Who was Heli in the bible?

Heli is a man named in Luke’s genealogy, presented as an ancestor in the line that includes Joseph. The Greek form of the name is of Hebrew origin.

Heli in Scripture

Heli appears once, within the setting of events surrounding Jesus’ baptism and the beginning of his public teaching. Luke places the genealogy immediately after describing Jesus being baptized, praying, and receiving divine affirmation.

Luke 3:21: Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened,

Luke 3:22: and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.”

Following this scene, Luke introduces Jesus’ age and then frames the genealogy in terms of sonship as it was commonly regarded, linking Joseph to Heli.

Luke 3:23: Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,

In this single reference, Heli is identified only by his place in the genealogy: he is named as the one of whom Joseph is called “the son,” within the parenthetical perspective “(as was supposed)” that introduces the genealogical line. Luke then continues the genealogy beyond Heli, listing successive ancestors in the same “the son of …” format.

Luke 3:24: the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

Luke 3:25: the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

Luke 3:26: the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,

Within this immediate context, Scripture provides no additional details about Heli’s life, location, or deeds; his significance in the passage is genealogical, as a named link in the ancestral chain associated with Joseph in Luke’s account.

Name and Meaning

The name appears in Greek script as Ἡλί, transliterated Heli and pronounced “hay-lee’.” Strong’s information describes it as a Greek form of a name of Hebrew origin (linked to H05941).

Observation

Luke’s presentation places Heli’s name at the turning point where Jesus “began to teach” and is described in relation to Joseph “(as was supposed),” with Heli serving as the next named ancestor in that line (Luke 3:23).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Heli mean?

Heli is a personal name of Hebrew origin.

How many times does Heli appear in the Bible?

Heli appears 1 time in the Bible.

Who was Heli in the Bible?

Heli is named in a genealogy as the father of Joseph: “Joseph, the son of Heli” (Luke 3:23).

Where is Heli mentioned?

Heli is mentioned in Luke 3:23.

Explore Further

If you found this page about Heli interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).