted, touching on covenant, economics, and relationship.

  • Covenantal Inclusion: The act of "joining" is central to becoming part of God's people. This principle extends beyond familial and tribal lines to include strangers H1616 who join themselves to the LORD Isaiah 14:1 and many nations H1471 who will be joined to Him Zechariah 2:11.
  • The Economics of Righteousness: The concepts of lending and borrowing are tied to blessing and curse. Being in a position to lend is a sign of God's favor and blessing, while having to borrow is a mark of hardship Deuteronomy 28:12. Generosity to the poor H1800 is considered a loan made directly to God, which He promises to repay Proverbs 19:17.
  • The Object of Attachment: The root idea of "twining" highlights the importance of what one is attached to. Believers are called to join themselves to the LORD Isaiah 56:6. In contrast, Daniel warns of those who will insincerely cleave H3867 to God's people through flatteries H2519, indicating a false or deceptive attachment Daniel 11:34.

Summary

In summary, lâvâh H3867 is a dynamic word that moves from the personal desire for attachment to the corporate identity of the priesthood and the global invitation to join God's covenant people. It carries profound implications for both spiritual relationships and financial ethics, illustrating how being "joined" to God results in blessing, while being indebted to others can lead to servitude. The word captures the essence of unity, obligation, and the ultimate call to cleave to the LORD.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 26 occurrences, inflected in 15 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. These are this word’s own inflections, not words built from it — for those, see Related Words.

  • מַלְוֶה
  • נִלְווּ
  • לֹוֶה
  • תַּלְוֶה
  • נִּלְוִים
  • נִּלְוָה
  • הִלְוִיתָ
  • יַלְוְ
  • מַלְוֵה
  • יִלָּווּ
  • נִלְוָה
  • יִלָּוֶה
  • תִלְוֶה
  • יִלְוֶ
  • לָוִינוּ

Related Words

Related

Words formed from this one

3 entries in Strong’s name this word as their origin. These are its derivatives — a different relationship from the inflected forms above, which are this same word bent by grammar.

H3878 לֵוִי attached H3880 לִוְיָה something attached, i.e. a wreath H3882 לִוְיָתָן a wreathed animal, i.e. a serpent (especially the crocodile or some other large sea-monster)

Also mentioned in the study

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1285 בְּרִית a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh) H5383 נָשָׁה to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest H1616 גֵּר or (fully) geyr (gare) H1471 גּוֹי a foreign nation H1800 דַּל properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin H2519 חֲלַקְלַקָּה properly, something very smooth

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 22 verses across 13 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms and Isaiah (4 verses each); never once in the other 26.

1
Genesis
1
Exodus
2
Numbers
2
Deuteronomy
1
Nehemiah
1
Esther
4
Psalms
2
Proverbs
1
Ecclesiastes
4
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah
1
Daniel
1
Zechariah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.