Japheth
Before Israel Son of Noah; ancestor of the coastland peoples · Creation & Patriarchs · Old Testament
- Name means
- Enlargement
- Role
- Son of Noah
- When
- After the Flood
What they did
Survived the Flood with his father and, with Shem, covered Noah's nakedness. Noah blessed him: 'God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem.'
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
His descendants spread to the isles of the Gentiles (Genesis 10:5), and the blessing that he would dwell in the tents of Shem points to Gentiles sharing in the blessings given through Shem's line.
God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. Genesis 9:27 (KJV)
Bible references
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Genesis 5:32 (KJV)
God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. Genesis 9:27 (KJV)
Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. Genesis 10:1-5 (KJV)
Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 1 Chronicles 1:4-5 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- Noah
- Children
- Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, Tiras
- Brothers / sisters
- Shem, Ham