Naphtali

According to the Book of Genesis, Naphtali (/ˈnæftəlaɪ/; Hebrew: נַפְתָּלִי, Modern: Naftalī, Tiberian: Nap̄tālī, "my struggle") was the sixth son of Jacob, the second of his two sons with Bilhah. He was the founder of the Israelite tribe of Naphtali.

This article is about the Biblical figure. For people named Naphtali, Naftali or Naftoli, see Naphtali (name). For Israelite Tribe of Naphtali, see Tribe of Naphtali.
Naphtali
נַפְתָּלִי
Painting by Francisco de Zurbarán (from Jacob and his twelve sons, c. 1640–45)
PronunciationNaphtali
SpouseMerimah
ChildrenJahziel (son)
Guni (son)
Jezer (son)
Shillem (son)
Parents
RelativesReuben (half brother)
Simeon (half brother)
Levi (half brother)
Judah (half brother)
Dan (brother)
Gad (half brother)
Asher (half brother)
Issachar (half brother)
Zebulun (half brother)
Dinah (half sister)
Joseph (half brother)
Benjamin (half brother)

Some biblical commentators have suggested that the name Naphtali may refer to the struggle between Rachel and Leah for the favours of Jacob. Bilhah was the handmaid of Rachel, who was infertile at the time, and had persuaded Jacob to have a child with Bilhah as a proxy for having one with herself.

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