Naphtali
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(my struggle, my wrestling) (Gen. 30:7, 8)—sixth son of Jacob and one of the twelve patriarchs. His mother, Bilhah, was Rachel’s maidservant. This name was given to him by Rachel, as a sign of her victory over her sister. At the time of the patriarch Jacob’s departure into Egypt, Naphtali already had four sons (Gen. 46:24). Blessing his children before his death, the dying Jacob spoke the following words, among others, concerning Naphtali: “Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words” (Gen. 49:21).
In the blessing of Moses it is said: “O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south” (Deut. 33:23). This is all that is said in the Bible concerning Naphtali as a person separate from his tribe.