Naphtali

Person c. 1755 BC Chronological estimate ⓘ Open in tree

sixth-born son of Jacob (GEN 30:7), son of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid

Lineage: God › Adam › Seth › Enos › Cainan › Mahalaleel › Jared › Enoch › Methuselah › Lamech › Noah › Shem › Arphaxad › Cainan › Salah › Eber › Peleg › Reu › Serug › Nahor › Terah › Abraham › Isaac › Jacob › Naphtali

Names

en Naphtali
that struggles or fights
en Nephthalim · Also called
same as Naphtali
en Naphtali · Also called · H5321 none · GEN 30:8
wrestling
en Nepthalim,Nephthalim · Also called
he נַפְתָּלִֽי nafətaliy · H5321 · GEN 30:8
wrestling
he נַפְתָּלִי · H5321G
el Νεφθαλι Nephthali · none · GEN 30:8
el Νεφθαλείμ · G3508
bg Нефталим

Birth

Gen 30:8

Mentioned in (50)

Gen 30:8 Gen 35:25 Gen 46:24 Gen 49:21 Exod 1:4 Num 1:15 Num 1:42 Num 1:43 Num 2:29 Num 7:78 Num 10:27 Num 13:14 Num 26:48 Num 26:50 Num 34:28 Deut 27:13 Deut 33:23 Deut 34:2 Josh 19:32 Josh 19:39 Josh 20:7 Josh 21:6 Josh 21:32 Judg 1:33 Judg 4:6 Judg 4:10 Judg 5:18 Judg 6:35 Judg 7:23 1 Kgs 4:15 1 Kgs 7:14 1 Kgs 15:20 2 Kgs 15:29 1 Chr 2:2 1 Chr 6:62 1 Chr 6:76 1 Chr 7:13 1 Chr 12:34 1 Chr 12:40 1 Chr 27:19 2 Chr 16:4 2 Chr 34:6 Ps 68:27 Isa 9:1 Ezek 48:3 Ezek 48:4 Ezek 48:34 Matt 4:13 Matt 4:15 Rev 7:6

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Dates and sources (4)

Absolute years are conditional chronological estimates. A biblical passage may state an age or event, but does not by itself establish a BCE year. Different calendar systems are preserved separately.

Birth Theographic Matches the current date; this is not historical verification

Theographic signed year: -1754 · Calendar interpretation is unverified; the raw value is shown.

Person mentions; these are not evidence for this date: 49

Gen.30.8 Gen.35.25 Gen.46.24 Gen.49.21 Exod.1.4 Num.1.15 Num.1.42 Num.1.43 Num.2.29 Num.7.78 Num.10.27 Num.13.14 Num.26.48 Num.26.50 Num.34.28 Deut.27.13 Deut.33.23 Deut.34.2 Josh.19.32 Josh.19.39 Josh.20.7 Josh.21.6 Josh.21.32 Judg.1.33 Judg.4.6 Judg.4.10 Judg.5.18 Judg.6.35 Judg.7.23 1Kgs.4.15 1Kgs.7.14 1Kgs.15.20 2Kgs.15.29 1Chr.2.2 1Chr.6.62 1Chr.6.76 1Chr.7.13 1Chr.12.34 1Chr.12.40 1Chr.27.19 2Chr.16.4 2Chr.34.6 Ps.68.27 Isa.9.1 Ezek.48.3 Ezek.48.4 Ezek.48.34 Matt.4.13 Matt.4.15

Source record and calculation

naphtali_2149 · birthYear

theographic/People.csv · record 2137

SHA-256: 0349f36341cd7aa094c24b66595e816e7d4f1330887e778cead146faa0aba994
Birth BibleData Alternative estimate

BibleData BCE year: 1703 → ≈ 1703 BC

GEN 30:8

Source record and calculation

Birth_Naphtali_1 · bce_year

bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 82

The year of Naphtali_1's birth is the year Jacob_1 married Rachel_1 (2254) + time for Bilhah_1 to conceive and bear a second son (5) = 2259

*HYPOTHESIS: Jacob's marriage to Rachel + ~3 years for her to become frustrated with Leah's fertility and give Bilhah to Jacob + ~2 year for Bilhah to conceive and bear a second son *EXTRA-BIBLICAL SOURCE: Eliezer Shulman's "The Sequence of Events in the Old Testament" (page 28) places Naphtali's birth in the year 2197 AM, 5 years after Rachel is given to Jacob in marriage and 2 years after Rachel gives Bilhah to Jacob.

SHA-256: d12d2d3f85f8a3e8cd87e4fa3440d5e33561ac4de292de3beec1c814132479fb
Birth BibleData Alternative estimate

AH with conditional Ussher anchor: 2259 → ≈ 1746 BC

GEN 30:8

Source record and calculation

Birth_Naphtali_1 · event_year_ah

bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 82

The year of Naphtali_1's birth is the year Jacob_1 married Rachel_1 (2254) + time for Bilhah_1 to conceive and bear a second son (5) = 2259

*HYPOTHESIS: Jacob's marriage to Rachel + ~3 years for her to become frustrated with Leah's fertility and give Bilhah to Jacob + ~2 year for Bilhah to conceive and bear a second son *EXTRA-BIBLICAL SOURCE: Eliezer Shulman's "The Sequence of Events in the Old Testament" (page 28) places Naphtali's birth in the year 2197 AM, 5 years after Rachel is given to Jacob in marriage and 2 years after Rachel gives Bilhah to Jacob.

SHA-256: d12d2d3f85f8a3e8cd87e4fa3440d5e33561ac4de292de3beec1c814132479fb
Birth BibleData Unverified estimate without an established conversion

Shulman AM: 2197 · No established conversion to a BCE/CE year.

GEN 30:8

Source record and calculation

Birth_Naphtali_1 · shulman_am_year

bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 82

The year of Naphtali_1's birth is the year Jacob_1 married Rachel_1 (2254) + time for Bilhah_1 to conceive and bear a second son (5) = 2259

*HYPOTHESIS: Jacob's marriage to Rachel + ~3 years for her to become frustrated with Leah's fertility and give Bilhah to Jacob + ~2 year for Bilhah to conceive and bear a second son *EXTRA-BIBLICAL SOURCE: Eliezer Shulman's "The Sequence of Events in the Old Testament" (page 28) places Naphtali's birth in the year 2197 AM, 5 years after Rachel is given to Jacob in marriage and 2 years after Rachel gives Bilhah to Jacob.

SHA-256: d12d2d3f85f8a3e8cd87e4fa3440d5e33561ac4de292de3beec1c814132479fb

Family of origin

Father: Jacob (147)
Mother: Bilhah
Half-brother: Simeon
Half-brother: Reuben
Half-brother: Issachar
Half-brother: Zebulun
Half-sister: Dinah
Half-brother: Levi (137)
Half-brother: Judah
Brother: Dan
Half-brother: Asher
Half-brother: Joseph (110)
Half-brother: Benjamin
Half-brother: Gad

One-parent family

Son: Shillem
Son: Guni
Son: Jezer
Son: Jahzeel

Descendants (5)

Took part in (4)

Birth of Naphtali · c. 1754 BC
Joseph sold to Egypt · c. 1728 BC
7 years of famine · c. 1708 BC – 1701 BC
Joseph's brothers return to Egypt · c. 1706 BC – 1704 BC

Belonged to (1)

Tribe of Naphtali

Was born in (1)

Paddan-aram · c. 1746 BC

Naphtali Summary STEPBible TIPNR

Naphtali, the sixth son of Jacob and second son of Bilhah, was the founder of the Israelite tribe that bore his name.

Naphtali Article STEPBible TIPNR

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" (Gen 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 (Num 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 (Num 2:29). The tribe also had representatives among the twelve spies sent to explore Canaan (Num 13:14) and had a designated leader, Pedahel son of Ammihud, during the allocation of the Promised Land (Num 34:28).

The territory allotted to the tribe of Naphtali was in the northern part of Canaan, bordering Asher, Zebulun, and Issachar (Jos 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" (Gen 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" (Deu 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 (Jdg 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 Isa 9:1. The tribe is also listed among the twelve tribes of Israel sealed by God in the book of Revelation (Rev 7:6).

Naphtali Dictionary Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

My wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid (Gen. 30:8). When Jacob went down into Egypt, Naphtali had four sons (Gen. 46:24). Little is known of him as an individual.

Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Naphtali_1) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Naphtali@Gen.30.8-Rev) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, naphtali_2149)

Naphtali

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