God’s Word Translation
Genesis 49:21
21“Naphtali is a doe set free that has beautiful fawns.
Genesis 49:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
- New International Version (NIV)“Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.
Context of Genesis 49:21
19“Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will strike back at their heels. 20“Asher’s food will be rich. He will provide delicacies fit for a king. “Naphtali is a doe set free that has beautiful fawns. 22“Joseph is a fruitful tree, a fruitful tree by a spring, with branches climbing over a wall. 23Archers provoked him, shot at him, and attacked him.
Read all of Genesis 49Genesis 49:21 word by word
נַפְתָּלִ֖י אַיָּלָ֣ה שְׁלֻחָ֑ה הַנֹּתֵ֖ן אִמְרֵי־שָֽׁפֶר׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 49:21
- Genesis 30:8Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won!” So she named him Naphtali [My Struggle].
- Genesis 46:24The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.
- Deuteronomy 33:23About the tribe of Naphtali he said, “The people of Naphtali enjoy the Lord’s favor and are filled with the Lord’s blessings. They will take possession of the lake and the land south of it.”
- Joshua 19:32The sixth lot was drawn for the families descended from the tribe of Naphtali.
- Judges 4:6Deborah summoned Barak, son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali. She told him, “The Lord God of Israel has given you this order: ‘Gather troops on Mount Tabor. Take 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun with you.
- Judges 5:18But Zebulun mocked death, and Naphtali risked his life on the battlefield.
- Psalms 18:33He makes my feet like those of a deer and gives me sure footing on high places.
- Matthew 4:15“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, on the way to the sea, across the Jordan River, Galilee, where foreigners live!
Commentaries on Genesis 49:21
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-33Verses 1-33 - Jacob Blesses His Sons 5. מכרה mekêrāh “weapon;” related: כיר kārar or כרה kārāh dig. “Device, design?” related: מכר mākar “sell,” in Arabic “take counsel. Habitation.” 10. מחקק mechoqēq “lawgiver, judge, dispenser of laws.” This word occurs in six other places - Numbers 21:18; Deuteronomy 33:21; Jud. Deuteronomy 5:14; Psalm 60:9; Psalm 108:9; Isaiah 33:22; in five of which it clearly denotes ruler, or judge. The meaning “sceptre” is…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-21Verses 19-21 Concerning Gad, Jacob alludes to his name, which signifies a troop, and foresees the character of that tribe. The cause of God and his people, though for a time it may seem to be baffled and run down, will be victorious at last. It represents the Christian's conflict. Grace in the soul is often foiled in its conflicts; troops of corruption overcome it, but the cause is God's, and grace will in the end come off conqueror, yea, more than…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Naphtali was like a doe. This may mean the tribe would live as a free people in the mountains (compare Judges 5:18). The tribe of Naphtali settled in the hill country northwest of the Sea of Galilee.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-331. Jacob called unto his sons--It is not to the sayings of the dying saint, so much as of the inspired prophet, that attention is called in this chapter. Under the immediate influence of the Holy Spirit he pronounced his prophetic benediction and described the condition of their respective descendants in the last days, or future times. Ge 49:3, 4. Reuben forfeited by his crime the rights and honors of primogeniture. His posterity never made any figure; no…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 49:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 49
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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