Boy Old Testament Known
Eli
Eli, my God, my God
עֵלִי e.li
Eli (Hebrew: עֵלִי, e.li) means “Eli, my God, my God”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a priest. In 2025 it was given to 3,453 children in the United States, ranking 104. Use is falling away. Around 154,512 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Ahimelech in 1 Samuel 14.
Which Eli?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
-
Eli
father of Phinehas
-
Eli
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 32 across 3 books
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Both
- Era
- United Monarchy
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 3,453 | Falling |
| All-time total | 154,512 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 8,110 in 2012 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 1 Samuel 1:3 |
| Last appears | Luke 3:23 |
| Cross-references | 460 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Phinehas co-occurrence Appears with Phinehas in 1 Samuel 4.
- Hophni co-occurrence Appears with Hophni in 1 Samuel 4.
- Ichabod co-occurrence Appears with Ichabod in 1 Samuel 14.
- Heli co-occurrence Appears with Heli in Luke 3.
- Elkanah co-occurrence Appears with Elkanah in 1 Samuel 2.
- Hannah co-occurrence Appears with Hannah in 1 Samuel 1.
- Samuel co-occurrence Appears with Samuel in 1 Samuel 3.
- Ahitub co-occurrence Appears with Ahitub in 1 Samuel 14.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.1.3;
father of: Hophni (H2652), Phinehas (H6372H)
§ Eli = "ascension"
descendant of Aaron through Ithamar and high priest and judge of Israel when Samuel entered service as a child
Eli was the high priest and judge of Israel who ministered at the tabernacle in Shiloh.
The biblical story
Eli, a prominent figure in 1 Samuel, served as the high priest and judge of Israel at the tabernacle in Shiloh. He first appears in the narrative when Hannah, the mother of Samuel, prays at the tabernacle (1Sa.1.9-17). Eli initially misunderstands her prayer but later blesses her. After Samuel's birth, Hannah dedicates him to serve under Eli at the tabernacle (1Sa.1.25-28). However, Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were wicked and did not follow God's ways (1Sa.2.12-17). Eli failed to restrain their behavior, leading to a prophecy of judgment against his family (1Sa.2.27-36). Eli continued to serve as the high priest and judge, while Samuel grew up in the tabernacle (1 Samuel 3). In his old age, Eli received news of Israel's defeat by the Philistines, the capture of the Ark of the Covenant, and the death of his sons. Upon hearing this, Eli fell backward, broke his neck, and died at the age of 98 (1Sa.4.12-18). His death marked the end of an era and the beginning of Samuel's leadership as a prophet and judge.
Key verses
Eli appears in 30 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
1 Samuel 1:3 -
So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.
1 Samuel 1:9 -
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.
1 Samuel 1:12 -
Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
1 Samuel 1:13 -
And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
1 Samuel 1:14
Show all 30 references
1 Samuel (29)
- 1 Samuel 1:3
- 1 Samuel 1:9
- 1 Samuel 1:12
- 1 Samuel 1:13
- 1 Samuel 1:14
- 1 Samuel 1:17
- 1 Samuel 1:25
- 1 Samuel 2:11
- 1 Samuel 2:12
- 1 Samuel 2:20
- 1 Samuel 2:22
- 1 Samuel 2:27
- 1 Samuel 3:1
- 1 Samuel 3:2
- 1 Samuel 3:5
- 1 Samuel 3:6
- 1 Samuel 3:8
- 1 Samuel 3:9
- 1 Samuel 3:12
- 1 Samuel 3:14
- 1 Samuel 3:15
- 1 Samuel 3:16
- 1 Samuel 4:4
- 1 Samuel 4:11
- 1 Samuel 4:13
- 1 Samuel 4:14
- 1 Samuel 4:15
- 1 Samuel 4:16
- 1 Samuel 14:3
1 Kings (1)
- 1 Kings 2:27