Kejadian 30:11

30:11 Leah said, “How fortunate!” ¹  So she named him Gad. ² 

Kejadian 46:9

46:9 The sons of Reuben:

Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

Kejadian 46:13

46:13 The sons of Issachar:

Tola, Puah, ³  Jashub, ⁴  and Shimron.

Kejadian 46:24

46:24 The sons of Naphtali:

Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

Kejadian 49:21

49:21 Naphtali is a free running doe, ⁵ 

he speaks delightful words. ⁶ 

[30:11]  ¹ tc The statement in the Kethib (consonantal text) appears to mean literally “with good fortune,” if one takes the initial בְּ (bet) as a preposition indicating accompaniment. The Qere (marginal reading) means “good fortune has arrived.”

[30:11]  ² sn The name Gad (גָּד, gad) means “good fortune.” The name reflects Leah’s feeling that good fortune has come her way, as expressed in her statement recorded earlier in the verse.

[46:13]  ³ tc The MT reads “Puvah” (cf. Num 26:23); the Samaritan Pentateuch and Syriac read “Puah” (cf. 1 Chr 7:1).

[46:13]  ⁴ tc The MT reads “Iob,” but the Samaritan Pentateuch and some LXX mss read “Jashub” (see Num 26:24; 1 Chr 7:1).

[49:21]  ⁵ tn Heb “a doe set free.”

[49:21]  ⁶ tn Heb “the one who gives words of beauty.” The deer imagery probably does not continue into this line; Naphtali is the likely antecedent of the substantival participle, which is masculine, not feminine, in form. If the animal imagery is retained from the preceding line, the image of a talking deer is preposterous. For this reason some read the second line “the one who bears beautiful fawns,” interpreting אִמְרֵי (’imre) as a reference to young animals, not words (see HALOT 67 s.v. *אִמֵּר).

[49:21]  sn Almost every word in the verse is difficult. Some take the imagery to mean that Naphtali will be swift and agile (like a doe), and be used to take good messages (reading “words of beauty”). Others argue that the tribe was free-spirited (free running), but then settled down with young children.