Who
One of Noah’s three sons, saved with him in the ark. When Ham saw his father’s nakedness, Japheth and Shem covered him, walking backward (Genesis 9:23), and Noah blessed him: “May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem” (Genesis 9:27). His sons in the table of nations are the peoples of the north and the coasts and islands, Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan and the rest (Genesis 10:2–5). Augustine read the blessing as fulfilled when the Gentiles came to dwell in the Church, in the tents of Shem, whose son Christ is.
Key verses
- Genesis 5:32
Noah was five hundred years old, then Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
- Genesis 9:27
May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.”
- Genesis 10:2
The sons of Japheth were: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
- 1 Chronicles 1:4
Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Where the Bible names him
Family
Discussed by
Comments on the verses that name him.
- Augustine of Hippo, The City of God XVI.1
Whether, After the Deluge, from Noah to Abraham, Any Families Can Be Found Who Lived According to God. Chapter 1.—Whether, After the Deluge, from Noah to Abraham, Any Families Can Be Found Who Lived According to God.…
- Aphrahat, Select Demonstrations Demonstration 5
Of Wars. 1. This reflection has befallen me at this time concerning the shaking that is to take place at this time, and the host that has assembled itself for the sword. The times were disposed beforehand by God. The…
- Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies III.5
1. Since, therefore, the tradition from the apostles does thus exist in the Church, and is permanent among us, let us revert to the Scriptural proof furnished by those apostles who did also write the Gospel, in which…
- Athanasius of Alexandria, Against the Arians IV.6
§§13, 14. Such a doctrine precludes all real distinctions of personality in the Divine Nature. Illustration of the Scripture doctrine from 2 Cor. vi. 11, &c. 13. This perhaps he borrowed from the Stoics, who maintain…
- Origen, Against Celsus VII.7
In regard to the prophets among the Jews, some of them were wise men before they became divinely inspired prophets, while others became wise by the illumination which their minds received when divinely inspired. They…
- Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 139
The blessings, and also the curse, pronounced by Noah were prophecies of the future. “For another mystery was accomplished and predicted in the days of Noah, of which you are not aware. It is this: in the blessings…