Heli is a biblical figure mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. He is identified as the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The reference to Heli is found in Luke 3:23, which states, "Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli."

Genealogical Context

The genealogy in Luke is distinct from the one presented in the Gospel of Matthew. While Matthew traces Jesus' lineage through Joseph back to Abraham, emphasizing Jesus' legal right to the throne of David, Luke's genealogy traces Jesus' lineage through Mary, presenting a biological descent from David through Nathan, David's son. This distinction is crucial for understanding the dual nature of Jesus' heritage—both legal and biological.

Interpretation and Theological Significance

The mention of Heli in Luke's genealogy has been the subject of much scholarly discussion. One interpretation suggests that Heli is actually Mary's father, making Joseph his son-in-law. This view aligns with the understanding that Luke's genealogy traces Mary's lineage, thus emphasizing Jesus' bloodline connection to David. This interpretation is supported by the absence of the definite article "the son" in the Greek text before Joseph's name, which can imply a son-in-law relationship.

Theologically, the genealogy in Luke underscores the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's descent from David. By tracing Jesus' lineage through Mary, Luke affirms Jesus' rightful place in the Davidic line, fulfilling the promise of a Savior who would come from David's house (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

Cultural and Historical Context

In the cultural context of first-century Judaism, genealogies were vital for establishing identity, inheritance rights, and tribal affiliation. The inclusion of Heli in Jesus' genealogy serves to authenticate Jesus' Jewish heritage and His fulfillment of messianic prophecies. It also highlights the importance of both paternal and maternal lines in Jewish genealogical records, reflecting the broader cultural practices of the time.

Conclusion

While Heli is a relatively obscure figure in the biblical narrative, his inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus in Luke's Gospel plays a significant role in affirming Jesus' messianic credentials. Through Heli, the Gospel of Luke provides a vital link in the chain of Jesus' ancestry, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel and the world through the coming of the Messiah.Heli

ascending; climbing up

Heli

(ascending), the father of Joseph the husband of the Virgin Mary, (Luke 13:23) perhaps the grandfather of Mary herself. [See GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST OF JESUS CHRIST]

Elevation, father of Joseph in the line of our Lord's ancestry (Luke 3:23). HELI

he'-li (Helei for `eli):

(1) The father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, in Luke's account of the genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:23).

(2) An ancestor of Ezra (2 Esdras 1:2).

2242. Eli -- Eli, an Israelite
... Eli, an Israelite. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Eli
Phonetic Spelling: (hay-lee') Short Definition: Heli Definition: Heli, an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2242.htm - 6k

Writing iii. But in Order that what I have Said May be Made ...
... But if, with Luke, we reckon them from Nathan the son of David, in like manner the
third from the end is Melchi, whose son was Heli the father of Joseph. ...
/.../africanus/the writings of julius africanus/writing iii but in order.htm

Whether Christ's Genealogy is Suitably Traced by the Evangelists?
... But Matthew says that "Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary": whereas Luke says
that Joseph was the son of Heli. Therefore they contradict one another. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christs genealogy is suitably.htm

Concerning Our Lord's Genealogy and Concerning the Holy Mother of ...
... the death of Mathan, Melchi, of the tribe of Nathan, the son of Levi and brother
of Panther, married the wife of Mathan, Jacob's mother, of whom he begat Heli. ...
/.../exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xiv concerning our lords genealogy.htm

Writing vi. Matthan, Descended from Solomon, Begat Jacob. ...
... Matthan dying, Melchi, descended from Nathan, begat Heli by the same wife.
Therefore Heli and Jacob are uterine brothers. Heli dying ...
/.../the writings of julius africanus/writing vi matthan descended from.htm

Elucidations.
... 2. That Joseph was the son of Jacob or of Heli, either by adoption, or because Jacob
and Heli were either own brothers or half-brothers; so that,". ...
/.../africanus/the writings of julius africanus/elucidations.htm

Genealogy According to Luke.
... entered upon God's service"Numbers 4:46, 47], being the son (as was supposed) of
Joseph, the son [this may mean that Jesus was grandson of Heli, or that ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/iv genealogy according to luke.htm

The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert
... Mary Heli had with her a sturdy little boy four or five years old, her grandson,
the eldest son of her daughter Mary Cleophas. Joseph had gone to Anna's house. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the flight into egypt.htm

A Statement of the Reason Why Matthew Enumerates one Succession of ...
... 6. But even although Luke had said that Joseph was begotten by Heli, that expression
ought not to disturb us to such an extent as to lead us to believe ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter iii a statement of the.htm

Mary During the Scourging of Our Lord.
... A large veil covered her person, and she leant upon Mary of Heli, her eldest sister,
who was old and extremely like their mother, Anne.10 Mary of Cleophas, the ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xxiii mary during the.htm

Notes
... 9 Dulmen is a small town in Westphalia, where Sister Emmerich lived at this
time. 10 Mary of Heli is often spoken of in this relation. ...
/.../emmerich/the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/notes.htm

Heli (1 Occurrence)
...HELI. he'-li (Helei for `eli): (1) The father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, in
Luke's account of the genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:23). ...Heli (1 Occurrence). ...
/h/heli.htm - 7k

Heliodorus

/h/heliodorus.htm - 8k

Helez (4 Occurrences)

/h/helez.htm - 8k

Genealogy (29 Occurrences)
... a) that this name belongs rather to the sentence introduced by Luke; (b) that the
genealogical document which he consulted began with the name of Heli; (c) and ...
/g/genealogy.htm - 70k

Jesus (10891 Occurrences)
... a) that this name belongs rather to the sentence introduced by Luke; (b) that the
genealogical document which he consulted began with the name of Heli; (c) and ...
/j/jesus.htm - 101k

Thirty (189 Occurrences)
... 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, (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE ...
/t/thirty.htm - 39k

Christ (573 Occurrences)
... a) that this name belongs rather to the sentence introduced by Luke; (b) that the
genealogical document which he consulted began with the name of Heli; (c) and ...
/c/christ.htm - 101k

Matthat (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Gift of God. (1.) The son of Levi, and father of
Heli (Luke 3:24). (2.) Son of another Levi (Luke 3:29). Int. ...
/m/matthat.htm - 7k

Seemed (89 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Luke 3:23 And Jesus at this time was about thirty years old, being
the son (as it seemed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, (BBE). ...
/s/seemed.htm - 32k

Supposed (19 Occurrences)
... 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, (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY ...
/s/supposed.htm - 12k

Why are Jesus' genealogies in Matthew and Luke so different? | GotQuestions.org

Do the narratives of Jesus' birth contradict each other? | GotQuestions.org

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