Metaphysical meaning of Naphtali (mbd)
Naphtali (in A.V., Matthew 4:13, 15, Nephthalim; Revelation 7:6, Nepthalim), naph'-ta-li (Heb.)--my wrestling; mutual intertwining of Jah; wrestling of Jehovah.
a Sixth son of Jacob, and second son of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid. "And Bilhah Rachel's handmaid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, With mighty wrestlings [wrestlings of God, in margin] have I wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali" (Gen. 30:7, 8). Jacob's blessing upon this son was:"Naphtali is a hind let loose: He giveth goodly words" (Gen. 49:21). Moses' blessing upon the tribe of Naphtali was (Deut. 33:23):"O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full with the blessing of Jehovah, Possess thou the west and the south" b Naphtali also refers to the tribe of people who were descended from the son of Jacob by this name and c to the country in which they lived (Num. 1:43; Josh. 19:32-39; I Kings 15:20).
Meta. The brain in the small of the back (the kidneys), whose office is to direct the elimination of certain watery elements from the blood. This presiding genius is called strength, because it keeps up the positive tone of the circulating medium.
When we have been worshipping material things and filling our thoughts with worldly conditions to the exclusion of the spiritual, there is a deterioration of the soul quality, a gloom and a dimness of the mind prevail; one of the parts of the organism that this especially afflicts is Naphtali (kidneys; see Isa. 9:1).
When material thought has dimmed the eyes of the understanding, and shadows of carnal thought have gathered in consciousness, affecting the strength center in the back, the restorative power is the light of Spirit. The mind is opened to the light through prayer and spiritual meditation. The light increases from day to day, the soul grows into consciousness with the Christ mind, and one's whole being is thus purified and greatly increased in strength.
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Preceding Entry: Naphish
Following Entry: Naphtuhim
