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Japheth

Japheth

2 9.9
The youngest son of Noah in the Bible who people often call the ancestor of many peoples
  • proper noun
  • /ˈdʒeɪfɛθ/
  • Literature
: Jafet
  • The genealogy lists Japheth among the sons of Noah, along with Shem and Ham.
  • Japheth, Noah
  • Shem, Ham & Japheth
  • Ham and Japheth

His three sons were Shem, Ham or Cham and Japheth.

Examples

  • Why do they name themselves after Ashkenaz, a descendant of Japheth (Genesis 10:1-3)?

    Blog text (27)
  • God designated Europe for the land of Japheth.

    Blog text (31)
  • The sons of Japheth: Gomer...

  • So you have Japheth, Ham and Shem.

  • To my father, then to me, and to my sons, Shem, Japheth, and Ham.

  • There dwelt with Noah his sons: Shem... Japheth and Ham.

  • In the Bible, it is written that Japheth was the youngest son of Noah.

  • According to tradition, Japheth is viewed as the ancestor of many nations after the flood.

Surface Forms

Japheth main

Etymology

Japheth comes from an old Hebrew root y-p-t meaning 'may he enlarge' or 'become beautiful'. So the name fits the Bible story: he is Noah's son whose family 'grew' and spread after the flood, which is why the name suggests one whose descendants increase.