Of Hebrew origin, possibly from H680 (atsal, to reserve/set aside). Esli appears in the genealogy of Jesus recorded in Luke 3:25 as the son of Naggai and the father of Nahum. He is part of the post-exilic lineage that connects David's line to Jesus through Nathan (rather than Solomon).
Luke's genealogy (3:23-38) traces Jesus's ancestry through Nathan, David's son, rather than through Solomon (as Matthew does). This alternative lineage — including obscure figures like Esli — serves a profound theological purpose: God's redemptive plan does not depend on famous figures or royal succession. The Messiah's lineage runs through unknown, uncelebrated people whose faithfulness is recorded only in a genealogical list. Every name — including Esli — represents a generation that preserved the messianic line. The theological comfort: God uses ordinary, forgotten people in His extraordinary plan.