(Hebrew: enlargement)
Youngest son of Noe, and father of numerous nations (Genesis 9). Because of his filial respect Noe blessed Japhet. This blessing of Japhet depends on that of Sem. Noe promises two blessings to Japhet: first, temporal, God will multiply his descendants in prodigious manner; second, spiritual, a participation in the spiritual advantages of Sem. "Japhet will dwell in the tents of Sem." The prediction of Noe has been fulfilled, the descendants of Japhet have possessed widely extended territories and have gained possession of Europe and a large portion of Asia, America, and Australia; and have received spiritual riches from the descendants of Sem.