Ἡλί
Hēlí
G2242 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name: Hēlí. Refers to a male ancestor in the genealogy of Jesus; in the New Testament, signifies the father of Joseph as recorded in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 3:23). The Greek form of a personal name of Hebrew origin, corresponding to עֵלִי (Eli), which originally means 'lofty, ascended, high' in Hebrew contexts. In the Lukan genealogy, the name functions solely as a personal designation with no broader lexical or semantic range in Greek.
Semantic Range
personal name; identified as an Israelite/Judean ancestor; no broader usage beyond genealogical context
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from Hebrew עֵלִי ('Eli), meaning 'lofty, ascended, high.' The Greek form Ἡλί (Hēlí) is a transliteration adapted to Greek phonology and morphology. Not formed from a native Greek root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the New Testament, Ἡλί occurs only in the Lukan genealogy (Luke 3:23), where he is listed as the father of Joseph, the putative father of Jesus. The name is a direct transliteration from Hebrew, reflecting the practice of adapting Hebrew personal names into Greek in genealogical and historical texts. The related Hebrew name עֵלִי is attested in earlier Israelite tradition, notably as the name of a priest in 1 Samuel, but there is no indication that the NT figure is intended to be connected to that earlier individual. English translations sometimes render the name as 'Heli,' but the original Hebrew context would suggest 'Eli.' There is no theological or ethnic connotation in the Greek usage beyond the personal designation. The name's appearance in the Gospel of Luke demonstrates the genealogical interest in connecting Jesus to Israelite ancestry; this usage is consistent with broader Hellenistic Jewish naming conventions but carries no semantic meaning in Koine Greek beyond the proper noun.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (עֵלִי); Heli (i.e. Eli), an Israelite:--Heli.
Root Family
uncertain (bótrys) — proper name, personal name
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1009 | βότρυς | clusters |
| G1050 | Γάϊος | to Gaius |
| G1055 | γαλήνη | calm stillness |
| G108 | Ἄζωτος | Ashdod |
| G1148 | Δαλμανουθά | of Dalmanoutha |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2242-01 |
Ἠλεὶ | elei | N GEN M SG |
of Heli | of Heli | Heli | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2242-01 |
Luke 3:23 | Ἠλεὶ | elei | N GEN M SG |
of Heli | of Heli | Heli |