The sons of Japheth
This phrase introduces the genealogy of Japheth, one of Noah's three sons. In Hebrew, "Japheth" (יֶפֶת) is often associated with the idea of expansion or enlargement, reflecting the belief that Japheth's descendants would spread widely across the earth. Historically, Japheth is considered the progenitor of many Indo-European nations, suggesting a broad geographical and cultural influence.

Gomer
Gomer is traditionally linked to the Cimmerians, an ancient people who lived north of the Black Sea. The name "Gomer" (גֹּמֶר) in Hebrew may imply "completion" or "perfection." This connection suggests a people who were seen as complete or whole in their cultural identity. Archaeological evidence places the Cimmerians in regions that are now part of modern-day Ukraine and Russia, indicating the early spread of Japheth's descendants.

Magog
Magog is often associated with the Scythians, a nomadic group known for their skills in warfare and horsemanship. The Hebrew name "Magog" (מָגוֹג) might mean "land of Gog," with "Gog" being a leader or a people. In biblical prophecy, Magog is sometimes linked to end-times narratives, symbolizing distant lands and peoples.

Madai
Madai is identified with the Medes, an ancient Iranian people who played a significant role in the history of the Near East. The name "Madai" (מָדַי) in Hebrew is connected to the Medes, who were known for their influence in the region, particularly in the establishment of the Median Empire. This highlights the historical significance of Japheth's lineage in shaping ancient civilizations.

Javan
Javan is traditionally associated with the Ionians, an ancient Greek people. The Hebrew name "Javan" (יָוָן) reflects the Greek influence on the Mediterranean world. This connection underscores the spread of Japheth's descendants into Europe and their impact on Western civilization, particularly through the development of Greek culture and philosophy.

Tubal
Tubal is often linked to the Tabali, an ancient people who lived in what is now Turkey. The name "Tubal" (תּוּבַל) in Hebrew suggests a connection to these Anatolian tribes. Tubal's descendants are thought to have been involved in trade and metallurgy, contributing to the technological advancements of their time.

Meshech
Meshech is associated with the Mushki, another ancient Anatolian people. The Hebrew name "Meshech" (מֶשֶׁךְ) may imply "drawn out" or "extended," reflecting the geographical spread of these peoples. Meshech's descendants are believed to have settled in regions that are part of modern-day Turkey and Armenia, indicating their role in the cultural and economic exchanges of the ancient world.

Tiras
Tiras is traditionally linked to the Thracians, an ancient group known for their warrior culture. The Hebrew name "Tiras" (תִּירָס) might suggest a connection to these fierce and independent peoples. The Thracians inhabited areas that are now part of the Balkans, highlighting the reach of Japheth's lineage into southeastern Europe and their influence on the region's history and culture.

(2) The sons of Japheth.--Of these, seven main divisions are enumerated, some of which are subsequently sub-divided; they are--

1. Gomer, whose name reappears in the Cimmerians. Their original settlement was between Magog and Madai, that is, between the Scythians and the Medes. After remaining some time on the Caspian and Black Seas, on which latter they have left their name in the Crimea, a powerful branch of them struck across the centre of Russia, and, skirting the Baltic, became the Cimbri of Denmark (whence the name of the Chersonesus Cimbrica, given to Jutland), the Cymry of Wales, &c. Generally they are the race to which the " name is given of Celts.

2. Magog. The Scythians, who once possessed the country north and south of the Caucasus. The Russians are their modern representatives, being descended from the Sarmatians, a Scythic race, with a small admixture of Median blood.

3. Madai. The Medes, who dwelt to the south and south-west of the Caspian. Mada, in the Accadian language, means land, and it was in the Median territory that Kharsak-Kurra, "the mountain of the East," was situated, on which the Accadians believed the ark to have rested, whence possibly Media took its name, being "the land" above all others (Chald. Gen., p. 196).

4. Javan, that is, Ionia, the land of the Greeks.

5. Tubal. The Tibareni, on the south-east of the Black Sea.

6. Meshech. The Moschi, a people of Colchis and Armenia.

7. Tiras. According to Josephus and the Targum, the Thracians. Other races have been suggested, but this is probably right; and as the Getae, the ancestors of the Goths, were Thracians, this would make the Scandinavian race the modern representatives of Tiras.

In this enumeration the race of Japheth is described as occupying Asia Minor, Armenia, the countries to the west as far as the Caspian Sea, and thence northward to the shores of the Black Sea. Subsequently it spread along the northern shores of the Mediterranean and. over all Europe. But though unnoticed by the writer its extension was equally remarkable towards the east. Parthia, Bactria, the Punjab, India, are equally Japhethite with Germany, Greece, and Rome; and in Sanscrit literature the Aryan first showed that genius, which, omitting the greatest of all books, the Semitic Bible, has made this race the foremost writers in the world.

Verse 2. - The sons of Japheth are first mentioned not because Japheth was the eldest of the three brothers, although that was true, but because of the greater distance of the Japhetic tribes from the theocratic center, the Hamites having always been much more nearly situated to and closely connected with the Shemites than they. The immediate descendants of Japheth, whose name, Ἰάπετος, occurs again in the mythology of a Japhetic race, were fourteen m number, seven sons and seven grandsons, each of which became the progenitor of one of the primitive nations. Gomer. A people inhabiting "the sides of the north" (Ezekiel 38:6); the Galatae of the Greeks (Josephus, 'Ant.,' 1:06); the Chomarii, a nation in Bactriana on the Oxus (Shulthess, Kalisch); but more generally the Cimmerians of Homer ('Odyss.,' 11:13-19), whose abodes were the shores of the Caspian and Euxine, whence they seem to have spread themselves over Europe as far west as the Atlantic, leaving traces of their presence in the Cimhri of North Germany and the Cymri in Wales (Keil, Lange, Murphy, Wordsworth, 'Speaker's Commentary ). And Magog. A fierce and warlike people presided over by Gog (an appellative name, like the titles Pharaoh and Caesar, and corresponding with the Turkish Chak, the Tartarian Kak, and the Mongolian Gog: Kalisch), whose complete destruction was predicted by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 38, 39.); generally understood to be the Scythians, whose territory lay upon the borders of the sea of Asoph, and in the Caucasus. In the Apocalypse (Revelation 20:8-10) Gog and Magog appear as two distinct nations combined against the Church of God. And Madai. The inhabitants of Media (Mada in the cuneiform inscriptions), so called because believed to be situated περὶ μεσην τὴν Ασίαν (Polyb. 5:44) on the south-west shore of the Caspian And Javan. Identical with Ἰάων (Greek), Javana (Sanscrit), Juna (Old Persian), Jounan (Rosetta Stone); allowed to be the father of the Greeks, who in Scripture are styled Javan (vide Isaiah 66:19; Ezekiel 27:13; Daniel 8:21; Daniel 10:20; Joel 3:6). And Tubal, and Meshech. Generally associated in Scripture as tributaries of Magog (Ezekiel 38:2, 3; Ezekiel 39:1); recognized as the Iberians and Moschi in the north of Armenia, between the sources of the Tigris and Euphrates, and the Black Sea (Josephus, Knobel, Lange, Kalisch). And Tiras. The ancestor of the Thraciaus (Josephus), of the Tyrrheni, a branch of the Pelasgians (Tuch), of the Asiatic tribes round the Taurus (Kalisch), in support of which last is a circumstance mentioned by Rawlinson, that on the old Egyptian monuments Mashuash and Tuirash, and upon the Assyrian Tubal and Misek, stand together as here. Tiras occurs nowhere else in Scripture.

Parallel Commentaries ...


The sons
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Japheth:
יֶ֔פֶת (ye·p̄eṯ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3315: Japheth -- a son of Noah

Gomer,
גֹּ֣מֶר (gō·mer)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1586: Gomer -- a son of Japheth, also his descendants, also the wife of Hosea

Magog,
וּמָג֔וֹג (ū·mā·ḡō·wḡ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4031: Magog -- perhaps 'land of Gog', a son of Japheth, also his descendants and their land

Madai,
וּמָדַ֖י (ū·mā·ḏay)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4074: Media -- a son of Japheth, also his descendants and their land

Javan,
וְיָוָ֣ן (wə·yā·wān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3120: Javan -- a son of Japheth, also his descendants and their land

Tubal,
וְתֻבָ֑ל (wə·ṯu·ḇāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8422: Tubal -- a son of Japheth, also his descendants and their land

Meshech,
וּמֶ֖שֶׁךְ (ū·me·šeḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4902: Meshech -- a son of Japheth, also his descendants and their land

and Tiras.
וְתִירָֽס׃ (wə·ṯî·rās)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8494: Tiras -- a son of Japheth and his desc


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OT Law: Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer Magog Madai (Gen. Ge Gn)