Original Word: לְוָת
Part of Speech: Preposition
Transliteration: lvath
Pronunciation: leh-vath
Phonetic Spelling: (lev-awth')
KJV: X thee
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to H3867 (לָוָה - To join)]

1. (properly) adhesion, i.e. (as preposition) with

adhesion

(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to lavah; properly, adhesion, i.e. (as preposition) with -- X thee.

see HEBREW lavah

Word Origin
(Aramaic) perhaps from a root corresponding to lavah
Definition
to, at, beside.

לְוָת preposition to, at, beside (derivation uncertain; see K¹²⁸ⁿ.; perhaps akin to לָוָה, לְוִי, join; ᵑ7 לְוָת, Syriac to), with מִן, Ezra 4:12 the Jews which came up מִןלְֿוָתָח from thee (de chez toi; compare , מִלְּוַת, e.g. Exodus 8:8; Exodus 9:33 ᵑ6 ᵑ7 = Hebrew מֵעִם).

Occurrence and Immediate Context

Ezra 4:12 is the single biblical instance of לְוָת. It appears in the Aramaic memorandum sent to King Artaxerxes by regional officials alarmed at the progress of the returned exiles: “They have completed the walls and restored the foundations” (Berean Standard Bible). The word describes the re-establishing or re-joining of Jerusalem’s foundations, emphasizing tangible progress in a building project the opponents wish to halt.

Historical Setting

• Date. The letter belongs to the early Persian period, after the first return under Zerubbabel but before the temple’s completion (between 538 – 516 B.C.).
• Political tension. Persian policy allowed subject peoples to rebuild temples, yet local governors feared that a fortified Jerusalem would threaten imperial revenues and regional control (Ezra 4:13).
• Literary purpose. By citing the officials’ accusation, Ezra demonstrates that opposition to God’s work is neither new nor decisive; it merely occasions fresh evidence of divine faithfulness (cf. Ezra 6:14).

Semantic and Translational Notes

Although לְוָת occurs once, its root family carries ideas of joining, attaching, or lending support. Hence English translations render it “restored,” “repaired,” or “joined.” In context it highlights the successful reconnecting of foundational stones—work that signals the city’s resurgence.

Theological Significance

1. Continuity with covenant promises. Re-laying the foundations of Jerusalem echoes prophetic assurances that the city would rise again after exile (Isaiah 44:26–28; Jeremiah 30:18). The single verb encapsulates the beginning of those fulfillments.
2. Sovereignty of God amid opposition. That opponents report tangible progress shows that neither imperial edicts nor local hostility can frustrate divine intent (Psalm 33:10–11).
3. Symbol of spiritual renewal. Foundations in Scripture often parallel doctrinal and moral bedrock (1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20). The physical act of “joining the foundations” foreshadows the post-exilic community’s return to covenant fidelity.

Canonical Connections

• Nehemiah later continues what Ezra’s generation began, “repairing” the walls (Nehemiah 2:17; 6:15). The vocabulary shift from לְוָת to Hebrew חָזַק (“strengthen”) and עָזַר (“help”) shows the project’s advance from joining stones to fortifying them.
• New Testament writers use construction imagery to describe the church as “a spiritual house” built on Christ (1 Peter 2:5). The solitary Old Testament instance of לְוָת thus foreshadows the greater edifice God erects through the gospel.

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Builders today. Pastors, parents, and disciplers “join foundations” whenever they connect people to apostolic truth. Faithful teaching cements the structure God is raising (2 Timothy 2:15).
2. Responding to opposition. The adversaries’ letter reminds believers that visible progress often provokes resistance. Rather than retreat, God’s people appeal to His Word and providence, trusting Him to overturn hostile edicts (Acts 4:23–31).
3. Vigilance over foundations. Churches must guard the core doctrines once laid, making sure every subsequent “stone” aligns with the cornerstone (Jude 3; Ephesians 2:20–22).

Related Terms and Concepts

• לָוָה (Strong’s 3867) — “to join” or “accompany,” the Hebrew counterpart that broadens the semantic field.
• יָסַד / אֶסְּדוֹת — “to found, lay a foundation,” often combined with wall imagery in Ezra–Nehemiah.
• ὁ θεμέλιος (Greek) — “foundation,” the New Testament term anchoring architectural metaphors for Christ and apostolic doctrine.

Summary

In a single, strategically placed occurrence, לְוָת captures the decisive moment when Jerusalem’s foundations come together after exile. The word testifies to God’s covenant fidelity, models perseverance under opposition, and supplies enduring lessons for the church as it joins believers to the unshakable foundation of Christ.

לְוָתָ֔ךְ לותך lə·wā·ṯāḵ levaTach ləwāṯāḵInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts