Genesis 49:21

Naphtali is a free running doe, ¹  he speaks delightful words. ² 

"Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.

"Naphtali is a doe let loose, He gives beautiful words.

"Naphtali is a deer let loose, producing magnificent fawns.

Naphtali is a deer running free that gives birth to lovely fawns.

Naphtali is a roe let loose, giving fair young ones.

Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears lovely fawns.

"Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.

Naphtali is a free running doe, ¹  he speaks delightful words. ² 

¹ tn Heb “a doe set free.”

² 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).

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.