Easton's Bible Dictionary Pugilist or client, one of the two sons of Eli, the high priest (1 Samuel 1:3; 2:34), who, because he was "very old," resigned to them the active duties of his office. By their scandalous conduct they brought down a curse on their father's house (2:22, 12-27, 27-36; 3:11-14). For their wickedness they were called "sons of Belial," i.e., worthless men (2:12). They both perished in the disastrous battle with the Philistines at Aphek (4:11). (see PHINEHAS.) Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS hof'-ni, fin'-e-as, -az (chophni, "pugilist" (?), pinechac, probably "face of brass"): Sons of Eli, priests of the sanctuary at Shiloh. Their character was wicked enough to merit the double designation "sons of Eli" and (the King James Version) "sons of Belial" (the Revised Version, margin "base men," 1 Samuel 2:12). Their evil practices are described (1 Samuel 2:12-17). Twice is Eli warned concerning them, once by an unknown prophet (1 Samuel 2:27) and again by the lips of the young Samuel (1 Samuel 3:11-18). The curse fell at the battle of Aphek (1 Samuel 4:1-18) at which the brothers were slain, the ark was taken and the disaster occurred which caused Eli's death. Phinehas was father of the posthumous Ichabod, whose name marks the calamity (see ICHABOD). A remoter sequel to the prophetic warnings is seen in the deposition of Abiathar, of the house of Eli, from the priestly office (1 Kings 2:26, 27, 35). Henry Wallace

Multi-Version Concordance Hophni (5 Occurrences) 1 Samuel 1:3 This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 2:34 "'This shall be the sign to you, that shall come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall both die. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of Armies, who sits above the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 4:11 The ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 4:17 He who brought the news answered, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)