Original Word: יַחְצְאֵלִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Yachts'eliy
Pronunciation: yahk-tseh-ay-LEE
Phonetic Spelling: (yakh-tseh-ay-lee')
KJV: Jahzeelites
NASB: Jahzeelites
Word Origin: [patronymically from H3183 (יַחצְּאֵל - Jahzeel)]

1. a Jachtseelite (collectively) or descendants of Jachtseel

Jahzeelites

Patronymically from Yachts'el; a Jachtseelite (collectively) or descendants of Jachtseel -- Jahzeelites.

see HEBREW Yachts'el

Word Origin
from Yachtseel
Definition
desc. of Jahzeel
NASB Translation
Jahzeelites (1).

יַחְצְאֵלִי adjective, of a people of foregoing; only with article as proper name collective, Numbers 26:48.

Name and Lineage

יַחְצְאֵלִי (Strong’s 3184) identifies an individual of the clan that descended from Jahzeel, the first-born son of Naphtali (compare Genesis 46:24 and 1 Chronicles 7:13). The form translated “Jahzeelite” designates a member of that family line rather than Jahzeel himself. Thus the word functions as a gentilic, situating the bearer within the broader tribe of Naphtali and under the patriarchal umbrella of Jacob-Israel.

Occurrences in Scripture

The only attested use is in the wilderness census recorded in Numbers 26:48:

“The descendants of Naphtali by their clans were: of Jahzeel, the Jahzeelite clan; of Guni, the Gunite clan; of Jezer, the Jezerite clan; and of Shillem, the Shillemite clan.”

Role in the Wilderness Census

The second census took place on the plains of Moab shortly before Israel crossed the Jordan. By naming each clan, Moses preserved tribal order, verified the military strength of each family group, and prepared the way for equitable land distribution in Canaan (Numbers 26:52-56). The Jahzeelite clan formed a distinct sub-tribe within Naphtali’s muster of 45,400 fighting men (Numbers 26:50). Their inclusion underscores the continuity of God’s promise to multiply Abraham’s seed (Genesis 15:5) and to allot territory to every household of Israel (Joshua 19:32-39).

Place within the Tribal Inheritance

When the tribal inheritance was assigned, Naphtali received a fertile portion in Galilee, stretching from the Sea of Galilee westward to the highlands near Mount Tabor. Although the Jahzeelites are not singled out in the later allotment lists, they would have occupied settlements within this region. Archaeological surveys reveal Iron Age villages such as Kedesh, Hazor, and other Galilean sites where Naphtalite families probably lived, traded, and participated in Israel’s worship at the central sanctuary.

Theological and Prophetic Reflections

1. Covenant Faithfulness: The appearance of so minor a clan in the sacred record demonstrates that “the LORD knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19), even when human memory might forget them.
2. Messianic Setting: Isaiah foretold that “in the latter time He will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations” (Isaiah 9:1). Matthew 4:12-17 notes that Jesus began His public ministry precisely in this Naphtalite territory, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. The Jahzeelites, as part of Naphtali, therefore shared in the land that first beheld the Light of the world.
3. Corporate Identity: The enumeration of the Jahzeelites within Naphtali affirms that every believer today belongs to a larger covenant family (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). No clan or gift is superfluous; each contributes to the whole.

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

• God values the individual within the collective. In ministry, small groups and overlooked persons deserve intentional shepherding.
• Genealogies teach continuity. A church mindful of its heritage remains grounded amid cultural change.
• Geographic context matters. Knowing that the gospel dawned in Naphtali encourages engagement in neglected or marginalized regions, trusting that God often begins great works in humble settings.

הַיַּחְצְאֵלִ֑י היחצאלי haiyachtzeeLi hay·yaḥ·ṣə·’ê·lî hayyaḥṣə’êlîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts