The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
Parallel translations
- WEB The sons of Japheth were: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
- KJV The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
- BSB The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
- NASB The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
- NLT The descendants of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The sons of Japheth are listed, ancestors of various northern and western peoples. These names represent nations spreading from Noah's line.
Overview
Japheth's descendants are generally associated with peoples to the north and west of Israel. The list shows the orderly dispersion of humanity into distinct nations. By tracing the nations to a common ancestor, Scripture upholds the unity of mankind and prepares for the gospel that gathers people from every nation into one body in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ezek 38:2Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
- Ezek 38:6Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes; even many peoples with you.
- 1 Chr 1:5–7The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
- Isa 66:19“I will set a sign among them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands, who have not heard my fame, nor have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.
- Rev 20:8and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
- Ezek 39:1You, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal:
- Ezek 27:7Your sail was of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt, that it might be to you for a banner; blue and purple from the islands of Elishah was your awning.
- Ezek 27:12–14Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded for your wares.
- Ezek 27:19Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for your wares: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were among your merchandise.
- Ezek 38:15You shall come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army;
- Gen 10:21Children were also born to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 10:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.