Japheth

Japheth (Hebrew: יֶפֶת, Modern: Yefet, Tiberian: Yep̄eṯ; Arabic: Yafith; Greek: Iápheth) is one of the three sons of Noah in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran, along with Shem and Ham. In biblical genealogies, Japheth is the ancestor of the peoples of the Aegean and Anatolian regions, the islands of the Mediterranean, and large areas of Europe. The descendants of Japheth are often referred to as Japhethites. In the Table of Nations (Genesis 10), Japheth's sons are listed as Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras, with some variations in different texts. The name Japheth is traditionally interpreted as meaning "may he enlarge" or "may he be enlarged," reflecting a blessing from Noah. In Islamic tradition, Japheth is also recognized as one of the three sons of Noah, and his descendants are similarly associated with various nations.