Original Word: וָפְסִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Vophciy
Pronunciation: VOHF-see
Phonetic Spelling: (vof-see')
KJV: Vophsi
NASB: Vophsi
Word Origin: [probably from H3254 (יָסַף - again)]

1. additional
2. Vophsi, an &Š Israelite

Vophsi

Probably from yacaph; additional; Vophsi, an &? Israelite -- Vophsi.

see HEBREW yacaph

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a Naphtalite
NASB Translation
Vophsi (1).

וָפְסִי proper name, masculine a man of Naphtali, in נַחְבִּי בֶּןוָֿפְסִי Numbers 13:14 (text dubious; ᵐ5 Ναβει υιὃς Ἰαβει).

Biblical Occurrence

Numbers 13:14 places Vophsi in the list of tribal fathers when Moses sent twelve men to reconnoiter Canaan: “from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi”. This is the only explicit mention of Vophsi in Scripture, yet his inclusion anchors the narrative in verifiable family lines, underscoring the historical reliability of the account.

Historical Setting

The census in Numbers had already established the heads of households and the muster of each tribe (Numbers 1:1-46). Roughly a year after the Exodus, Israel encamped at Kadesh-barnea on the southern fringe of Canaan. From there the Lord commanded a representative from every tribe to spy out the land (Numbers 13:1-3). By naming the father of each spy, the text stresses official tribal authority: these men did not act on personal impulse but carried the weight of their ancestral houses.

Placement within Naphtali’s Lineage

Naphtali was the sixth son of Jacob by Bilhah (Genesis 30:7-8). His descendants later settled in the fertile northern reaches of the Promised Land (Joshua 19:32-39), an area referred to by Isaiah as “Galilee of the nations” (Isaiah 9:1), and the very region where Jesus would begin His public ministry (Matthew 4:13-16). Vophsi’s name, though only cited once, links the wilderness generation directly to that future redemptive geography.

Role in the Narrative of the Spies

While Vophsi himself remained in camp, his son Nahbi stood among the majority who returned with a fearful report (Numbers 13:31-33). The collective unbelief of ten spies provoked divine judgment, delaying Israel’s entry into Canaan for forty years (Numbers 14:26-35). Thus Vophsi’s household became part of a cautionary lesson: tribal standing and covenant privilege do not exempt a family from the consequences of unbelief.

Theological Reflections

1. Covenant Accountability: The listing of fathers alongside their sons highlights the corporate solidarity of Israel. Spiritual decisions made by representatives affected entire households (compare Joshua 7:24-26).
2. Divine Faithfulness: Even though Naphtali’s spy contributed to a faithless report, the tribe still received its inheritance, demonstrating the unbreakable nature of God’s promise to the patriarchs (Deuteronomy 1:34-36; Joshua 19:32-39).
3. Hidden Saints: Scripture’s brief references to otherwise obscure individuals remind believers that God’s plan often advances through people who never gain public renown. Vophsi’s name, preserved for millennia, testifies that every life in covenant relationship with God matters (Malachi 3:16-17).

Ministerial Applications

Pastoral work frequently involves believers whose contributions seem small or unnoticed. Vophsi encourages leaders to record and remember the “ordinary” saints, assuring them that God values their faithfulness. Moreover, parents and mentors should note the influence they wield: the spiritual tone set in a home may shape the courage—or fear—of the next generation.

Connections to Christ and Redemption

The tribe of Naphtali’s heritage culminated in the ministry of Jesus, who fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy by bringing light to “the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali” (Matthew 4:15-16). Thus Vophsi, though separated from the Incarnation by centuries, forms one link in the chain leading to the Messiah’s appearance in Galilee. His inclusion in Numbers affirms that every family line under covenant history ultimately finds its significance in Christ (Galatians 3:29).

Summary

Vophsi, known only as the father of Nahbi, stands as a witness to the meticulous detail of Scripture, the shared responsibility of covenant communities, and the far-reaching implications of seemingly minor lives within God’s unfolding redemptive plan.

וָפְסִֽי׃ ופסי׃ vafeSi wā·p̄ə·sî wāp̄əsîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts