Naphtali

נַפְתָּלִי · naph.ta.li · H5321GΝεφθαλείμ · Nephthaleim · G3508“that struggles or fights” Hitchcock's 186950 mentions in 15 books, most in Numbers (10)

Who he was

Naphtali was the sixth son of Israel (or 'Jacob') and the second son of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant (Gen.30.8; 35.25). His birth was celebrated by Rachel, who had been struggling with infertility. She named him Naphtali, saying, "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed" (Genesis 30:8).

As one of the twelve tribes of Israel, Naphtali played a significant role in the history of God's chosen people. During the Exodus, the tribe of Naphtali was led by Ahira son of Enan (Numbers 1:15) and was counted among the Israelite tribes in the wilderness (Num.1.42-43; 26.48-50).

In the arrangement of the Israelite camp, Naphtali was positioned on the north side, along with the tribes of Dan and Asher (Numbers 2:29). The tribe also had representatives among the twelve spies sent to explore Canaan (Numbers 13:14) and had a designated leader, Pedahel son of Ammihud, during the allocation of the Promised Land (Numbers 34:28).

The territory allotted to the tribe of Naphtali was in the northern part of Canaan, bordering Asher, Zebulun, and Issachar (Joshua 19:32–39). The region was known for its fertile lands and abundant resources, as reflected in Jacob's blessing: "Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns" (Genesis 49:21) and Moses' blessing: "Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake" (Deuteronomy 33:23).

Throughout Israel's history, the tribe of Naphtali played various roles. They participated in the battles against Sisera (Jdg.4.6, 10; 5.18) and the Midianites (Jdg.6.35; 7.23). The tribe also provided skilled warriors to support David (1Ch.12.34, 40) and was known for its wise and articulate people (Judges 5:18; Psalm Jdg.68.27).

In the New Testament, Naphtali is mentioned in connection with Jesus' ministry in the region of Galilee (Mat.4.13, 15), fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 9:1. The tribe is also listed among the twelve tribes of Israel sealed by God in the book of Revelation (Revelation 7:6).

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

FatherIsraelMotherBilhahSiblingsReuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, Joseph, BenjaminChildrenJahzeel, Guni, Jezer, Shillem

Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

50 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

Genesis4 mentions

Genesis 30:8Rachel said, “I have wrestled with my sister with mighty wrestlings, and have prevailed.” She named him Naphtali.Genesis 35:25The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali.Genesis 46:24The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.Genesis 49:21“Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns.

Exodus1 mention

Exodus 1:4Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Numbers10 mentions

Numbers 1:15Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan.”Numbers 1:42Of the children of Naphtali, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go…Numbers 1:43those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty-three thousand four hundred.Numbers 2:29“The tribe of Naphtali: the prince of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.Numbers 7:78On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali,Numbers 10:27Ahira the son of Enan was over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali.Numbers 13:14Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.Numbers 26:48The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites;Numbers 26:50These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were counted of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.Numbers 34:28Of the tribe of the children of Naphtali a prince, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.”

Deuteronomy3 mentions

Deuteronomy 27:13These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.Deuteronomy 33:23About Naphtali he said, “Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of Yahweh’s blessing, Possess the west and the south.”Deuteronomy 34:2and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the Western Sea,

Joshua5 mentions

Joshua 19:32The sixth lot came out for the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.Joshua 19:39This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages.Joshua 20:7They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.Joshua 21:6The children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of…Joshua 21:32Out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Hammothdor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands: three…

Judges6 mentions

Judges 1:33Naphtali didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but he lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants…Judges 4:6She sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh Naphtali, and said to him, “Hasn’t Yahweh, the God of Israel, commanded, ‘Go and lead the way to Mount Tabor, and take with you…Judges 4:10Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him; and Deborah went up with him.Judges 5:18Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.Judges 6:35He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they also were gathered together to follow him. He sent messengers to Asher, to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.Judges 7:23The men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali, out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued Midian.

1 Kings3 mentions

1 Kings 4:15Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife);1 Kings 7:14He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill to work all works in…1 Kings 15:20Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of…

2 Kings1 mention

2 Kings 15:29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he…

1 Chronicles7 mentions

1 Chronicles 2:2Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.1 Chronicles 6:62To the sons of Gershom, according to their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in…1 Chronicles 6:76and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Hammon with its pasture lands, and Kiriathaim with its pasture lands.1 Chronicles 7:13The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, Shallum, and the sons of Bilhah.1 Chronicles 12:34Of Naphtali: one thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty-seven thousand.1 Chronicles 12:40Moreover those who were near to them, as far as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on oxen: supplies of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of…1 Chronicles 27:19of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel;

2 Chronicles2 mentions

2 Chronicles 16:4Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.2 Chronicles 34:6He did this in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even to Naphtali, around in their ruins.

Psalms1 mention

Psalms 68:27There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

Isaiah1 mention

Isaiah 9:1But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made…

Ezekiel3 mentions

Ezekiel 48:3“By the border of Asher, from the east side even to the west side, Naphtali, one portion.Ezekiel 48:4“By the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, Manasseh, one portion.Ezekiel 48:34“At the west side four thousand five hundred reeds, with their three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one.

Matthew2 mentions

Matthew 4:13Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,Matthew 4:15“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,

Revelation1 mention

Revelation 7:6of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand,

What the dictionary says

My wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

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Sources

STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain