A son of the patriarch Jacob by Bilhah. He is the founder of the tribe of Naphtali.
About Naphtali
One of Jacob’s 12 sons (Genesis 35:25; 1 Chronicles 2:2). He was the second of two sons borne to Jacob by Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. Overjoyed at giving Jacob another son, Rachel named the boy Naphtali, meaning "my wrestling." She named him Naphtali because of her conflict with Leah: "In my great struggles, I have wrestled with my sister and won" (Genesis 30:8). Naphtali eventually moved his family with Jacob to Egypt (Genesis 46:24; Exodus 1:4). He had four sons (Numbers 26:50; 1 Chronicles 7:13). His descendants became one of the 12 tribes of Israel (Numbers 1:43).
See also Naphtali, Tribe of.
Hill country comprising the majority of Naphtali’s territory, in which the town of Kedesh was set apart as a city of refuge ( Jos 20:7 ). See also Cities of Refuge ; Naphtali,...
Naphtali, Tribe of ArticleThe tribe of Naphtali was one of the 12 tribes of Israel. They moved from Egypt to Canaan and settled in the northern part of Canaan, in the hills of Galilee. The Bible...
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Israel, Bilhah
- Sibling
- Dan (Patriarch)
- Half-siblings 11
- Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Gad (Patriarch), Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, Joseph, Benjamin
- Children 4
- Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, Shillem
- Nieces & Nephews 53
- Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Carmi, Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zerah, Shaul, Gershon, Kohath, Merari, Jochebed, Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, Zerah, Hushim (Genesis 46:23), Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arod, Areli, Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi (Genesis 46:17), Beriah, Serah, Tola, Puah, Jashub, Shimron, Sered, Elon (Genesis 46:14), Jahleel, Manasseh (Son of Joseph), Ephraim, Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, Ard, Ahiram, Jediael
- Uncle
- Esau
- Cousins 5
- Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, Korah
Key References
Then Rachel said, “In my great struggles, I have wrestled with my sister and won.” So she named him Naphtali.
Concerning Naphtali he said: “Naphtali is abounding with favor, full of the blessing of the LORD; he shall take possession of the sea and the south.”
from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
All Scripture References (50)
Genesis (4)
Then Rachel said, “In my great struggles, I have wrestled with my sister and won.” So she named him Naphtali.
The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.
The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.
Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.
Exodus (1)
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.
Numbers (10)
and from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”
From the sons of Naphtali, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,
those registered to the tribe of Naphtali numbered 53,400.
Next will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the Naphtalites is Ahira son of Enan,
On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the Naphtalites, drew near.
and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali.
from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;
These were the descendants of Naphtali by their clans: The Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel, the Gunite clan from Guni,
These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.
and Pedahel son of Ammihud, a leader from the tribe of Naphtali.”
Deuteronomy (3)
And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
Concerning Naphtali he said: “Naphtali is abounding with favor, full of the blessing of the LORD; he shall take possession of the sea and the south.”
all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea,
Joshua (5)
The sixth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Naphtali:
This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Naphtali, including these cities and their villages.
So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
The descendants of Gershon received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan—three cities, together with their pasturelands.
Judges (6)
Naphtali failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. So the Naphtalites also lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served them as forced laborers.
She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.
where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.
Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.
Calling them to arms, Gideon sent messengers throughout Manasseh, as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they came up to meet him.
Then the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.
1 Kings (3)
Ahimaaz in Naphtali (he had married Basemath, a daughter of Solomon);
He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.
And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and the whole land of Naphtali, including the region of Chinnereth.
2 Kings (1)
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.
1 Chronicles (7)
Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
To the rest of the Kohathites, ten cities were allotted from the half-tribe of Manasseh.
The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum—the descendants of Bilhah.
From Dan: 28,600 prepared for battle.
over Zebulun was Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; over Naphtali was Jerimoth son of Azriel;
2 Chronicles (2)
And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
Josiah did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them.
Psalms (1)
Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf.
Isaiah (1)
Ezekiel (3)
Naphtali will have one portion bordering the territory of Asher from east to west.
Manasseh will have one portion bordering the territory of Naphtali from east to west.
And on the west side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, there will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali.
Matthew (2)
Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
Revelation (1)
from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,