Illustration created for this project.
Hophni
A corrupt son of Eli who despised the offerings of the Lord and died in battle.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 3
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
Family & lineage
Tribe & people
BibleOf the tribe of Levi.
1 Samuel 1:3
Name & titles
ScholarlyHophni is frequently analyzed as an Egyptian-derived name (compared with Egyptian ḥfn), and it stands alongside his brother's securely Egyptian name Phinehas (Egyptian Pȝ-nḥsy, "the Nubian"), so that the Shiloh priesthood carried Egyptian-type names, a detail scholars read as a mark of the tradition's antiquity. The etymology of Hophni itself remains debated (some prefer a link to Hebrew ḥōfen, "handful/fist").
Onomastic scholarship on Egyptian names in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., discussions following K. A. Kitchen); Phinehas = Egyptian Pȝ-nḥsy.