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נַפְתּוּל

𐤍𐤐𐤕𐤅𐤋

naphtûwl

H5319 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פתל to twist, wrestle, struggle

Definition

A concrete term denoting 'wrestling' or 'a wrestling match'—specifically the act of grappling or struggling physically, often used metaphorically for intense conflict or contention. The word most frequently occurs in the plural form to indicate contests of physical struggle.

Semantic Range

wrestling, a wrestling match, physical struggle, contest, figuratively: intense rivalry or conflict

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root פָּתַל (p-t-l), which connotes 'to twist, to be crooked, to wrestle.' The noun נַפְתּוּל is formed with the nun-prefix, indicating the product or result of the verbal root—thus, 'a wrestling, a grappling.' The root-level meaning is 'to twist' or 'to be involved in struggle,' but the noun narrows this to the specific act or event of wrestling.

Historical & Contextual Notes

נַפְתּוּל occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, chiefly in poetic or descriptive passages (e.g., Genesis 30:8) where it conveys the notion of strenuous struggle. In such contexts, it does not refer to playful sport but to serious, even existential, contests—notably the rivalry of Leah and Rachel for bearing children. The plural form (נַפְתּוּלֵי) emphasizes repeated or intense wrestling, often serving as a metaphor for human conflict or striving. Unlike the related noun פֶּתֶל (twist), נַפְתּוּל conveys less the notion of physical shape and more the dynamic of competitive struggle. Later Jewish and Christian translations sometimes translate נַפְתּוּל as 'strife' or 'contest,' but English 'wrestling' best preserves the physical and metaphorical force in ancient usage. The term does not bear later religious or ethnic connotations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from פָּתַל; properly, wrestled; but used (in the plural) transitively, a struggle; wrestling.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פתל (p-t-l) — twisting, wrestling, struggling

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5321 נַפְתָּלִי in My-Wrestling
H6616 פָּתִיל with a twisted cord of
H6617 פָּתַל twisted one
H6618 פְּתַלְתֹּל twisted

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5319-01 נַפְתּוּלֵ֨י nafetuley HNcmpc wrestlings of wrestlings of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5319-01 Genesis 30:8 נַפְתּוּלֵ֨י nafetuley HNcmpc wrestlings of wrestlings of
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