Lexical Definition
פִּינְחָס Pîynᵉchâç (pee-nekh-aws') Phinehas N:N-M-P
apparently from פֶּה and a variation of נָחָשׁ; mouth of a serpent
Phinehas.
- § Phinehas = "mouth of brass"
- Pinechas, the name of three Israelites
1) son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron; his zealousness for the Lord averted a plague on Israel and gained him the promise of the Lord of an everlasting priesthood in his family
2) a priest and the son of the priest Eli
3) the father of a helper of Ezra
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.1.3
- son of: Eli (עֵלִי)
- brother of: Hophni (חׇפְנִי)
- father of: Ichabod (אִי־כָבוֹד), Ahitub (אֲחִיטוּב)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
פִּינְחָס25 proper name, masculine (Egyptian Pe-nehasi, the negro, according to LauthMoses (1868). 71, ZMG xxv (1871), 130 f. compare NesEg 112, AJSL xiii (1897) 174 BaenExod 6:25, yet see Di); —
1. grandson of Aaron, Φ(ε)ινεες, Exod 6:25; Num 25:7 + 16 t.
2. son of Eli 1Sam 1:3 ( פְִּנְחָס), 1Sam 2:34; 1Sam 4:4; 1Sam 4:11; 1Sam 4:17; 1Sam 4:19; 1Sam 14:3.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Exodus | 6:25 |
| Numbers | 25:7 |
| 1 Samuel | 1:3 · 2:34 · 4:4 · 4:11 · 4:17 · 4:19 · 14:3 |
Profile
Male • From Levi • Wicked son of Eli the priest
Priest living at the time of United Monarchy
Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest, was known for his wickedness and died in battle against the Philistines along with his brother Hophni.
- A priest living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.1.3;
- son of Eli (H5941);
- brother of Hophni (H2652);
- father of Ichabod (H0350), Ahitub (H0285G); called Phinehas פִּינְחָס
Phinehas was one of the two sons of Eli, the priest who served in the tabernacle at Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3). Along with his brother Hophni, Phinehas was described as a worthless man who did not know the Lord (1 Samuel 2:12). They abused their priestly duties by taking more than their share of the sacrificial meat and engaging in sexual immorality with the women who served at the entrance of the tabernacle (1 Samuel 2:13-17, 22).
Eli rebuked his sons for their wicked behavior, but they did not listen (1 Samuel 2:22-25). As a result, a prophecy was given to Eli that his two sons would die on the same day (1 Samuel 2:34). This prophecy was fulfilled when the Philistines defeated the Israelites in battle, captured the Ark of the Covenant, and killed Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 4:11). Upon hearing the news of his sons' deaths and the capture of the Ark, Eli fell backward, broke his neck, and died (1 Samuel 4:17-18). Phinehas' wife, who was pregnant, went into labor and died after giving birth to a son named Ichabod, which means "the glory has departed from Israel" (1 Samuel 4:19-22).
All entries for Phinehas: פִּינְחָס