Japheth
JAPHETH
Enlargement, the eldest of Noah’s three sons, Gen 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, Gen 10:2-5 1Ch 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, Gen 9:27 . The “enlargement” of Japheth now extends over America also.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Japheth
(Heb. Ye’pheth, , in pause YaIpheth, , wide-spreading [comp. Gen 9:27], although some make it signify fair, referring to the light complexion of the Japhethites; Sept. ; Josephus. , Ant. 1:4, 1), one of the three sons of Noah, mentioned last in order (Gen 5:32; Gen 6:10; Gen 7:13; Gen 9:18; Gen 10:1; 1Ch 1:4), although it appears from Gen 10:21 (Gen 9:24) that he was the eldest of Noah’s sons, born one hundred years before the flood (Michaelis, Spicil. 2, 66). B.C. 2616. He and his wife were two of the eight persons (1Pe 3:20) preserved in the ark (Gen 7:7). In Gen 10:2 sq. he is called the progenitor of the extensive tribes in the west (of Europe) and north (of Asia)of the Armenians, Medes, Greeks, Thracians, etc. (comp. Syncellus, Chronicles p. 49; Mala, Chronogr. p. 16; see Tuch on Gen 10:27). SEE ETHNOGRAPHY.
De Wette (Kritik, p. 72) justly repudiates the opinion of the Targumim, both Jonathan and Hieros., who make Japheth the progenitor of the African tribes also. The Arabian traditions (D’Herbelot, Biblioth. Orient.) attribute to Japheth wonderful powers (Weil, Biblische Legenden, 8, 46), and enumerate eleven of his sons, the progenitors of as many Asiatic nations, viz. Gin or Dshin (Chinese), Seklah (Slavonians), Manshuge, Gomari, Turk (Turks), Khalage, Khozar, Ros (Russians), Sussan, Gaz, and Torage. In these traditions he is called Aboultierk (Hottinger, Hist. Orient. p. 37). To the seven sons of Japheth mentioned in Gen 10:2 and 1Ch 1:5, the Sept. and Eusebins add an eighth, Elisha, though not found in the text. Some (Buttmann, Mytholog. 1, 222; Bochart, Phal. 3:1; and Hasse, Entdeckung, 2, 131) identify Japheth with the Irenrog of Greek fable, the depository of many ethnographical traditions (see Smith’s Dict. of Classic. Biogr. s.v. Japletus), while others, again, connect him with Hereus, mentioned by the ancient historian Sanchoniathon. His act of filial piety, in conjunction with Shem, as related in Gen 9:20-27 (where some understand the clause, He shall dwell in the tents of Shem, to refer to God, and not to Japheth), became the occasion of the prophecy of the extension of his posterity (see Iengstenberg’s Christology, i, 42). SEE SHEM.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Japheth
wide spreading: “God shall enlarge Japheth” (Heb. Yaphat Elohim le-Yephet, Gen. 9:27. Some, however, derive the name from _yaphah_, “to be beautiful;” hence white), one of the sons of Noah, mentioned last in order (Gen. 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 Pet. 3:20). He was the progenitor of many tribes inhabiting the east of Europe and the north of Asia (Gen. 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” (Gen. 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 Gen. 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).
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Japheth
(“enlargement”.) From pathah “to extend” (Gen 9:27); Gesenius from yaphah “to be fair,” from the fair complexion of James and his descendants. Probably the second son of Noah, from the youngest (Gen 9:24; Gen 10:2; Gen 10:6; Gen 10:21, where the Syriac, the Arabic, and the Vulgate translate as Gesenius “the elder brother of Japheth”; but Septuagint as KJV). If “younger son” in Gen 9:24 is Canaan not Ham, the invariable order of the names represents also the order of their ages,” Shem, Ham, and Japheth” Shem’s genealogy is put last, being traced from Gen 10:21 onwards uninterruptedly as the line of Messiah. These three are persons, the names of their descendants are ethnic. Written more than 3,000 years ago the genealogical account in Genesis 10 is the oldest and most. trustworthy history of the dispersion of mankind. It states from James came:
(1) Gomer, i.e. the Cymri or Celts;
(2) Magog, the Scythians and Sarmatians (Slavonians);
(3) Madai, the Medes or Aryans;
(4) Javan, the Ionians (Greeks);
(5) Tubal, the Tibareni;
(6) Meshech, the Moschi (these two declined between 1100 and 400 B.C., leaving no literature, so that modern ethnology does not notice them); and
(7) Tiras, the Thracians (Tentons). Moses thus, under the Spirit, anticipates the discoveries of ethnology, which comprises one great family of mankind under five heads:
1, Indo-Persians or Aryans;
2, Celts;
3, Teutons;
4, Graeco-Italians;
5, Slaves.
Moses rightly makes the nations N. and W. of Mesopotamia and Syria Japhetic, comprising seven principal races within the geographical limits known to him. They occupied “the isles of the Gentiles,” i.e. all the coast lands in Europe and Asia Minor, and islands of the Mediterranean, whence they spread northwards over Europe and much of Asia, from India and Persia in the E. to the extreme W. of Europe, and now to America and Australia. Gen 9:27, “He (God, Joh 1:14, or Japheth) shall dwell in the tents of Shem.” James by expansive energy and enlargement overpasses his own hounds and dwells in the tents of Shem, as the Medo-Persian, Greek, Roman, and modern European and American empires exemplify.
But mainly James dwells in Shem’s tents spiritually. Superior in secular enterprise and capacity for rule, yet in spiritual concerns James is inferior to Shem, through whose posterity alone all revelations from heaven have come, culminating in “God manifest in the flesh” (Rom 9:5). James’s descendants, as converts to “the Lord God of Shem” (Gen 9:26), dwell in spirit in Shem’s tents (Isa 60:3; Isa 60:5). The full consummation of the prophecy will be when Israel, sprung from Shem, shall be spiritual head of the nations, and they shall flock to Jerusalem where Israel’s king shall reign (Jer 3:17).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Japheth
JAPHETH (Heb. Yepheth).1. One of the sons of Noah. The meaning of the name is quite uncertain. In Gen 9:27 there is a play on the nameMay God make wide (yapht) for Yepheth [i.e. make room for him], that he may dwell in the tents of Shem. The peoples connected with Japheth (Gen 10:1-4) occupy the northern portion of the known world, and include the Madai (Medes) on the E. of Assyria, Javan (Ionians, i.e. Greeks) on the W. coast and islands of Asia Minor, and Tarshish (Tartessus) on the W. coast of Spain. On the two traditions respecting the sons of Noah see Ham. 2. An unknown locality mentioned in Jdt 2:25.
A. H. MNeile.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Japheth
The son of Noah; not, as some have supposed, the younger of his sons, because placed last, (see Gen 9:18-19) for Moses expressly calls Ham the younger. (Gen 9:24) The prophecy of his father Noah concerning Japheth is very striking: “God shall enlarge Japheth, and shall dwell in the tents of Shem.” (Gen 9:27) Yes! it is none but God that can enlarge or persuade. And as from Shem, after the flesh, sprung Christ; so Japheth, who is supposed to be the father of the Gentiles, and as such, in this prophecy, may be supposed to represent the whole body of the Gentile church given to the Lord Jesus Christ, could only be brought into Christ’s fold by Christ’s power. (See Isa 49:6; Psa 110:3)
Fuente: The Poor Mans Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures
Japheth (1)
jafeth (, yepheth; , yapheth; , Iapheth):
1. Etymologies of Japheth
This name, in Gen 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 pathah, 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 Gen 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 (Gen 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.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Japheth (2)
jafeth (, 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.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Japheth
Japheth, a son of Noah. In Gen 5:32 he is mentioned third in order; but some think, from Gen 10:21 (comp. Gen 9:23), that he was the eldest of Noah’s sons, begotten one hundred years before the flood. In Gen 10:2, sq., he is called the progenitor of the extensive tribes in the west (of Europe) and north (of Asia), of the Armenians, Medes, Greeks, Thracians, etc. The Arabian traditions rank Japheth among the prophets, and enumerate eleven of his sons, the progenitors of as many Asiatic nations. In these traditions he is therefore simply called progenitor of the Turks and Barbarians.
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Japheth
[Japh’eth]
One of three sons of Noah. He was the father of Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. From these names it has been gathered that the descendants of Japheth spread over the whole of Europe and a great part of northern Asia. Noah prophesied of him, “God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.” He is not here brought into relationship with God, as Shem is: enlargement on the earth is what is predicted, and this has been manifestly fulfilled. Gen 5:32; Gen 6:10; Gen 7:13; Gen 9:18; Gen 9:23; Gen 9:27; Gen 10:1-2; Gen 10:21; 1Ch 1:4-5.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Japheth
H3315
Son of Noah
Gen 5:32; Gen 6:10; Gen 9:18; Gen 10:21
His life preserved at the time of the flood
Gen 7:13; Gen 9:18
Prudence of, on the occasion of Noah’s drunkenness
Gen 9:23; Gen 9:27
Descendants of
Gen 10:2-5; 1Ch 1:5-7
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Japheth
Japheth (j’pheth), enlargement. One of the three sons of Noah. The descendants of Japheth occupied the “isles of the Gentiles,” R. V. “isles of the nations,” Gen 10:5i.e., the coast lands of the Mediterranean sea in Europe and Asia Minorwhence they spread northward over the whole continent of Europe and a considerable portion of Asia.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Japheth
Ja’pheth. (enlargement). One of the three sons of Noah. The descendants of Japheth, occupied the “isles of the Gentiles,” Gen 10:5, — that is, 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.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
JAPHETH
son of Noah
Gen 5:32; Gen 6:10; Gen 7:13; Gen 9:18; Gen 10:2; 1Ch 1:5
Fuente: Thompson Chain-Reference Bible
Japheth
the son of Noah, who is commonly named the third in order of Noah’s sons, was born in the five hundredth year of that patriarch, Gen 5:32; but Moses, Gen 10:21, says expressly he was the oldest of Noah’s sons, according to our translation, and those of the Septuagint and Symmachus. Abraham was named the first of Terah’s sons, not from primogeniture, but from preeminence, as the father of the faithful, and the illustrious ancestor of the Israelites, and of the Jews, whose seed was Christ, according to the flesh; with whose history the Old Testament properly commences: Now these are the generations of Terah, &c, Gen 11:27; all the preceding parts of Genesis being only introductory to this. By the same analogy, Shem, the second son of Noah, is placed first of his three sons, Gen 5:32, and Japheth, the eldest, last. Compare Gen 10:21; Gen 11:20. Thus Isaac is put before Ishmael, though fourteen years younger, 1Ch 1:28. And Solomon, the eldest, is reckoned the last of Bathsheba’s children, 1Ch 3:5.
Japheth signifies enlargement; and how wonderfully did Providence enlarge the boundaries of Japheth! His posterity diverged eastward and westward; from the original settlement in Armenia, through the whole extent of Asia, north of the great range of Taurus, distinguished by the general names of Tartary and Siberia, as far as the Eastern Ocean: and in process of time, by an easy passage across Behring’s straits, the entire continent of America; and they spread in the opposite direction, throughout the whole of Europe, to the Atlantic Ocean; thus literally encompassing the earth, within the precincts of the northern temperate zone, while the enterprising and warlike genius of this hardy hunter race frequently led them to encroach on the settlements, and to dwell in the tents of Shem, whose pastoral occupations rendered them more inactive, peaceable, and unwarlike; as when the Scythians invaded Media, and overran western Asia southwards, as far as Egypt, in the days of Cyaxares; and when the Greeks, and afterward the Romans, subdued the Assyrians, Medes, and Persians, in the east, and the Scythians and Jews in the south, as foretold by the Assyrian Prophet Balaam:
And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, And shall afflict the Assyrians, and afflict the Hebrews;
But he [the invader] shall perish himself at last.
Num 24:24.
And by Moses: And the Lord shall bring thee [the Jews] into Egypt [or bondage] again with ships, &c, Deu 28:28. And by Daniel: For the ships of Chittim shall come against him, [Antiochus, king of Syria,] Dan 11:30.
In these passages Chittim denotes the southern coasts of Europe, bordering on the Mediterranean Sea, called the isles of the Gentiles, Gen 10:5. And, in later times, the Tartars in the east have repeatedly invaded and subdued the Hindoos and Chinese; while the warlike and enterprising genius of the British isles has spread their colonies, their arms, their arts, and their language, and, in some measure, their religion, from the rising to the setting sun.
The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The Scripture says, that they peopled the isles of the Gentiles, and settled in different countries, each according to his language, family, and people, Gen 10:5. It is supposed that Gomer peopled Galatia, and that from him the Cimmerians, or Cimbrians, and also the Phrygians, derived their origin; that Magog was the father of the Scythians, and Tartars, or Tatars; that Madai was the progenitor of the Medes, though some make him the founder of a people in Macedonia, called Macdi; that from Javan sprung the Ionians and Greeks; that Tubal was the father of the Iberians, and that at least a part of Spain was peopled by him and his descendants; that Meshech was the founder of the Cappadocians, from whom proceeded the Muscovites, or Russians; and that from Tiras the Thracians derived their origin. Japheth was known, by profane authors, under the name of Japetus. The poets make him father of heaven and earth. The Greeks believed that Japheth was the father of their race, and acknowledged nothing more ancient than him.