Who was Heli?

The story of Heli

Heli is a man named in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Luke introduces the genealogy by saying that Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his ministry, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli (Luke 3:23). Luke then traces the line back from Heli, who is listed as the son of Matthat (Luke 3:24), through Nathan the son of David (Luke 3:31), and finally to Adam, which was the son of God (Luke 3:38).

Scripture records nothing else about Heli. It does not say where he lived or what he did. Matthew's genealogy names a different father for Joseph, saying that Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary (Matthew 1:16).

Interpreters have explained the difference in various ways. One long-standing view holds that Luke traces Mary's line, which would make Heli Mary's father and Joseph's father-in-law. That view is an interpretation and is not stated in the text, which in Luke 3:23 simply calls Joseph the son of Heli.

Name origin

Greek form of the Hebrew name Eli

Role

Ancestor in Luke's genealogy of Jesus

First mention

Luke 3:23

Appearances in the Bible

1 mentions

Questions about Heli