עֵלִי
e.li
Eli
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Eli: A Biblical Proper Name Based on the lexical data provided, עֵלִי (eli) is a proper noun appearing 33 times in the Hebrew Bible. The term functions exclusively as a personal name rather than a common word with multiple meanings. This is evident from its classification as a "short definition" that simply identifies it as "Eli" without alternative senses or nuanced variations. The relatively high frequency of 33 occurrences suggests that this individual held sufficient importance in biblical narrative to warrant consistent mention across multiple texts. However, the lexicon entry itself provides no details about Eli's identity, role, or historical significance—it merely confirms the name's existence and frequency. To understand who Eli was or why he mattered, one would need to consult the biblical passages where the name appears, not the lexical data alone. In summary, this entry demonstrates that Eli functions as a standard Hebrew proper name with established orthography and consistent usage throughout the biblical corpus. The lexicon confirms its form and prevalence but does not elaborate on biographical, historical, or theological dimensions beyond naming this particular individual.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
33 total occurrences across the text
A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Did I reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house?
1 Samuel 1:3This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.
1 Samuel 1:9So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Yahweh’s temple.
1 Samuel 1:12As she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli saw her mouth.
1 Samuel 1:13Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
1 Samuel 1:14Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”
1 Samuel 1:17Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.”
1 Samuel 1:25They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
1 Samuel 2:11Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child served Yahweh before Eli the priest.
1 Samuel 2:12Now the sons of Eli were wicked men. They didn’t know Yahweh.
1 Samuel 2:20Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, “May Yahweh give you offspring from this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh.” Then they went to their own home.
1 Samuel 2:22Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they slept with the women who served at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
1 Samuel 3:1The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. Yahweh’s word was rare in those days. There were not many visions, then.
1 Samuel 3:2At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),
1 Samuel 3:5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He said, “I didn’t call. Lie down again.” He went and lay down.
1 Samuel 3:6Yahweh called yet again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He answered, “I didn’t call, my son. Lie down again.”
1 Samuel 3:8Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.
1 Samuel 3:8Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.
1 Samuel 3:9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
1 Samuel 3:12In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.
1 Samuel 3:14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever.”
1 Samuel 3:14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever.”
1 Samuel 3:15Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of Yahweh’s house. Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision.
1 Samuel 3:16Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He said, “Here I am.”
1 Samuel 4:4So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of Armies, who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
1 Samuel 4:11God’s ark was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
1 Samuel 4:13When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for God’s ark. When the man came into the city and told about it, all the city cried out.
1 Samuel 4:14When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, “What does the noise of this tumult mean?” The man hurried, and came and told Eli.
1 Samuel 4:14When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, “What does the noise of this tumult mean?” The man hurried, and came and told Eli.
1 Samuel 4:15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old. His eyes were set, so that he could not see.
1 Samuel 4:16The man said to Eli, “I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army.” He said, “How did the matter go, my son?”
1 Samuel 14:3including Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people didn’t know that Jonathan was gone.
1 Kings 2:27So Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill Yahweh’s word, which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.