JAPHETH (np.:)

This article appears in Volume V15, Page 275 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: INV-JED

JAPHETH (np.:) , in the Bible, the youngest son of Noah 1 according to the Priestly Code (c. 45o B.C.); but in the earlier tradition' the second son, also the " father " of one of the three groups into which the nations of the world are divided.' In Gen. ix. 27, Noah pronounces the following blessing on

Japheth

JAPHETH (np.:)

" God enlarge (Heb. yapht)

Japheth

JAPHETH (np.:)

(Heb. yepheth),
And let him dwell in the tents of

Shem

SHEM (Hebrew for " name, renown, posterity ")

;
And let

Canaan

CANAAN, CANAANITES

be his servant."
This is probably an ancient oracle independent alike of the flood story and the genealogical

scheme

SCHEME (Lat. schema, Gr. oxfjya, figure, form, from the root axe, seen in exeiv, to have, hold, to be of such shape, form, &c.)

in Gen. x.

Shem

SHEM (Hebrew for " name, renown, posterity ")

is probably

Israel

ISRAEL (Hebrew for " God strives " or " rules "; see Gen. xxxii. 28; and the allusion in Hosea xii. 4)

;

Canaan

CANAAN, CANAANITES

, of course, the Canaanites; by analogy, Japheth should be some third

element

ELEMENT (Lat. elementum)

of the population of Palestinethe Philistines or the Phoenicians have been suggested. The sense of the second line is doubtful, it may be " let God dwell " or " let Japheth dwell "; on the latter view Japheth appears to be in friendly alliance with Shem. The words might mean that Japheth was an intruding invader, but this is not consonant with the tone of the oracle. Possibly Japheth is only present in Gen. ix. 20-27 through corruption of the text, Japheth may be an accidental repetition of yapht " may he enlarge," misread as a proper name.
In Gen. x. Japheth is the northern and western division of the nations; being perhaps used as a convenient title under which to group the more remote peoples who were not thought of as

standing

STANDING

in ethnic or political connexion with

Israel

ISRAEL (Hebrew for " God strives " or " rules "; see Gen. xxxii. 28; and the allusion in Hosea xii. 4)

or Egypt. Thus of his descendants,

Gomer

GOMER

, Magog,' Tubal, Meshech, Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah are peoples who are located with more or less certainty in N.E.

Asia

ASIA

Minor

, Armenia and the lands to the N.E. of the Black Sea; Javan is the Ionians, used loosely for the seafaring peoples of the West, including Tarshish (Tartessus in Spain); Kittim (Cyprus), Rodanim' (Rhodes). There is no certain identification of Tiras and Elishah.
The similarity of the name Japheth to the Titan Iapetos of Greek mythology is probably a mere accident. A place Japheth is mentioned in Judith ii. 25, but it is quite unknown.
In addition to commentaries and dictionary articles, see E. Meyer, Die Israeliten and ihre Nachbarstamme, pp. 219 sqq. (W. H. BE.)

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