japheth
/ˈd͡ʒeɪfɛθ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.00 in modern English
22
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
name
The third son of Noah, brother to Shem and Ham, who received a blessing from God with Shem, considered to be the ancestor of the Japhetic people(s) (associated approx. with Indo-Europeans and Turkic peoples).
name
A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.
Example Sentences
- "To the sons of Japheth; Spain, France, Greece, Germany, Asia Minor, Circassia, and Europe in general...Gomer: his numerous descendants spread themselves over a considerable part of Asia Minor, and the north of Europe."
- "The name Japheth (Yahpheth) the extender, or fair, has also been given by one who knows the character from the beginning. Japheth's posterity was to be fair, and spread over the world. Two derivations are given to the name..."
- "The Septuagint (LXX) Greek was considered by the rabbis as the only language capable of serving as a translation of the Hebrew...In rabbinic interpretation, Japheth represented the Greeks, Shem the Hebrews."
- "Now, in 1620, the Orthodox group took advantage of a visit by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophanes, who in October of that year [said] of the Cossacks: "We all know about the Cossacks, that these chivalrous men are of our race, are of our kin, and are true Orthodox Christians...They are the descendants of the glorious Rus', of the seed of Japheth who fought Byzantine Greece on land and on sea.""
- "“If you are not ready, come with me to another beach,” Japheth said anxiously. “I said,” Jed Elliott said flatly, his teeth showing, “that I can take care of myself.” And the tone was too flat. “Would the americano fight?" Don Leon asked.""
- "“I want to see the bear, Japheth,” said a young Crow. Japheth shook his head, said, “I'll take you to Willow Ridge and show you the black bears that live above the Green River when we get back home, Lowell.""
Etymology
From Middle English Jafeth (as attested in Wycliffe's Bible), from Old English Iafeth (see e.g. Aelfric of Eynsham) and Middle French Japhet, both from Late Latin Iaphet, Iafeth, from Koine Greek Ἰάφεθ (Iápheth), from Hebrew יֶפֶת (yépheth). Further origin uncertain; folk etymology as well as rabbinical and patristic claims usually point to a meaning like "enlarged", in reference to Genesis 9:27, or "fair" (pale, in reference to complexion).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈd͡ʒeɪfɛθ/
- British English: /ˈd͡ʒeɪfɛθ/
Inflected Forms
Jafeth (alternative)
Japhet (alternative)
Iapheth (alternative)
Iapetus (alternative)
Japetus (alternative)