2242. Eli
Lexical Summary
Eli: Eli

Original Word: Ἠλί
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Eli
Pronunciation: ay-LEE
Phonetic Spelling: (hay-lee')
KJV: Heli
NASB: Eli
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H5941 (עֵלִי - Eli))]

1. Heli (i.e. Eli), an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Heli.

Of Hebrew origin (Eliy); Heli (i.e. Eli), an Israelite -- Heli.

see HEBREW Eliy

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Eli
Definition
Eli, an Isr.
NASB Translation
Eli (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2242: Ἡλί

Ἡλί (Rst Ἠλί (on the breathing in manuscripts see Tdf Proleg., p. 107), T Tr WH ἡλει (see WH's Appendix, p. 155, and under the word εἰ, )), indeclinable, Heli, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary: Luke 3:23.

Topical Lexicon
Name And Background

Heli (Greek Ἠλί) represents a Greek form of the ancient Hebrew name Eli, “my God.” Though the linguistic details are Hebrew, the New Testament preserves the name only in Greek form, highlighting a faithful transmission of family records into the Koine era.

Single New Testament Occurrence

Luke 3:23 records: “Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Heli.” This solitary mention anchors Heli within the inspired genealogy that Luke traces from Jesus back to Adam.

Place In The Genealogy Of Jesus

Heli is situated one generation prior to Joseph and therefore stands at the doorway between the Davidic line and the immediate family into which Jesus was born. Whether taken as Joseph’s biological father or as Mary’s father (making Joseph the son-in-law), Heli’s place ensures that Jesus’ earthly family descends from David through another branch besides Matthew’s line through Jacob.

Harmonising The Two Genealogies

Matthew 1 presents Joseph “son of Jacob,” while Luke 3 presents Joseph “son of Heli.” The long-standing conservative explanations include:
• Levirate marriage—Heli dying childless, his brother Jacob raising up seed for him (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). Joseph could be Jacob’s biological son and Heli’s legal son.
• Luke tracing Mary’s ancestry—Joseph listed as “son” in the sense of son-in-law, a customary legal shorthand. Thus Heli would be Mary’s father, allowing Luke 3:31 to route through Nathan, another son of David, while Matthew follows Solomon.

Either view retains the inerrancy and congruity of Scripture by recognising that Hebrew lineage could be recorded through legal as well as biological ties.

Historical Bridging Figure

Heli lived during the late Second Temple period, between Zerubbabel’s post-exilic generation (Luke 3:27) and the birth of Jesus. This was an era when genealogical registers were zealously guarded (Ezra 2:62), providing credible documentation for a family in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4). The simple preservation of Heli’s name testifies to the continuity of Davidic hope amid centuries of foreign rule.

Prophetic And Theological Significance

1. Validation of Messianic Prophecy: By rooting Jesus in David’s household through Heli, Luke confirms promises such as 2 Samuel 7:16 and Isaiah 11:1.
2. Universality of Salvation: Luke’s genealogy travels through Heli back to Adam, underscoring that the Messiah’s mission extends to all humanity, not Israel alone.
3. Divine Providence: The inclusion of lesser-known ancestors like Heli illustrates that God’s redemptive plan advances quietly through ordinary people until its appointed fullness in Christ (Galatians 4:4).

Lessons For Ministry And Faith

• God sees the obscure: Heli left no recorded exploits, yet his faithful place in the family line mattered for world redemption.
• Genealogies preach perseverance: each name, including Heli, assures believers that steadfast devotion in hidden years can bear fruit far beyond one’s lifetime.
• Accuracy strengthens witness: Luke’s careful preservation of names such as Heli equips Christians to “give an account” (1 Peter 3:15) with confidence that Scripture rests on verifiable history.

Related Names In Scripture

Heli should not be confused with Eli the priest of Shiloh (1 Samuel 1–4) or Elijah the prophet (1 Kings 17). The shared root underscores a common confession—“my God”—across eras and ministries.

Summary

Though mentioned only once, Heli (Strong’s Greek 2242) safeguards a vital link in the inspired record of Jesus’ ancestry. His name affirms God’s meticulous faithfulness, the harmony of the Gospel genealogies, and the reach of salvation promised through the house of David to the ends of the earth.

Forms and Transliterations
Ηλει Ἡλεί Ἠλὶ ηλιασθέντων eli elì Ēli Ēlì
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 3:23 N
GRK: Ἰωσήφ τοῦ Ἠλὶ
NAS: of Joseph, the son of Eli,
KJV: of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli,
INT: of Joseph of Heli

Strong's Greek 2242
1 Occurrence


Ἠλὶ — 1 Occ.

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