Deuteronomy 33:23 — Word Study
WLCוּלְנַפְתָּלִ֣י אָמַ֔ר נַפְתָּלִי֙ שְׂבַ֣ע רָצ֔וֹן וּמָלֵ֖א בִּרְכַּ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה יָ֥ם וְדָר֖וֹם יְרָֽשָׁה׃ ס
BSAConcerning NaphtaliNaphtâlîy [satisfied, filled with delight] he saidʼâmar■ NaphtaliNaphtâlîy is aboundingsâbêaʻ [full, overflowing] with favorrâtsôwn [acceptance, delight] fullmâlêʼ [complete, filled to the brim] of the blessingBᵉrâkâh [gift, prosperity] of the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the covenant God] he shall take possessionyârash [occupy, inherit] of the seayâm [the west, the Mediterranean] and the southdârôwm [the direction south, the southern region]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּלְנַפְתָּלִ֣י | and of Naphtali | Conjunction, preposition, noun proper masculine |
| אָמַ֔ר | he said | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| נַפְתָּלִי֙ | Naphtali | Noun proper masculine |
| שְׂבַ֣ע | [is] satisfied of | Adj |
| רָצ֔וֹן | favor | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וּמָלֵ֖א | and full | Conjunction |
| בִּרְכַּ֣ת | [the] blessing of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| יְהוָ֑ה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| יָ֥ם | [the] west | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְדָר֖וֹם | and [the] south | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יְרָֽשָׁה׃ ס | take possession of ! | Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | 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.” |
| KJV | ¶ And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south. |
| ASV | And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full with the blessing of Jehovah, Possess thou the west and the south. |
| YLT | And of Naphtali he said: — O Naphtali, satisfied with pleasure, And full of the blessing of Jehovah, West and south possess thou. |
| WEB | About Naphtali he said, “Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of Yahweh’s blessing, Possess the west and the south.” |
| BBE | And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, made glad with grace and full of the blessing of the Lord: the sea and its fishes will be his. |
Where they part company is שְׂבַ֣ע — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main clause followed by descriptive phrases that elaborate on Naphtali's qualities and his inheritance.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָמַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 33:23
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Blessing of Naphtaligenerated
Deuteronomy 33:23 is part of Moses' farewell address, where he blesses each tribe of Israel. In this verse, he highlights Naphtali's abundance and favor, promising that he will inherit land by the sea and in the south. This blessing emphasizes the richness and prosperity that Naphtali will experience, reflecting the significance of tribal identity in Israel's history.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 49:21 | Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns. |
| 2 | Psalm 36:8 | They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from Your river of delights. |
| 3 | Psalm 90:14 | Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. |
| 4 | Isaiah 9:1–2 | Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations: |
| 5 | Jeremiah 31:14 | I will fill the souls of the priests abundantly, and will fill My people with My goodness,” declares the LORD. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שְׂבַ֣ע, se.Va'generated
The word שָׂבֵעַ (seva`) means satisfied or sated, indicating a state of fullness. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of being filled to capacity, often in a positive sense. In this context, it suggests that Naphtali is not just full, but overflowing with blessings.
This adjective captures both physical and spiritual abundance, emphasizing the richness of Naphtali's inheritance and favor from God. The use of this term in the blessing highlights the significance of divine favor in the lives of the tribes of Israel.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has satisfied, and so do the KJV, ASV, and others, maintaining the sense of fullness and abundance.
Where others part company with the BSB is in the rendering of שְׂבַ֣ע: overflowing (NETB) suggests a slightly different nuance, focusing on the idea of excess rather than simple fullness.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in this verse is אָמַר, he said, which governs the entire statement about Naphtali. The structure includes several phrases that describe Naphtali's attributes and his inheritance.
The sentence is built around a series of adjective phrases that elaborate on Naphtali's qualities, emphasizing the richness of his blessing and the geographical inheritance he is promised.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שְׂבַ֣ע as πλησμονὴ, which carries a similar meaning of fullness or satisfaction. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of Naphtali's abundant blessings.
The use of πλησμονὴ indicates a focus on the state of being filled, aligning with the Hebrew concept while also resonating with Greek audiences familiar with the idea of abundance.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 33:23 shares Moses' blessing for Naphtali, describing him as full of favor and the LORD's blessings. He is promised to inherit land by the sea and in the south, emphasizing the tribe's prosperity and significance.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that Naphtali will experience abundance and fulfillment in blessings from the LORD, indicating a prosperous future.
This blessing establishes Naphtali's identity and inheritance as part of the tribes of Israel, highlighting his role and the favor he receives from God.
The blessing illustrates God's commitment to fulfilling His promises to the tribes of Israel, showing that He provides for their needs and grants them favor.
We can learn about the importance of recognizing and embracing God's blessings in our own lives, and the significance of our identity within a community.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I recognize God's blessings in my life, similar to Naphtali's?
- How can I embrace the fullness of God's favor in my daily experiences?
- What does it mean for me to take possession of the blessings God has given me?
- How can I support others in recognizing their own blessings and inheritance?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 33:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd of Naphtali he said,.... The tribe of Naphtali, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: O Naphtali, satisfied with favour; with the favour of men, which to have is a great blessing; and as he
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 33 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south. Of Naphtali he said.
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 33 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWith favour; either, 1. With God’ s favour, as it follows; or, 2. With men’ s favour or good-will, his carriage being peaceable, courteous, and obliging, as is intimated, , according to the common translation: see the notes there. Full with the blessing of the Lord, i.e. seated in a pleasant, and fertile, and happy soil; such as Galilee (in which their share lay) eminently was, as Josephus and others report. The west and the south, or, the sea and the south. This is not to be understood of the places, that his lot should fall there, for he was rather in the east and north of the land; but of the pleasures and commodities of the west, or of the sea, which were conveyed to him from his…
Read Matthew Poole on Deuteronomy 33 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDeuteronomy 33:23 And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.Ver. 23. Satisfied with favour, and full, &c.] Fulness of blessing is then only a mercy, when the soul of a man is satisfied with favour: when from a full table and a cup running over, a man can comfortably infer with David, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." One may have outward things by God’ s providence, and not out of his favour. Esau had the like blessing as Jacob, but not with a "God give thee the dew of heaven," as he. Or, God may give temporals…
Read John Trapp on Deuteronomy 33 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 23. O Naphtali, satisfied with favour] Though this may refer to the very great fertility of the country that fell to this tribe, yet certainly something more is intended. Scarcely any of the tribes was more particularly favoured by the wondrous mercy and kindness of God, than this and the tribe of Zebulun. The light of the glorious Gospel of Christ shone brightly here, Matthew 4:13; Matthew 4:15-16. Christ's chief residence was at Capernaum in this tribe, Matthew 9:1; Mr 2:1; and this city, through Christ's constant residence, and the mighty miracles he wrought in it, is represented as being exalted unto heaven, Matthew 11:23. And it is generally allowed that the apostles were…
Read AdamClarke on Deuteronomy 33 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges23And of Naphtali he said: Naphtali sated with favour, And full of the blessing of the Lord, Sea and South shall he hold. 23. The first two lines reflect the extraordinary fertility of mount Naphtali (Joshua 20:7) i.e. Upper Galilee between the Lake on the E. and the territory of Asher on the W., ‘an undulating tableland arable and everywhere tilled, with swelling hills … covered with shrubs and trees’ (Robinson); along with the still more exuberantly fertile plain of Gennesaret (HGHL, 417–421, 446 f. with citations in proof from Josephus, etc.). satisfied with favour] Cp. Psalms 145:16. the sea] Not the Mediterranean (Sam. the West) but the sea of Kinnéreth, Deuteronomy 3:17. the south]…
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 33 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleSatisfied with favor - Compare Genesis 49:21 and note. The west and the south - i.
Read Albert Barnes on Deuteronomy 33 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible23. O Naphtali, satisfied with favour — In the blessing of Jacob, Naphtali is compared to a gazelle. Here Moses speaks of the tribe as having favour with Jehovah.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 33 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
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.”
About Naphtali he said, “Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of Yahweh’s blessing, Possess the west and the south.”
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.”
Of Naphtali he said: O Naphtali, overflowing with favor, and full of the Lord’s blessing, possess the west and south.
Tyndale line
¶ And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.
And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full with the blessing of Jehovah, Possess thou the west and the south.
And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, And full with the blessing of the LORD: Possess thou the west and the south.
And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.
Also of Naphtali he sayd, O Naphtali, satisfied with fauour, and filled with the blessing of the Lord, possesse the West and the South.
Strictly literal
And of Naphtali he said, Naphtali, satisfied with favour, And full of the blessing of Jehovah, Possess thou the west and the south.
And of Naphtali he said: — O Naphtali, satisfied with pleasure, And full of the blessing of Jehovah, West and south possess thou.
And of Naphtali he said: O Naphtali, satisfied with pleasure, || And full of the blessing of YHWH, || Possess [the] west and [the] south.
And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord, take thou possession of the west and the south.
About Naphtali, Moses said: Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of Yahweh, take possession of the land to the west and south.
From the Latin
And to Nephtali he said: Nephtali shall enjoy abundance, and shall be full of the blessings of the Lord: he shall possess the sea and the south.
Simplified
To Naphtali he said: “Naphtali is really favored, full of the Lord's blessing. He shall take over the land to the west and south.”
And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, made glad with grace and full of the blessing of the Lord: the sea and its fishes will be his.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in their wording, with only minor variations in the order and choice of words. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, using ימה for 'sea' and יירשׁ for 'take possession', indicating a different nuance in the inheritance.
וּלְנַפְתָּלִ֣י אָמַ֔ר נַפְתָּלִי֙ שְׂבַ֣ע רָצ֔וֹן וּמָלֵ֖א בִּרְכַּ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה יָ֥ם וְדָר֖וֹם יְרָֽשָׁה׃ ס
11 of the 11 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ולנפתלי אמר נפתלי שׂבע ורצון ומלא ברכת יהוה ימה ודרום יירשׁ
2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: ימה (sea), יירשׁ (trample down)
[ולנפתלי] [אמר] [נפתלי] [שבע] [רצון] [ומלא] ברכת יהוה [ים] [ודרום] [ירש׳ה]
1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 9 supplied entire by an editor.
[ולנפתלי] [אמר] נפתלי שבע [רצון] [ומלא] [ברכת] [יהוה] [ים] [ודרום] [ירש׳ה]
1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 9 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 33:23
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
נַפְתָּלִי (Naphtali) refers to a son of Jacob and the tribe that descended from him, as well as the territory assigned to that tribe. The name is derived from a root meaning 'my wrestling.' He is first mentioned in Genesis 30:8, and is noted to be the second son of Jacob by Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid.
נַפְתָּלִי 61 n.pr.m. et trib. Naphtali
base
H5321 נַפְתָּלִי Naphtali
5321 Naphtaliy naf-taw-lee'
from 6617; my wrestling; Naphtali, a son of Jacob, with the
tribe descended from him, and its territory:--Naphtali.
see HEBREW for 06617
נַפְתָּלִי (naph.ta.li) — Naphtali.
A man of the tribe of Naphtali living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.8;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Bilhah (H1090A);
brother of: Dan (H1835H);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Jahzeel (H3183), Guni (H1476), Jezer (H3337) and Shillem (H8006)
Also named: Nephthaleim (Νεφθαλείμ "Naphtali" G3508)
§ Naphtali = "wrestling"
1) the 5th son of Jacob and the 2nd by Bilhah the handmaid of Rachel
2) the tribe descended from Naphtali the son of Jacob
3) the territory assigned to the tribe of Naphtali
נַפְתָּלִי (naph.ta.li) — (Kedesh)-naphtali.
Combined with qe.desh (קֶ֫דֶשׁ "Kedesh" H6943)
§ Naphtali = "wrestling"
Conj | Prep | N-proper — Conjunction · preposition · noun proper masculineHC/R/Npm
naf'-ta-li (naphtali; Nephthaleim):
I. THE PATRIARCH
1. Name
2. Circumstances of His Birth
3. Historical and Traditional Details
II. TRIBE OF NAPHTALI
1. Its Relative Position
2. Its Location in Palestine
3. Physical Features
4. Distinction of the Tribe
5. Sites and Inhabitants
6. Labors of Jesus in This District
I. The Patriarch.
1. Name:
The 5th son of Jacob, and the 2nd born to him by Rachel's handmaid, Bilhah. He was full brother of Da (Ge 30:7).
At his birth Rachel is said to have exclaimed, naphtule 'Elohim niphtalti, "wrestlings of God"--i.e. "mighty wrestlings"--"have I wrestled."
2. Circumstances of His Birth:
Her sister's fruitfulness was a sore trial to the barren Rachel. By her artifice she had obtained children, the offspring of her maid ranking as her own; and thus her reproach of childlessness was removed. The name Naphtali given to…
Naphtali
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.
(wrestling), the fifth son of Jacob; the second child name to him by Bilhah, Rachel’s slave. His birth and the bestowal of his name are recorded in (Genesis 30:8) When the census was taken at Mount Sinai the tribe of Naphtali numbered no less than 53,400 fighting men, (Numbers 1:43; 2:50) but when the borders of the promised land were reached, its numbers were reduced to, 45,400. (Numbers 26:48-50) During the march through the wilderness Naphtali occupied a position on the north of the sacred tent with Dan and Asher. (Numbers 2:25-31) In the apportionment of the land, the lot of Naphtali was enclosed on three sides by those of other tribes. On the west lay Asher, on the…
The sixth son of Jacob, by Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid, Ge 30:8. We know but few particulars of the lie of Naphtali. His sons were four, Ge 46:24. The patriarch Jacob, when he gave his blessing, said, as it is in the English Bible, "Naphtali is a hind let loose; he giveth goodly words," Ge 49:21. For an illustration of this passage, see HIND.
The tribe of Naphtali, called Nephtalim in Mt 4:15, were located in a rich and fertile portion of northern Palestine; having Asher on the west, the upper Jordan and part of the sea of Tiberias on the east; and running north into the Lebanon range, some lower offshoots of which prolonged to the south formed the "mountains of Naphtali,"…
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
נַפְתָּלִי (Naphtali) refers to a son of Jacob and the tribe that descended from him, as well as the territory assigned to that tribe. The name is derived from a root meaning 'my wrestling.' He is first mentioned in Genesis 30:8, and is noted to be the second son of Jacob by Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid.
נַפְתָּלִי 61 n.pr.m. et trib. Naphtali
base
H5321 נַפְתָּלִי Naphtali
5321 Naphtaliy naf-taw-lee'
from 6617; my wrestling; Naphtali, a son of Jacob, with the
tribe descended from him, and its territory:--Naphtali.
see HEBREW for 06617
נַפְתָּלִי (naph.ta.li) — Naphtali.
A man of the tribe of Naphtali living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.8;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Bilhah (H1090A);
brother of: Dan (H1835H);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Jahzeel (H3183), Guni (H1476), Jezer (H3337) and Shillem (H8006)
Also named: Nephthaleim (Νεφθαλείμ "Naphtali" G3508)
§ Naphtali = "wrestling"
1) the 5th son of Jacob and the 2nd by Bilhah the handmaid of Rachel
2) the tribe descended from Naphtali the son of Jacob
3) the territory assigned to the tribe of Naphtali
נַפְתָּלִי (naph.ta.li) — (Kedesh)-naphtali.
Combined with qe.desh (קֶ֫דֶשׁ "Kedesh" H6943)
§ Naphtali = "wrestling"
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
naf'-ta-li (naphtali; Nephthaleim):
I. THE PATRIARCH
1. Name
2. Circumstances of His Birth
3. Historical and Traditional Details
II. TRIBE OF NAPHTALI
1. Its Relative Position
2. Its Location in Palestine
3. Physical Features
4. Distinction of the Tribe
5. Sites and Inhabitants
6. Labors of Jesus in This District
I. The Patriarch.
1. Name:
The 5th son of Jacob, and the 2nd born to him by Rachel's handmaid, Bilhah. He was full brother of Da (Ge 30:7).
At his birth Rachel is said to have exclaimed, naphtule 'Elohim niphtalti, "wrestlings of God"--i.e. "mighty wrestlings"--"have I wrestled."
2. Circumstances of His Birth:
Her sister's fruitfulness was a sore trial to the barren Rachel. By her artifice she had obtained children, the offspring of her maid ranking as her own; and thus her reproach of childlessness was removed. The name Naphtali given to…
Naphtali
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.
(wrestling), the fifth son of Jacob; the second child name to him by Bilhah, Rachel’s slave. His birth and the bestowal of his name are recorded in (Genesis 30:8) When the census was taken at Mount Sinai the tribe of Naphtali numbered no less than 53,400 fighting men, (Numbers 1:43; 2:50) but when the borders of the promised land were reached, its numbers were reduced to, 45,400. (Numbers 26:48-50) During the march through the wilderness Naphtali occupied a position on the north of the sacred tent with Dan and Asher. (Numbers 2:25-31) In the apportionment of the land, the lot of Naphtali was enclosed on three sides by those of other tribes. On the west lay Asher, on the…
The sixth son of Jacob, by Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid, Ge 30:8. We know but few particulars of the lie of Naphtali. His sons were four, Ge 46:24. The patriarch Jacob, when he gave his blessing, said, as it is in the English Bible, "Naphtali is a hind let loose; he giveth goodly words," Ge 49:21. For an illustration of this passage, see HIND.
The tribe of Naphtali, called Nephtalim in Mt 4:15, were located in a rich and fertile portion of northern Palestine; having Asher on the west, the upper Jordan and part of the sea of Tiberias on the east; and running north into the Lebanon range, some lower offshoots of which prolonged to the south formed the "mountains of Naphtali,"…
שָׂבֵעַ (sabea`) means sated or satisfied, with a nuance of being surfeited. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of being full, and can carry both positive and negative connotations. The word appears in contexts that reflect a state of abundance or excess.
שָׂבֵעַ adj. sated, satisfied, surfeited
base
H7649 שָׂבֵעַ sated, satisfied, surfeited
7649 sabea` saw-bay'-ah
from 7646; satiated (in a pleasant or disagreeable
sense):--full (of), satisfied (with).
see HEBREW for 07646
שָׂבֵעַ (sa.ve.a) — sated.
1) sated, satisfied, surfeited
1a) sated, abounding, satisfied
1b) surfeited (bad sense)
Adj — AdjHAamsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
רָצוֹן (ratsown) refers to concepts of goodwill, favor, acceptance, and will. It encompasses ideas of delight, desire, and pleasure, particularly in the context of personal relationships and sacrifices. The word is derived from a root meaning to delight, and it captures both voluntary will and the notion of being acceptable.
רָצוֹן n.[m.] goodwill, favour, acceptance, will
goodwill, favour
acceptance, of persons, offering sacrifice
will, desire, pleasure
base
H7522 רָצוֹן goodwill, favour, acceptance, will . goodwill, favour
. acceptance, of persons, offering sacrifice
. will, desire, pleasure
7522 ratsown raw-tsone'
or ratson {raw-tsone'}; from 7521; delight (especially as
shown):--(be) acceptable(-ance, -ed), delight, desire,
favour, (good) pleasure, (own, self, voluntary) will,
as...(what) would.
see HEBREW for 07521
רָצוֹן (ra.tson) — acceptance.
1) pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will
1a) goodwill, favour
1b) acceptance
1c) will, desire, pleasure, self-will
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
fa'-ver (chen, ratson, with other Hebrew words; charis): Means generally good will, acceptance, and the benefits flowing from these; in older usage it meant also the countenance, hence, appearance. Alternating in English Versions of the Bible with "grace," it is used chiefly of man, but sometimes also of God (Ge 18:3; 30:27; 39:21; Ex 3:21; 2Sa 15:25, "in the eyes of Yahweh," etc.). It is used perhaps in the sense of "countenance" in Pr 31:30, "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain" (the King James Version), where for "favor" the Revised Version (British and American) has "grace"; the reference is to external appearance. "Favored" is used in the sense of "appearance" in…
→ See GOD, GRACE OF
מָלֵא (male') means 'full' and can refer to fullness in both literal and figurative senses. It encompasses concepts of filling and completeness, and can also be used adverbially. The word is derived from a root meaning to fill, and it appears in contexts related to abundance or multitude.
H4392 מָלֵא full
4392 male' maw-lay'
from 4390; full (literally or figuratively) or filling
(literally); also (concretely) fulness; adverbially,
fully:--X she that was with child, fill(-ed, -ed with),
full(-ly), multitude, as is worth.
see HEBREW for 04390
מָלֵא (ma.le) — full.
1) full, fulness, that which fills
1a) fully (adv)
Conj | Adj — ConjunctionHC/Aamsa
בְּרָכָה (berakah) means 'blessing' and encompasses a range of meanings including prosperity, praise of God, gifts, and treaties of peace. It is derived from the root word for 'to bless.' The entries highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
בְּרָכָה n.f. blessing
blessing
source of blessing
blessing, prosperity
blessing, praise of God
a gift, present
treaty of peace
base
H1293 בְּרָכָה blessing
1293 Brakah ber-aw-kaw'
from 1288; benediction; by implication prosperity:--blessing,
liberal, pool, present.
see HEBREW for 01288
בְּרָכָה (be.ra.khah) — blessing.
1) blessing
2) (source of) blessing
3) blessing, prosperity
4) blessing, praise of God
5) a gift, present
6) treaty of peace
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
יָם (yam) means 'sea' and refers to various large bodies of water, including the Mediterranean, Red, and Dead Seas, as well as the Sea of Galilee. It can also denote a mighty river like the Nile and has geographical implications, indicating directions such as west or south. The term is derived from a root meaning to roar, suggesting the noise of breaking surf.
יָם 390 n.m. sea
base
H3220 יָם sea
3220 yam yawm
from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in
noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the
article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or
an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the
south:--sea (X -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern,
side, -ward).
יָם (yam) — sea.
: sea
1) sea
1a) Mediterranean Sea
1b) Red Sea
1c) Dead Sea
1d) Sea of Galilee
1e) sea (general)
1f) mighty river (Nile)
1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court)
1h) seaward, west, westward
יָם (yam) — sea: west.
: west
1) sea
1a) Mediterranean Sea
1b) Red Sea
1c) Dead Sea
1d) Sea of Galilee
1e) sea (general)
1f) mighty river (Nile)
1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court)
1h) seaward, west, westward
יָם (yam) — (Mt. Ephron in the) West.
This name means sea, seaward, westward
Another name of eph.ron (עֶפְרוֹן "(Mount )Ephron" H6085H)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
(1) Usually (yam), "sea" because the Mediterranean lies to the West of Palestine; not usually in figurative expressions; but compare Ho 11:10.
(2) Often (ma`arabh); compare Arabic (gharb), and (maghrib), "west" (maghrib-ush-shems), or simply (maghrib), "sunset."
(3) (mebho' ha-chemesh), "entrance of the sun," (mabho', bo'), "to come in." (Just as mizrach, is the rising of the sun, or east, so mabho' (or ma'arabh], is the setting of the sun, or west: "From the rising of the sun (mizrach-shemesh) unto the going down (mabho) thereof" (Ps 50:1; compare 113:3; Mal 1:11).)
(4) (dusme, from duo), "to enter," "sink," "set." The Greek usage is parallel to the Hebrew just cited: "Many shall come from the east anatole, "rising") and the…
דָּרוֹם (darowm) means 'south' and is noted for its poetic and late usage. The word's derivation is uncertain, but it specifically refers to the direction of the south and can also denote the south wind.
דָּרוֹם n.m. south (poet. & late)
base
H1864 דָּרוֹם south (poet. & late)
1864 darowm daw-rome'
of uncertain derivation; the south; poet. the south
wind:--south.
דָּרוֹם (da.rom) — south.
south
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
south:
(1) neghebh, according BDB from [?] naghabh, meaning "to be dry," the word most often used, in the Revised Version (British and American) capitalized (South) in those places where it seems to denote a particular region, i.e. to the South of Judah.
(2) yamin, "right hand," "right." The derived meaning, "south," seems to imply an eastern posture in prayer in which the right hand is toward the South; compare Arabic yamin, "right," and yemen, "Yemen," a region in Southwestern Arabia.
South
Heb. Negeb, that arid district to the south of Palestine through which lay the caravan route from Central Palestine to Egypt (Gen. 12:9; 13:1, 3; 46:1-6). “The Negeb comprised a considerable but irregularly-shaped tract of country, its main portion stretching from the mountains and lowlands of Judah in the north to the mountains of Azazemeh in the south, and from the Dead Sea and southern Ghoron the east to the Mediterranean on the west.” In Ezek. 20:46 (21:1 in Heb.) three different Hebrew words are all rendered “south.” (1) “Set thy face toward the south” (Teman, the region on the right, 1 Sam. 33:24); (2) “Drop thy word toward the south” (Negeb, the region of dryness,
The Hebrew word יָרַשׁ (*yarash*) is a verb meaning to take possession, inherit, or dispossess. It encompasses a range of actions from seizing and occupying land to impoverishing or ruining others. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, which express different nuances of possession and dispossession.
יָרַשׁ 229 vb. take possession of, inherit, dispossess
Qal
take possession of, esp. bu force, have as a possession, often with collat. idea of taking in place of others, succeeding to, inheriting
inherit, sq. acc. pers. = be one's heir
= impoverish
Niph. be (dispossessed =) impoverished, come to poverty
Pi. the fruit of thy ground shall the cricket get full possession
Hiph.
cause to possess or inherit
cause (others) to possess or inherit, then gen. dispossess
= impoverish
nearly = bring to ruin, destroy
take possession of a land
base
H3423 יָרַשׁ take possession of, inherit, dispossess .. take possession of, esp. bu force, have as a possession, often with collat. idea of taking in place of others, succeeding to, inheriting
. inherit, sq. acc. pers. = be one's heir
. = impoverish
. be (dispossessed =) impoverished, come to poverty
. the fruit of thy ground shall the cricket get full possession
. . cause to possess or inherit
. cause (others) to possess or inherit, then gen. dispossess
. = impoverish
. nearly = bring to ruin, destroy
. take possession of a land
3423 yarash yaw-rash'
or yaresh {yaw-raysh'}; a primitive root; to occupy (by
driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place);
by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel,
to impoverish, to ruin:--cast out, consume, destroy,
disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, X
without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) +
magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make
to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon,
succeed, X utterly.
יָרַשׁ (ya.rash) — to possess: possess.
: possess/inherit
1) to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to take possession of
1a2) to inherit
1a3) to impoverish, come to poverty, be poor
1b) (Niphal) to be dispossessed, be impoverished, come to poverty
1c) (Piel) to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to possess or inherit
1d2) to cause others to possess or inherit
1d3) to impoverish
1d4) to dispossess
1d5) to destroy, bring to ruin, disinherit
יָרַשׁ (ya.rash) — to possess: take.
: take/conquer/drive_out
1) to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to take possession of
1a2) to inherit
1a3) to impoverish, come to poverty, be poor
1b) (Niphal) to be dispossessed, be impoverished, come to poverty
1c) (Piel) to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to possess or inherit
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVqv2ms/Sh
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…