Lexical Summary
Naphtali: Naphtali
Original Word:נַפְתָּלִי
Part of Speech:proper name, masculine and of a tribe
Transliteration:Naphtaliy
Pronunciation:naf-taw-LEE
Phonetic Spelling:(naf-taw-lee')
KJV: Naphtali
NASB:Naphtali
Word Origin:[fromH6617 (פָּתַל - show yourself astute)]
1. my wrestling
2. Naphtali, a son of Jacob, with the tribe descended from him, and its territory
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Naphtali
Frompathal; my wrestling; Naphtali, a son of Jacob, with the tribe descended from him, and its territory -- Naphtali.
see HEBREWpathal
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
pathalDefinitiona son of Jacob, also his desc. and the district settled by them
NASB TranslationKedesh-naphtali* (1), Naphtali (50).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, (), etc. (interpreted as
my wrestlingGenesis 30:8; perhaps originally
crafty, cunning one); —
Genesis 30:8 (J),Genesis 35:25;Genesis 46:24 (P),1 Chronicles 2:2, compareGenesis 49:21 (poem).
Judges 1:33;Judges 4:10;Judges 5:18;Deuteronomy 33:23 (twice in verse) +; so (Hexateuch, only P)Judges 4:6;Numbers 1:42 6t.,Numbers 2:29;1 Kings 7:14 5t.,Numbers 10:27;Numbers 34:28;Joshua 19:39;Ezekiel 48:34 (in new Jerusalem);1 Kings 15:20;2 Kings 15:29, compareIsaiah 8:23;Judges 4:6;Joshua 20:7;Ezekiel 48:4,Ezekiel 48:3; 2Chronicles 16:4.
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 or
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.
2. Favor and Blessing – Moses linked Naphtali with divine favor, illustrating the spiritual blessings found in covenant faithfulness.
3. From Darkness to Light – Isaiah’s promise and Jesus’ fulfillment reveal redemption’s pattern: areas most afflicted by judgment can become centers of gospel illumination.
Key Occurrences
•Genesis 30:7–8; 35:25; 46:24
•Genesis 49:21
•Exodus 1:4
•Numbers 1:42–43; 2:29–31; 26:48–50; 34:28
•Deuteronomy 27:13; 33:23
•Joshua 19:32–39; 21:32
•Judges 1:33; 4:6–10; 5:18; 6:35; 7:23
•1 Kings 4:15; 15:20
•1 Chronicles 2:2; 6:76; 7:13; 12:34; 27:19
•2 Kings 15:29
•Isaiah 9:1
•Jeremiah 40:7
•Ezekiel 48:3–4
•Matthew 4:13–16
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 wənap̄tālî
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