(Gen. 49:21) The Son of God truly gave “words of elegance,” prompting even officers sent to arrest him to exclaim: “Never has another man spoken like this.”—John 7:46.

REFERRED TO IN VISIONS

In Ezekiel’s vision, Naphtali’s land assignment lay between Asher and Manasseh (Ezek. 48:3, 4), and one of the gates of the city “Jehovah Himself Is There” was named after Naphtali. (Ezek. 48:34, 35) Also in vision, the apostle John heard that 12,000 had been sealed out of the (spiritual) tribe of Naphtali.—Rev. 7:4, 6.

NAPHTUHIM

(Naph·tuʹhim).

Listed as among the descendants of Mizraim, the son of Ham. (Gen. 10:6, 13, 14; 1 Chron. 1:11, 12) As with the other names in this list, scholars usually take the apparent plural form to indicate a tribe or people. Assuming the name to derive from some geographical relationship, scholars often associate Naphtuhim with an Egyptian phrase meaning “those of the Delta,” and on this basis the Naphtuhim are included among the inhabitants of Lower (northern) Egypt. The correctness of these views is not as yet conclusive.

NARCISSUS

(Nar·cisʹsus).

Head of a household in Rome. When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, he requested that his greetings be given to “those from the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.”—Rom. 16:11.

NATHAN

(Naʹthan) [gift, given, that is, whom God gave].

1. A descendant of Judah. The son of Attai and father of Zabad. Nathan’s grandfather was an Egyptian servant named Jarha.—1 Chron. 2:3, 34-36.

2. A prophet of Jehovah during David’s reign; possibly of the tribe of Levi. When the king revealed to Nathan his desire to build a temple for Jehovah’s worship, the prophet replied: “Everything that is in your heart—go, do.” (2 Sam. 7:1-3; 1 Chron. 17:1, 2) However, that night Jehovah informed Nathan that instead of David’s building a temple, Jehovah would build for David a lasting house, and that later on David’s descendant would build the house of Jehovah. Thus through Nathan Jehovah announced to David a covenant for a kingdom “to time indefinite” in David’s line.—2 Sam. 7:4-17; 1 Chron. 17:3-15.

Nathan was later sent by Jehovah to point out both the magnitude of David’s sin against Uriah the Hittite respecting Bath-sheba and the divine penalty imposed because of it. This he did tactfully but forcefully, using an illustration. David was thereby maneuvered into expressing, unwittingly and without personal prejudice, his own judgment on such an act. Nathan then informed him: “You yourself are the man!” and expressed Jehovah’s judgment upon David and his house.—2 Sam. 12:1-18; see also superscription of Psalm 51.

In time a second son, named Solomon, was born to David by Bath-sheba. This child Jehovah loved; so he sent his prophet Nathan, who, “for the sake of Jehovah,” named the boy Jedidiah, meaning “Beloved of Jah (Jehovah).” (2 Sam. 12:24, 25) During the closing days of David’s life when Adonijah attempted to seize the throne, Nathan took appropriate measures to bring the matter to David’s attention. Nathan then shared in the anointing and installing of Solomon as king.—1 Ki. 1:5-40.

It appears that Nathan, together with Gad, advised David on the proper deployment of musical instruments in connection with the sanctuary. (2 Chron. 29:25) Nathan and Gad were evidently the ones used to record the information contained in the concluding chapters of First Samuel and all of Second Samuel. (1 Chron. 29:29) “Among the words of Nathan the prophet” were also recorded “the affairs of Solomon.”—2 Chron. 9:29.

This Nathan may have been the father of Azariah and Zabud, both of whom held important positions during the reign of Solomon. Azariah was a princely overseer of the deputies, while Zabud served as a priest and close friend and adviser to the king.—1 Ki. 4:1, 5.

3. The father of Igal and brother of Joel, two of David’s mighty men of war.—2 Sam. 23:8, 36; 1 Chron. 11:26, 38.

4. A son of David by his wife Bath-sheba, born to him in Jerusalem. (2 Sam. 5:13, 14; 1 Chron. 3:5) Through Nathan and his descendants the natural lineage of Messiah is traced, from David down to Jesus, evidently through his mother Mary. (Luke 3:23, 31) Concerning the time when ‘they will look on the One whom they pierced,’ the prophecy of Zechariah says there will be a bitter lamentation and wailing throughout the whole land, family by family, and especially for the families of David, Levi, the Shimeites, and “the family of the house of Nathan.” (Zech. 12:10-14) If the family of Nathan’s house here referred to sprang from David’s son, this would make it one of the families of David. Therefore the lamentation would affect families within families.

5. One of the nine head ones of the exiles encamped at the river Ahava, whom Ezra sent to enlist ministers for the services at the house of God in Jerusalem.—Ezra 8:15-17.

6. A former exile in Babylon, and one of the thirteen sons of Binnui who put away their foreign wives in compliance with Ezra’s instructions.—Ezra 10:10, 11, 38-42, 44.

NATHANAEL

(Na·thanʹa·el) [given of God].

Presumably the surname of Bartholomew, hence one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. Bartholomew, meaning “son of Tolmai,” was a patronymic term (that is, a designation derived from his father) apparently added to distinguish him by his father’s name. The apostle John uses his given name Nathanael, whereas Matthew, Mark and Luke call him Bartholomew. When doing so they associate Philip and Bartholomew together, in the same way that John links Philip with Nathanael. (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; John 1:45, 46) It was not uncommon for persons to be known by more than one name. For example, “Simon the son of John” also answered to Cephas and Peter. (John 1:42) Nor was it exceptional for Nathanael to be called Bartholomew, or the “son of Tolmai,” as another man was called simply Bartimaeus, meaning “son of Timaeus.” (Mark 10:46) The two names, Nathanael and Bartholomew, are used interchangeably by Christian writers of following centuries.

Nathanael was from Cana of Galilee. (John 21:2) He began following Jesus early in the Master’s ministry. Philip, after responding to Jesus’ call “Be my follower,” immediately looked up his friend Nathanael and invited him to “come and see” the Messiah. Nathanael asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” but then responded to the invitation. Jesus, seeing him approach, remarked: “See, an Israelite for a certainty, in whom there is no deceit.” Nathanael must have been an exceptional man for Jesus to make a statement like that. Because Jesus said this and stated that he saw Nathanael under a fig tree before Philip called him, Nathanael confessed that Jesus was indeed “the Son of God. . . . King of Israel.” Jesus assured him that he would “see things greater than these.”—John 1:43-51.

As one of the Twelve, Nathanael was in constant attendance throughout Jesus’ ministry, being trained for future service. (Matt. 11:1; 19:25-28; 20:17-19, 24-28; Mark 4:10; 11:11; John 6:48-67) After Jesus’ death and resurrection, Nathanael and others of the apostles went back to their fishing, and it was while they were approaching shore in their boat one morning that Jesus called to them. Nathanael, unlike Peter, stayed in the boat until it got to shore, and then, joining the rest for breakfast, he took in the meaningful conversation between Jesus and Peter.