Japheth
Noah’s son who honoured his father, and whose descendants spread to the coasts and islands.
Old Testament · The flood · Genesis, 1 Chronicles · Also known as Son of Noah
About Japheth
Japheth was one of Noah’s three sons, saved in the ark. When Noah lay uncovered in his tent, Japheth and Shem took a garment and "went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father." Noah blessed him: "God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem." His sons were "Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras," and from them "were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands."
Japheth has no recorded words, so this guide speaks about him. His name sounds like the Hebrew for "enlarge," the word in Noah’s blessing. Javan, one of his sons, is the Hebrew name later used for Greece.
The story
Into the ark
"In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark."
Genesis 7:13
They saw not their father’s nakedness
"And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness."
Genesis 9:20-23
God shall enlarge Japheth
Noah said, "God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant."
Genesis 9:27
The isles of the Gentiles
"The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras... By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations."
Genesis 10:2-5
Key moments
- Born to Noah: One of three sons. (Genesis 5:32)
- Saved in the ark: With all his family. (Genesis 7:13)
- Covers his father: With Shem, walking backwards. (Genesis 9:23)
- Blessed by Noah: "God shall enlarge Japheth." (Genesis 9:27)
- Father of many peoples: "The isles of the Gentiles." (Genesis 10:5)
Questions about Japheth
What did Noah’s blessing on Japheth mean?
Noah said, "God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem." It is a play on words: Japheth sounds like the Hebrew for "enlarge." His family would grow wide, and "dwell in the tents of Shem" suggests sharing in Shem’s blessing. Many Christians have seen in it a hint of the nations later welcomed into the blessing given through Abraham’s family.
Who came from Japheth?
"The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras." Madai is usually linked with the Medes, and Javan is the Hebrew name later used for Greece. Genesis says that from them "were the isles of the Gentiles divided," peoples of the coasts and islands to the north and west.
Was Japheth the oldest son?
The usual order is "Shem, Ham, and Japheth," but the King James Version calls him "Japheth the elder." The Hebrew of that verse can be read either way, so translations differ. Genesis does call Ham Noah’s "younger son," so readers have argued over the order for centuries.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Genesis 9:18-27; 10:1-5.