Now this time my husband will be joined to me: the name Levi is here associated in sound with the Hebrew verb meaning to “join,” “attach,” “bind.” See Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation footnotes.

His name was called Levi: in the Hebrew text was called is “he called,” which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates as {B} and recommends. The Septuagint and ancient Syriac versions have “she called him.” Revised Standard Version uses the passive, but Good News Translation follows the Septuagint without a footnote. A similar play on words is found in Num 18.2, “that they may join you.” Translators may follow Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, or Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. In the latter case it may be best to say “Jacob called his son Levi.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .