Illustration created for this project.

Naphtali

A son of Jacob and founder of the tribe of Naphtali.

Lived: c. 1753 BC – ?

Belonged to: Israelites (Hebrews), Tribe of Naphtali

Tribe/lineage: Naphtali

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2 Archaeology — physical evidence · 1 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1

Family & lineage

BibleSon of Jacob and Bilhah.

Genesis 30:8

↳ Jacob · Bilhah

Tribe & people

BibleOf the tribe of Naphtali.

Genesis 30:8

Unknown artistUnknown artist — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons) ArchaeologyThe tribal land of Naphtali in Galilee is named in the biblical record of the Assyrian deportations under Tiglath-Pileser III, and the historical reality of the Assyrian conquest of Galilee is corroborated by that king's own royal inscriptions recording his campaign against the northern Israelite territory, attesting the region tied to the tribe.

Cuneiform annals and summary inscriptions of Tiglath-Pileser III from Nimrud (Kalhu) recording the 734–732 BCE campaign and deportations from the Galilee/northern Israelite territory; ed. H. Tadmor, 'The Inscriptions of Tiglath-Pileser III, King of Assyria' (Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1994) = RINAP 1 (Tadmor & Yamada, 2011).

Name & titles

ScholarlyThe name Naphtali is explained in the birth narrative from naftule ("wrestlings/struggles"), Rachel declaring she wrestled with her sister and prevailed; the form derives from the root patal ("to twist, wrestle").

Onomastic derivation from the ptl "twist/wrestle" root; standard Hebrew lexica (BDB, HALOT).