The name Areli may mean 'heroic' or 'belonging to the lion of God,' possibly related to ariel (lion of God). It appears as the name of a son of Gad, the seventh son of Jacob, and became the ancestor of the Arelite clan in Israel.
Areli's inclusion in the census of Numbers 26 as the head of a Gadite clan illustrates how God works through specific families to accomplish His purposes. The tribe of Gad was known for its warriors, and names like Areli ('heroic/lion-like') reflect the military character of the tribe. This foreshadows Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).