Eli 1

Revision History

loadingDate    Editor    Change Summary
5/29/2020, 9:30 PM Mike C update #108
1/22/2019, 10:01 AM Mike C update #101
12/8/2017, 12:41 PM Mike C update #97
10/20/2016, 1:17 AM Mike C update #93
2/12/2007, 1:03 AM Mike C earliest recorded revision

Gender Masculine
Usage English, Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew
Scripts עֵלִי(Hebrew) Ἠλί(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced Pron. EE-lie(English)

Meaning & History

Means "ascension" in Hebrew. In the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament he is a high priest of the Israelites. He took the young Samuel into his service and gave him guidance when God spoke to him. Because of the misdeeds of his sons, Eli and his descendants were cursed to die before reaching old age.

Eli has been used as an English Christian given name since the Protestant Reformation. A notable bearer was the American inventor of the cotton gin Eli Whitney (1765-1825).