Ethni is a Levite whose name means 'gift' or 'munificent' — generous in giving. He appears in the genealogical records of the gatekeepers appointed under David for temple service.
Even in a minor genealogical reference, the name Ethni (gift) reflects the biblical theology of Levitical service as a gift given back to God. Numbers 8:19 describes the Levites themselves as a gift given to Aaron. Every act of temple service — whether by a celebrated figure or an obscure gatekeeper — was understood as a consecrated offering. The theology of gift-giving runs throughout Scripture: God gives good gifts to His children (James 1:17), and His greatest gift is eternal life in Christ (Romans 6:23). Even a name in a genealogy can preach this.