Bible Dictionary: Japheth

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Japheth

(enlargement), one of the three sons of Noah. The descendants of Japheth occupied the "isles of the Gentiles," (Genesis 10:5) --i.e. the coast lands of the Mediterranean Sea in Europe and Asia Minor-- whence they spread northward over the whole continent of Europe and a considerable portion of Asia.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Japheth

Enlargement, the eldest of Noah's three sons, Genesis 9:24 10:21, born one hundred years before the flood. He was perhaps the Iapetos, whom Greek legends represent as the progenitor of the Greek race. His seven sons, Genesis 10:2-5 1 Chronicles 1:5, occupied with their posterity the north of Asia and most of Europe. The probable location of each of the seven is described in its place. In later years the Greeks and Romans subdued large portions of Southern and Western Asia, in accordance with the prediction of Noah, Genesis 9:27. The "enlargement" of Japheth now extends over America also.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wide spreading: "God shall enlarge Japheth" (Hebrews Yaphat Elohim le-Yephet, Genesis 9:27. Some, however, derive the name from yaphah, "to be beautiful;" hence white), one of the sons of Noah, mentioned last in order (Genesis 5:32; 6:10; 7:13), perhaps first by birth (10:21; Comp. 9:24). He and his wife were two of the eight saved in the ark (1 Peter 3:20). He was the progenitor of many tribes inhabiting the east of Europe and the north of Asia (Genesis 10:2-5). An act of filial piety (9:20-27) was the occasion of Noah's prophecy of the extension of his posterity.

After the Flood the earth was re-peopled by the descendants of Noah, "the sons of Japheth" (Genesis 10:2), "the sons of Ham" (6), and "the sons of Shem" (22). It is important to notice that modern ethnological science, reasoning from a careful analysis of facts, has arrived at the conclusion that there is a three-fold division of the human family, corresponding in a remarkable way with the great ethnological chapter of the book of Genesis (10). The three great races thus distinguished are called the Semitic, Aryan, and Turanian (Allophylian). "Setting aside the cases where the ethnic names employed are of doubtful application, it cannot reasonably be questioned that the author [of Genesis 10] has in his account of the sons of Japheth classed together the Cymry or Celts (Gomer), the Medes (Madai), and the Ionians or Greeks (Javan), thereby anticipating what has become known in modern times as the `Indo-European Theory,' or the essential unity of the Aryan (Asiatic) race with the principal races of Europe, indicated by the Celts and the Ionians. Nor can it be doubted that he has thrown together under the one head of 'children of Shem' the Assyrians (Asshur), the Syrians (Aram), the Hebrews (Eber), and the Joktanian Arabs (Joktan), four of the principal races which modern ethnology recognizes under the heading of `Semitic.' Again, under the heading of `sons of Ham,' the author has arranged `Cush', i.e., the Ethiopians; `Mizraim,' the people of Egypt; `Sheba and Dedan,' or certain of the Southern Arabs; and `Nimrod,' or the ancient people of Babylon, four races between which the latest linguistic researches have established a close affinity" (Rawlinson's Hist. Illustrations).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

JAPHETH (1)

ja'-feth (yepheth; yapheth; Iapheth):

1. Etymologies of Japheth:

This name, in Genesis 9:27, seems to be explained by the phrase "may God make wide (yapht, the American Standard Revised Version "enlarge") for Japheth," where yapht and Japheth are represented by the same consonants, but with different vowel-points. The root of yapht is pathach, "to make wide." This etymology, however, is not universally accepted, as the word-play is so obvious, and the association of Japheth with Shem ("dark") and Ham ("black") suggests a name on similar lines-either gentilic, or descriptive of race. Japheth has therefore been explained as meaning "fair," from yaphah, the non-Sem and non-Hamitic races known to the Jews being all more or less whiteskinned. The Targum of Onkelos agrees with the English Versions of the Bible, but that of Jonathan has "God shall beautify Japheth," as though from yaphah.

2. His Descendants:

The immediate descendants of Japheth were seven in number, and are represented by the nations designated Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Mesech, and Tiras; or, roughly, the Armenians, Lydians, Medes, Greeks, Tibarenians, and Moschians, the last, Tiras, remaining still obscure. The sons of Gomer (Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah) were all settled in the West Asian tract; while the sons of Javan (Elisah, Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim or Rodanim) occupied the Mediterranean coast and the adjacent islands.

3. His Place among the Sons of Noah:

In Genesis 9:27, as in other passages, Japheth occupies the 3rd place in the enumeration of the sons of Noah, but he is really regarded as the 2nd son, Ham being the youngest. In the genealogical table, however (Genesis 10:1), the descendants of Japheth are given first, and those of Shem last, in order to set forth Semitic affinities at greater length. Though this would seem to indicate that the fair races were the least known to the Jews, it implies that the latter were well disposed toward them, for Japheth was (ultimately) to dwell in the tents of Shem, and therefore to take part in Shem's spiritual privileges.

4. Japheth and Iapetos:

It seems unlikely that the Greek giant-hero, Iapetos, father of Prometheus, who was regarded by the Greeks as the father of the human race, has any connection with the Hebrew Japheth. The original of the Hebrew record probably belongs to a date too early to admit borrowing from the Greek, and if the name had been borrowed by the Greeks from the Hebrews, a nearer form might be expected.

See SHEM; HAM; TABLE OF NATIONS.

T. G. Pinches

JAPHETH (2)

ja'-feth (Iapheth): A region mentioned only in Judith 2:25, where no particulars are given which may lead to its identification. Holofernes "came unto the borders of Japheth, which were toward the south, over against Arabia."

Strong's Hebrew

8494. Tiras -- a son of Japheth and his desc.
... Tiras. 8495 . a son of Japheth and his desc. ... Word Origin of uncertain derivation
Definition a son of Japheth and his desc. NASB Word Usage Tiras (2). ...
/hebrew/8494.htm - 6k

1586. Gomer -- a son of Japheth, also his desc., also the wife of ...
... Gomer. 1587 . a son of Japheth, also his desc., also the wife of Hosea.
Transliteration: Gomer Phonetic Spelling: (go'-mer) Short Definition: Gomer. ...
/hebrew/1586.htm - 6k

4031. Magog -- perhaps "land of Gog," a son of Japheth, also his ...
... perhaps "land of Gog," a son of Japheth, also his desc. ... Word Origin from the same
as Gog Definition perhaps "land of Gog," a son of Japheth, also his desc. ...
/hebrew/4031.htm - 6k

4902. Meshek -- a son of Japheth, also his desc. and their land
... 4901, 4902. Meshek. 4903 . a son of Japheth, also his desc. ... Word Origin
from mashak Definition a son of Japheth, also his desc. ...
/hebrew/4902.htm - 6k

4074. Maday -- a son of Japheth, also his desc. and their land
... 4073, 4074. Maday. 4075 . a son of Japheth, also his desc. ... Word Origin
of foreign origin Definition a son of Japheth, also his desc. ...
/hebrew/4074.htm - 6k

8422. Tubal -- a son of Japheth, also his desc. and their land
... 8421, 8422. Tubal or Tubal. 8423 . a son of Japheth, also his desc. ... Word Origin
probably of foreign origin Definition a son of Japheth, also his desc. ...
/hebrew/8422.htm - 6k

4076. Maday -- descendant of Japheth, also their land
... 4075, 4076. Maday. 4077 . descendant of Japheth, also their land. Transliteration:
Maday Phonetic Spelling: (maw-dah'-ee) Short Definition: Medes. ...
/hebrew/4076.htm - 6k

7290c. Rodanim -- descendant of Japheth
... descendant of Japheth. Transliteration: Rodanim or Rodanim Short Definition: Rodanim. ...
of Japheth, the same as NH1721 NASB Word Usage Rodanim (1). 7290b, 7290c ...
/hebrew/7290c.htm - 5k

3120. Yavan -- a son of Japheth, also his desc. and their land
... 3119, 3120. Yavan. 3121 . a son of Japheth, also his desc. ... Word Origin from
the same as yonah Definition a son of Japheth, also his desc. ...
/hebrew/3120.htm - 6k

3315. Yepheth -- a son of Noah
... 3314, 3315. Yepheth. 3316 . a son of Noah. Transliteration: Yepheth Phonetic
Spelling: (yeh'-feth) Short Definition: Japheth. ... Japheth. ...
/hebrew/3315.htm - 6k

Library

The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
... THE BLESSINGS OF NOAH UPON SHEM AND JAPHETH. (Gen. ix. 18-27.). Ver.20. "And
Noah began and became an husbandman, and planted vineyards ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessings of noah upon.htm

The Blessings, and Also the Curse, Pronounced by Noah were ...
... he foretold that the descendants of Shem would keep in retention the property and
dwellings of Canaan: and again that the descendants of Japheth would take ...
/.../chapter cxxxix the blessings and also.htm

Of the Generations of the Three Sons of Noah.
... Scripture first mentions that of the youngest son, who is called Japheth: he had
eight sons, [871] and by two of these sons seven grandchildren, three by one ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 3 of the generations of.htm

Sections ii. , iii. And the Lord Said: "And I Will Bring the ...
... of Noah are these: the name of the wife of Sem, Nahalath Mahnuk; and the name of
the wife of Cham, Zedkat Nabu; and the name of the wife of Japheth, Arathka. ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/sections ii iii and the.htm

What was Prophetically Prefigured in the Sons of Noah.
... For Japheth means "enlargement." And Ham (ie, hot), who was the middle son of Noah,
and, as it were, separated himself from both, and remained between them ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 2 what was prophetically prefigured.htm

Now of These one Fell under a Curse, and the Two Others Inherited ...
... But Shem and Japheth, his brothers, because of their piety towards their father
obtained a blessing. ... Now the blessing of Japheth is on this wise: ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 20 now of these.htm

Jewish Chronology Continued.
... were primarily born, and had inhabited these. Noah had three sons"Shem,
Ham, and Japheth. From these the entire family of man ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xxvii jewish chronology continued.htm

From the Flood to Abraham
... degradation and servitude. The descendants of Japheth and Shem like those
of Ham can be traced only in part. The Japhethites probably ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter iii from the flood.htm

Appendix A.
... I stand clearly and unanswerably confuted, by the instance of Noah's prophecy
concerning the family of Japheth; which hath actually received various ...
//christianbookshelf.org/burgon/inspiration and interpretation/appendix a.htm

Section 13, 14. Such a Doctrine Precludes all Real Distinctions of ...
... And he says again the same thing, Our heart is dilated [3332] ;' and Noah says,
May God dilate for Japheth [3333] ,' for the same heart and the same Japheth is ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 13 14 such a.htm

Thesaurus

Japheth (12 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Wide spreading: "God shall enlarge Japheth" (Hebrews Yaphat
Elohim le-Yephet, Genesis 9:27. ... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JAPHETH (1). ...
/j/japheth.htm - 15k

Shem (17 Occurrences)
... The words "brother of Japheth the elder" in Genesis 10:21 are more correctly rendered
"the elder brother of Japheth," as in the Revised Version. ...
/s/shem.htm - 15k

Tubal (9 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) The fifth son of Japheth (Genesis 10:2).
(2.) A nation, probably descended from the son of Japheth. ...
/t/tubal.htm - 12k

Magog (5 Occurrences)
... Region of Gog, the second of the "sons" of Japheth (Genesis 10:2; 1 Chronicles
1:5). In Ezekiel (38:2; 39:6) it is the name of a nation, probably some Scythian ...
/m/magog.htm - 9k

Javan (12 Occurrences)
... (1.) The fourth "son" of Japheth (Genesis 10:2), whose descendants settled in
Greece, ie, Ionia, which bears the name of Javan in Hebrew. ...
/j/javan.htm - 12k

Gomer (7 Occurrences)
... (2.) The eldest son of Japheth, and father ... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GOMER (1).
go'-mer (gomer): Given in Genesis 10:2; 1 Chronicles 1:5 as a son of Japheth. ...
/g/gomer.htm - 11k

Tiras (2 Occurrences)
... The youngest of the sons of Japheth (Genesis 10:2; 1 Chronicles 1:5). ... Genesis
10:2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. ...
/t/tiras.htm - 8k

Meshech (11 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Drawing out, the sixth son of Japheth (Genesis
10:2), the founder of a tribe (1 Chronicles 1:5; Ezek. ...
/m/meshech.htm - 13k

Madai (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Middle land, the third "son" of Japheth (Genesis 10:2),
the name by which the Medes are known on the Assyrian monuments. Int. ...
/m/madai.htm - 7k

Nations (683 Occurrences)
... TABLE OF NATIONS. " 1. The Table and Its Object 2. What It Includes and Excludes
3. Order of the Three Races 4. Extent of Each 5. Sons of Japheth 6. Sons and ...
/n/nations.htm - 58k

Bible Concordance

Japheth (12 Occurrences)

Genesis 5:32 Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 6:10 Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 7:13 In the same day Noah, and Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, entered into the ship;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 9:18 The sons of Noah who went forth from the ship were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 9:23 Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn't see their father's nakedness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 9:27 May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 10:1 Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 10:5 Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.
(See RSV)

Genesis 10:21 To Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 1:4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 1:5 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Japhet

Japheth

Japheth: Descendants of

Japheth: His Life Preserved at the Time of the Great Flood

Japheth: Prudence of, on the Occasion of Noah's Drunkenness

Japheth: Son of Noah

Related Terms

Shem (17 Occurrences)

Tubal (9 Occurrences)

Magog (5 Occurrences)

Javan (12 Occurrences)