Who
Bilhah’s second son, named for Rachel’s struggle with her sister: “I have wrestled with my sister with mighty wrestlings, and have prevailed” (Genesis 30:8). Jacob’s blessing calls him “a doe set free” (Genesis 49:21). His tribe held upper Galilee, west of the Sea of Galilee, and was among the first carried off by Assyria. Isaiah’s promise of light to “the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali” (Isaiah 9:1) is fulfilled, Matthew says, when Christ settles in Capernaum “in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali” and begins to preach (Matthew 4:13–17). Tobit was of this tribe (Tobit 1:1).
Key verses
- Genesis 30:8
Rachel said, “I have wrestled with my sister with mighty wrestlings, and have prevailed.” She named him Naphtali.
- Genesis 35:25
The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali.
- Genesis 49:21
“Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns.
- 1 Chronicles 2:2
Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
- Isaiah 9:1
But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
- Matthew 4:15
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
Where the Bible names him
Family
Discussed by
Comments on the verses that name him (8 of 23).
- Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 4:12–16Catena Aurea on Matthew
By God without doubt, for none can effect any thing against a holy man, unless God deliver him up. “He withdrew into Galilee,” that is, out of Judaea; both that He might reserve His passion to the fit time, and that…
- John Chrysostom on Matthew 4:12–16Catena Aurea on Matthew
It is not blameworthy not to throw one’s self into peril, but when one has fallen into it, not to endure manfully. He departed from Judaea both to soften Jewish animosity, and to fulfil a prophecy, seeking moreover…
- Glossa Ordinaria on Matthew 4:12–16Catena Aurea on Matthew
He came as Luke writes to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and there entering into the synagogue, He read and spoke many things, for which they sought to throw Him down from the rock, and thence He went to…
- Glossa Ordinaria on Matthew 4:12–16 (2)Catena Aurea on Matthew
Nazareth is a village in Galilee near Mount Tabor; Capernaum a town in Galilee of the Gentiles near the Lake of Gennesaret; and this is the meaning of the word, “on the sea coast.” He adds further “in the borders of…
- Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 4:12–16Catena Aurea on Matthew
He left one, viz. Nazareth, that He might enlighten more by His preaching and miracles. Thus leaving an example to all preachers that they should preach at a time and in places where they may do good, to as many as…
- Jerome on Matthew 4:12–16Catena Aurea on Matthew
They are said at the first time to be lightened from the burden of sin, because in the country of these two tribes, the Saviour first preached the Gospel; “at the last time” their faith “was increased,” most of the…
- Glossa Ordinaria on Matthew 4:12–16 (3)Catena Aurea on Matthew
But Matthew here so quotes the passage as to make them all nominative cases referring to one verb. The land of Zabulon, and the land of Naphtali, which is the way of the sea, and which is beyond Jordan, viz. the…
- Glossa Ordinaria on Matthew 4:12–16 (4)Catena Aurea on Matthew
Note that there are two Galilees; one of the Jews, the other of the Gentiles. This division of Galilee had existed from Solomon’s time, who gave twenty cities in Galilee to Hyram, King of Tyre; this part was…