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Japheth

father of the coastland peoples

Who was Japheth?

The name
In Hebrew, “Japheth” sounds like “to enlarge”. That is why Noah asked God to enlarge Japheth. Genesis 9:27; NAB note on Gn 9, 27
Japheth, an artistic recreation

What the Bible says

Genesis 6:10; Genesis 7:13

And he begot three sons, Sem, Cham, and Japheth.

Genesis 9:23

But Sem and Japheth put a cloak upon their shoulders, and going backward, covered the nakedness of their father: and their faces were turned away, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.

Genesis 9:27; Genesis 10:5

May God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Sem, and Chanaan be his servant.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Japheth

  1. Before Jesus. He was one of Noah’s three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Genesis 6:10
  2. Before Jesus. Noah was 500 years old when he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth. Genesis 5:32
  3. With Jesus. He went into the ark with Noah, Noah’s wife, his brothers and the wives of all three. Genesis 7:13
  4. With Jesus. After the flood, he came out of the ark with the whole family. God blessed Noah and his sons. Genesis 8:18; Genesis 9:1
  5. Afterward. One day, Noah drank wine, got drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. Ham saw him and told his brothers. Genesis 9:20-22
  6. Afterward. Japheth and Shem took a cloak, walked backward and covered their father without looking at him. Genesis 9:23
  7. Afterward. Noah asked God to enlarge Japheth, and that Japheth would dwell in the tents of Shem. Genesis 9:27
  8. Afterward. Japheth’s sons were born after the flood. Genesis 10:1
  9. Afterward. His sons were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras. From them came the peoples of the coasts and the islands. Genesis 10:2, 5
  10. Afterward. Japheth also had grandsons. His son Gomer was the father of three sons, and his son Javan, of four. Genesis 10:3-4
  11. Afterward. The First Book of Chronicles names Japheth and his sons once again. 1 Chronicles 1:4-5

Words of Japheth

The Bible records no words of his.

What they were like

What people ask

What did Noah wish for Japheth?

Noah asked God to enlarge Japheth, and that Japheth would dwell in the tents of Shem. Genesis 9:27

What peoples came from Japheth?

Genesis says that the peoples of the coasts and the islands came from his sons. A NAB note explains that Javan is the name for the Greeks. Genesis 10:2, 5; NAB note on Gn 10, 2

Was Japheth the youngest brother?

Genesis calls Shem Japheth’s older brother, and Ham Noah’s youngest son. It does not tell when each one was born. Genesis 10:21; Genesis 9:24

How many sons did Japheth have?

Genesis names seven: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras. Genesis 10:2

Did God make a covenant with Japheth too?

Yes. After the flood, God spoke to Noah and his sons. He promised that never again would a flood destroy the earth. Genesis 9:8-11

Little known One of his sons was named Javan. A NAB note explains that it is the name for the Greeks. Genesis 10:2; NAB note on Gn 10, 2 Noah…

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Who Japheth is connected to

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