JAPHETH (Heb. Yepheth ). 1. One of the sons of Noah. The meaning of the name is quite uncertain. In Genesis 9:27 there is a play on the name ‘May God make wide ( yapht ) for Yepheth [ i.e. make room for him], that he may dwell in the tents of Shem.’ The peoples connected with Japheth ( Genesis 10:1-4 ) occupy the northern portion of the known world, and include the Madai (Medes) on the E. of Assyria, Javan (Ionians, i.e. Greeks) on the W. coast and islands of Asia Minor, and Tarshish (Tartessus) on the W. coast of Spain. On the two traditions respecting the sons of Noah see Ham. 2 . An unknown locality mentioned in Jdt 2:25 .
A. H. M’Neile.