🔼The name Naphtuhim: Summary
- Meaning
- Openings, Engravers
- Etymology
- From the verb פתח (patah), to open.
🔼The name Naphtuhim in the Bible
The Naphtuhim are descendants of Mizraim, who is a son of Ham, who is a son of Noah (Genesis 10:13).
🔼Etymology of the name Naphtuhim
It's not immediately obvious where the name Naphtuhim comes from, or that it is Hebrew to start with. But as it is, the name Naphtuhim may have reminded a Hebrew audience of the root-group פתח (patah), conveying meaning of to open or to engrave:
פתח
The verb פתח (patah) means to open. And since the opening of lips precedes speaking, and the opening of ears precedes hearing, our verb may also mean to speak and to hear (and to see, to be hospitable, to ask for with open hands, and so on). Our verb may be applied to the opening of constricting things, which gives it the meaning of to loosen or release. This verb (or perhaps a whole separate one) may also be used to mean to engrave, although engraving and opening a surface so that the surface speaks are not that far apart.
Noun פתח (petah) means opening or doorway. Similar noun פתח (petah) means opening in the sense of an unfolding. Noun פתון (pithon) also means opening. Noun פתיחה (petiha) denotes a drawn sword (the edge of a sword was known as the "mouth" of it). A prefixed מ usually indicates place or agency and noun מפתח (miptah) means utterance and the similar masculine noun מפתח (mapteah) means key.
🔼Naphtuhim meaning
To a Hebrew audience the name Naphtuhim probably meant Openers or Engravers.
For a meaning of the name Naphtuhim, Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Openings. NOBSE Study Bible Name List does not translate this name.