Lexical Summary Naphtali: Naphtali Original Word: נַפְתָּלִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Naphtali From pathal; my wrestling; Naphtali, a son of Jacob, with the tribe descended from him, and its territory -- Naphtali. see HEBREW pathal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pathal Definition a son of Jacob, also his desc. and the district settled by them NASB Translation Kedesh-naphtali* (1), Naphtali (50). Brown-Driver-Briggs נַפְתָּלִי proper name, masculine and of a tribe Naphtali, Νεφθαλει (μ), etc. (interpreted as my wrestling Genesis 30:8; perhaps originally crafty, cunning one); — 1 second son of Jacob and Bilhah Genesis 30:8 (J), Genesis 35:25; Genesis 46:24 (P), 1 Chronicles 2:2, compare Genesis 49:21 (poem). 2 as a tribe of Israel: a. Judges 1:33; Judges 4:10; Judges 5:18; Deuteronomy 33:23 (twice in verse) +; so (Hexateuch, only P) ׳בְּנֵי נ Judges 4:6; Numbers 1:42 6t., ׳מַטֵּה נ Numbers 2:29; 1 Kings 7:14 5t., ׳מַטֵּה בְּנֵי נ Numbers 10:27; Numbers 34:28; Joshua 19:39; ׳שַׁעַר נ Ezekiel 48:34 (in new Jerusalem); ׳אֶרֶץ נ 1 Kings 15:20; 2 Kings 15:29, compare Isaiah 8:23; ׳קֶדֶשׁ נ Judges 4:6; ׳הַר נ Joshua 20:7; ׳גְּבוּל נ Ezekiel 48:4, ׳יָ֫מָּה נ Ezekiel 48:3; ׳עָרֵי נ2Chronicles 16:4. b. as territorial name Deuteronomy 34:2 (JE) 1 Kings 4:15; 1 Chronicles 12:41 (van d. H. v.1 Chronicles 12:40), 2 Chronicles 34:6; Judges 6:35; Judges 7:23 might be a or b. Topical Lexicon Birth and NameNaphtali is the sixth son of Jacob and the second borne to him by Rachel’s handmaid Bilhah (Genesis 30:7–8). Rachel exclaimed, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and prevailed,” so she named him Naphtali (Genesis 30:8). The wrestling imagery foreshadows the tribe’s later agility and valor. Patriarchal Blessings Jacob’s final words portray Naphtali’s future character: “Naphtali is a doe let loose; he bears beautiful fawns” (Genesis 49:21). The doe suggests speed, freedom, and fruitfulness. Moses’ blessing amplifies these themes: “Naphtali, abounding in favor and full of the blessing of the LORD, take possession of the west and the south” (Deuteronomy 33:23). Thus the tribe is associated with grace, abundance, and land inheritance. Tribal Census and Camp Arrangement At Sinai, Naphtali numbered 53,400 fighting men (Numbers 1:43) and increased to 45,400 by the second census (Numbers 26:50). In the wilderness encampment they marched on the north side under Dan’s standard (Numbers 2:29–31), illustrating teamwork within the larger covenant community. Conquest and Allotment in Canaan Under Joshua the tribe helped conquer Canaan and received a fertile territory in the Galilee region (Joshua 19:32–39). Borders stretched from the Jordan northward to the highlands near Mount Hermon and westward to the Sea of Galilee. Key cities included Kedesh, Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, three of which were allotted to the Levites (Joshua 21:32). Judges and Tribal Leadership Barak son of Abinoam of Kedesh-naphtali answered Deborah’s call to rally ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun against Sisera (Judges 4:6–10). Their decisive victory revealed Naphtali’s courage and willingness to heed prophetic leadership. Later, Naphtali responded to Gideon’s trumpet (Judges 6:35) and pursued Midian with him (Judges 7:23). Role in United and Divided Monarchy When Saul formed the first standing army, soldiers from Naphtali joined with thirty-seven thousand shield and spear bearers (1 Chronicles 12:34). David honored the tribe’s contribution by welcoming “one thousand officers, together with thirty-seven thousand men armed with shield and spear” (1 Chronicles 12:34). After the kingdom divided, Naphtali became part of the northern realm (Israel). Ben-hadad of Aram later plundered its cities (1 Kings 15:20), fulfilling covenant warnings of foreign invasion. Prophetic Oracles Concerning Naphtali Isaiah spoke of future gloom lifted from “the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali” (Isaiah 9:1). Though first to experience Assyrian oppression (2 Kings 15:29), the region would also be first to see messianic light. Ezekiel’s millennial allotment restores Naphtali immediately south of Dan (Ezekiel 48:3–4), affirming the tribe’s enduring covenant identity. New Testament Fulfillment and Messianic Significance Matthew cites Isaiah’s prophecy when Jesus settled in Capernaum: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the Sea… the people sitting in darkness have seen a great light” (Matthew 4:15–16). Christ’s Galilean ministry—preaching, healing, and calling disciples—occurred largely within former Naphtali territory, demonstrating God’s grace toward a people once in deep darkness. Symbolic and Ministry Themes 1. Agility and Prompt Obedience – The doe imagery encourages believers to respond swiftly to God’s call, as Barak and his men did. Key Occurrences • Genesis 30:7–8; 35:25; 46:24 Forms and Transliterations בְּנַפְתָּלִ֑י בנפתלי וְנַפְתָּלִ֑י וְנַפְתָּלִ֖י וְנַפְתָּלִֽי׃ וּבְנַפְתָּלִ֔י וּזְבֻל֜וּן וּלְנַפְתָּלִ֣י וּמִנַּפְתָּלִ֖י ובנפתלי וזבלון ולנפתלי ומנפתלי ונפתלי ונפתלי׃ לְנַ֨פְתָּלִ֔י לנפתלי מִנַּפְתָּלִ֥י מנפתלי נַפְתָּלִ֑י נַפְתָּלִ֔י נַפְתָּלִ֖י נַפְתָּלִ֗י נַפְתָּלִ֜י נַפְתָּלִ֥י נַפְתָּלִֽי׃ נַפְתָּלִי֙ נפתלי נפתלי׃ bə·nap̄·tā·lî benaftaLi bənap̄tālî lə·nap̄·tā·lî leNaftaLi lənap̄tālî min·nap̄·tā·lî minnaftaLi minnap̄tālî naftaLi nap̄·tā·lî nap̄tālî ū·ḇə·nap̄·tā·lî ū·lə·nap̄·tā·lî ū·min·nap̄·tā·lî ū·zə·ḇu·lūn ūḇənap̄tālî ulenaftaLi ūlənap̄tālî uminnaftaLi ūminnap̄tālî uvenaftaLi ūzəḇulūn uzevuLun venaftaLi wə·nap̄·tā·lî wənap̄tālîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 30:8 HEB: וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ נַפְתָּלִֽי׃ NAS: And she named him Naphtali. KJV: and she called his name Naphtali. INT: named his name Naphtali Genesis 35:25 Genesis 46:24 Genesis 49:21 Exodus 1:4 Numbers 1:15 Numbers 1:42 Numbers 1:43 Numbers 2:29 Numbers 2:29 Numbers 7:78 Numbers 10:27 Numbers 13:14 Numbers 26:48 Numbers 26:50 Numbers 34:28 Deuteronomy 27:13 Deuteronomy 33:23 Deuteronomy 33:23 Deuteronomy 34:2 Joshua 19:32 Joshua 19:32 Joshua 19:39 Joshua 20:7 Joshua 21:6 51 Occurrences |
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