Meaning of the Name Japheth
From the Hebrew name Yefet (Japheth), usually explained as 'may he enlarge' or 'may he make room', though its origin is debated. In Genesis, Noah's blessing asks God to enlarge Japheth, tying the name to the verb p-t-h, 'to make wide'. Other explanations connect it with the root y-p-h, 'beautiful', or with the Greek mythological name Iapetos. In Islamic tradition the name also appears as Yafes.
Origin
The name Japheth is of Hebrew; the origin is debated origin.
Who is Japheth in the Bible?
Japheth is one of Noah's three sons and survives the flood in the ark. Because he and his brother Shem cover their father's nakedness, he receives Noah's blessing. The table of nations in Genesis traces many northern and western peoples to his line, including those of the Aegean and Anatolia.
The story of Japheth in the Bible
Japheth is one of Noah's sons; with his brothers Shem and Ham, and with their wives, he enters the ark and survives the flood. His character shows in a brief scene after the flood: while Noah lies drunk and uncovered in his tent, Ham sees him and tells others outside, but Japheth and Shem take a garment, turn their faces away, walk in backward and cover their father. When Noah wakes, he asks that God enlarge Japheth and that Japheth dwell in the tents of Shem. The blessing plays on the sound of his name and hints that his descendants will spread widely. Genesis 10 lists Japheth's sons as Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras; these names are usually associated with peoples around the Black Sea, Anatolia, the Iranian plateau and the Aegean. Javan, for example, is linked with the Ionians and Greeks, Madai with the Medes, and Tubal and Meshech with ancient peoples of Anatolia. The list says that the peoples of the coastlands spread from this line by their languages, clans and nations. Scripture tells nothing more of Japheth's own life, but his name stands for a major branch of the family of nations.
Is Japheth mentioned in the Quran?
The name Japheth does not appear in the Quran; in Islamic tradition, Yafes is known as one of Noah's sons, and some traditional genealogies trace the Turkic peoples to him. In the Bible, Japheth is one of the three sons who survived the flood in Genesis.
Verses where Japheth appears
- 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.
- Genesis 9:27 —
May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.”
- Genesis 10:2 —
The sons of Japheth were: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.