Japheth

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew Yepet (יֶפֶת), often linked to the idea “may he enlarge/extend.”
• Period/Era: Primeval History
• Main References: Genesis 5:32; 6:10; 7:13; 9:23–27; 10:2–5; 1 Chronicles 1:4–5
• Key Connections: Noah (father); Shem and Ham (brothers); Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, Tiras (sons)

Who was Japheth?

Japheth is presented as one of Noah’s three sons in Genesis and is listed among those preserved through the flood.
He appears in the post-flood family narrative and is associated with a blessing spoken by Noah.
Genesis traces several peoples and coastland groups to Japheth through the genealogies.

Key Events & Achievements

• Entering the ark: Listed among those who went into the ark with Noah during the flood (Genesis 7:13).
• Covering Noah: With Shem, he covers Noah’s nakedness without looking, contrasting Ham’s action (Genesis 9:23).
• Genealogical expansion: Named as the ancestor of multiple nations in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10:2–5).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Japheth’s brief narrative role highlights how early biblical genealogy connects family lines to the spread of nations after the flood.

Key Verse

"May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.” — Genesis 9:27, ESV