Genesis 49:21 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Naphtali is a hind, &c.— Our translation of this passage is generally esteemed faulty; for it is difficult to make out any connection between a hind let loose, and giving goodly words; the interpretation therefore of Bochart is more generally approved: Naphtali is a well-spread tree or oak, which produceth beautiful boughs. Durell and Houbigant follow Bochart. This is the sense too of the LXX and Chaldee Paraphrast; and by it is understood the fruitfulness of this tribe, which, from four sons of Naphtali, brought with him into AEgypt, ch. Genesis 46:24. grew, in the space of two hundred and fifteen years, to upwards of fifty thousand, Numbers 1:43. It may also denote the fruitfulness of their territory, which, as well as Asher, was in the Upper Galilee, eastward to the city of Damascus and Mount Lebanon; and in this sense it well agrees with Moses's benediction of this tribe, Deuteronomy 33:23. O Naphtali! satisfied with favour, and full of the blessing of the Lord.