Genesis 9:27 — Word Study
WLCיַ֤פְתְּ אֱלֹהִים֙ לְיֶ֔פֶת וְיִשְׁכֹּ֖ן בְּאָֽהֳלֵי־ שֵׁ֑ם וִיהִ֥י כְנַ֖עַן עֶ֥בֶד לָֽמוֹ׃
BSA{May} Godʼĕlôhîym [Elohim, the supreme deity] expand the territorypâthâh▸ [enlarge, give beauty to] of JaphethYepheth [to open wide, a son of Noah] may he dwellshâkan▸ [live, stay] in the tentsʼôhel [nomadic homes, tabernacle] of ShemShêm [the ancestor of many Semitic tribes] and may CanaanKᵉnaʻan [a son of Ham, the name of the country] behâyâh▸ his servantʻebed [slave, one who serves]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יַ֤פְתְּ | may he make spacious | Verb, Hiphil, jussive third person masculine singular |
| אֱלֹהִים֙ | God | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| לְיֶ֔פֶת | Japheth | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| וְיִשְׁכֹּ֖ן | and let him dwell | Conjunction, verb qal third person masculine singular |
| בְּאָֽהֳלֵי־ | in [the] tents of | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| שֵׁ֑ם | Shem | Noun proper masculine |
| וִיהִ֥י | and let him be | Conjunction, verb qal jussive third person masculine singular |
| כְנַ֖עַן | Canaan | Noun proper masculine |
| עֶ֥בֶד | a slave | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לָֽמוֹ׃ | to them | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | May God expand the territory of Japheth; may he dwell in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.” |
| KJV | God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. |
| ASV | God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant. |
| YLT | God doth give beauty to Japheth, And he dwelleth in tents of Shem, And Canaan is servant to him.' |
| WEB | May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.” |
| BBE | May God make Japheth great, and let his living-place be in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant. |
All translations agree on the key elements of the verse.
The structure of the verse is built around a series of blessings, each expressing a desire for the future of Japheth and his relationship with Shem.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֱלֹהִים
verbפָּתָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 9:27
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Noah's Blessing to His Sonsgenerated
Genesis 9:27 is part of Noah's blessings to his sons, where he asks God to enlarge Japheth's territory, indicating a future of prosperity and influence. The blessings reflect the relationships between Noah's sons and their descendants, with Japheth's expansion being specifically tied to dwelling in Shem's tents, signifying a shared heritage and future together. This passage highlights the significance of family and the divine favor bestowed upon them.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 11:10 | On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious. |
| 2 | Hosea 2:14 | “Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly. |
| 3 | Malachi 1:11 | For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts. |
| 4 | Acts 17:14 | The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. |
| 5 | Romans 11:12 | But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יַ֤פְתְּ, yaftgenerated
The verb פָּתָה (pathah) means to open wide or make spacious, implying a sense of expansion and beauty. It is in the Hiphil stem, indicating causation, suggesting that God is the one who causes Japheth's territory to expand.
This jussive form expresses a wish or desire, reflecting Noah's hope for Japheth's future. The word encompasses not just physical space but also the potential for growth and influence within that space.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the rendering of יַ֤פְתְּ as expand or enlarge, reflecting the desire for Japheth's territory to grow.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יַ֤פְתְּ governs the clause, with a series of phrases describing the blessings. The structure emphasizes the actions that Noah desires for Japheth, linking them to the divine will.
The sentence is built around the blessings, with each clause following a pattern of invocation, reflecting the hopes Noah has for his sons and their future.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses πλατύναι for יַ֤פְתְּ, which means to widen or broaden. This choice emphasizes the idea of expansion, aligning with the Hebrew meaning but also suggesting a more general sense of growth.
This translation choice indicates a focus on the physical aspect of territory, which was significant in the context of the ancient world.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 9:27 shows Noah blessing his sons after the flood. He asks God to expand Japheth's territory and for him to live in the tents of Shem, indicating a close relationship between their descendants. Canaan is mentioned as a servant, highlighting the dynamics between these families.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Noah's blessing implies a desire for Japheth's descendants to grow in number and influence, spreading out and occupying new lands.
This indicates a close relationship between the descendants of Japheth and Shem, suggesting unity and shared heritage among them.
Canaan is mentioned as a servant, which reflects the biblical narrative of the Canaanites and their relationship with the Israelites.
This verse sets the stage for understanding the relationships and territories of Noah's descendants, which are elaborated upon in the genealogies that follow.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can we see the expansion of influence in our own lives or communities?
- How do the relationships between different groups shape our understanding of history?
- What can we learn from Noah's blessings about the importance of family and heritage?
- How does the concept of servanthood play a role in our relationships today?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers comment on this verse, discussing the significance of Noah's blessings and the implications for Japheth and Shem's descendants.
May God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem. From Shem come the Hebrews, and from Japheth, the people of the nations are born.Early Church Fathers on Genesis 9 →
May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Indeed, Japheth dwells in the tents of Shem because in the faith of the patriarchs and prophets, in the prophetic Scriptures, in the spiritually understood legal sacraments,Early Church Fathers on Genesis 9 →
God also expanded Japheth, so that he dwelt in the tents of Shem, and that Canaan was his servant, when the Greeks or Romans, certainly descended from the line of Japheth, possessed the kingdoms of Asia,Early Church Fathers on Genesis 9 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 9:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleGod shall enlarge Japheth,.... Or give him a large part of the earth, and large dominions in it, as his posterity have had; for, as Bochart (r) observes, to them belonged all Europe, and lesser Asia,
Read John Gill on Genesis 9 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryGod shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 9 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleGod shall enlarge Japheth; or, enlarge to Japheth. Understand here his place, as , or his border; which was very literally made good to him, because he had a very numerous posterity; and by them he possessed the largest part of the world, even all Europe, a great part of Asia, and it is probable America also. Or, God shall persuade Japheth to do what follows, to dwell in Shem’ s tents, where God dwelleth; and so to be reunited to his brother Shem both in affection and in religion, in both which the Gentiles, the greatest part of whom were Japheth’ s posterity, were for a long time at an irreconcilable distance from the Jews. He shall dwell in the tents of Shem, i.e. shall be of the same…
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 9 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 9:27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.Ver. 27. God persuade Japhet.] For none else can do it. Men may speak persuasively, but to persuade is proper to God alone. He "speaks to the heart"; we to the ear only. He persuadeth and allureth, not only by a moral persuasion, but by an irresistible inward drawing. In the Hebrew there is a sweet alliteration; q.d., God shall persuade the persuasible. He shall draw them to faith and obedience, Monendo potius quam minando, docendo quam ducendo , saith St Austin; by informing, not enforcing. He brings in his elect by a merciful violence. He sent forth at first, not swordsmen but…
Read John Trapp on Genesis 9 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(27) God shall enlarge Japheth.—First, the Deity is here Elohim, following upon Jehovah in the preceding verse, and that with extraordinary exactness. Jehovah has never been the special name of the Deity worshipped by the race of Japheth, though doubtless it is the Greek Zeus and the Latin Jove. But it soon became the proper title of God in covenant with the race of Shem. It is plainly impossible to divide this most ancient poem into Elohistic and Jehovistic sections, and the theory, however plausible occasionally, fails in a crucial place like this. Next, there is a play upon the name of Japheth, or rather, Yepheth, our translators having made the same mistake as in changing Hebel into…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 9 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges27. God] The blessing on Japheth is introduced with the name not of “Jehovah,” but of “Elohim.” Jehovah is the God who reveals Himself through the descendants of Shem. The blessing of Japheth shall come from God; but Japheth will not know God by His name Jehovah. enlarge] The word in the Hebrew, yapht, is employed on account of its resemblance in sound to the name of Japheth. The blessing means, “May God extend the rule of Japheth,” i.e. may the meaning of his name be realized in the extension of his power! let him dwell] Better than he shall. The “he” in this clause is not God, but Japheth. The clause contains the prayer that Japheth may ever continue on terms of peace with Shem, and that…
Read Cambridge on Genesis 9 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible27. God — Elohim, the generic, not the covenant name, as used with Shem. Shall — Rather, let. Enlarge Japheth — Japheth goes forth to conquer worlds of matter and worlds of thought.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 9 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
May God expand the territory of Japheth; may he dwell in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.”
May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.”
May God expand the territory of Japheth; may he dwell in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.”
May God enlarge Japheth’s territory and numbers! May he live in the tents of Shem and may Canaan be his slave!”
Tyndale line
God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.
God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.
God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
God perswade Iapheth, that he may dwell in the tentes of Shem, and let Canaan be his seruant.
Strictly literal
Let God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, And let Canaan be his bondman.
God doth give beauty to Japheth, And he dwelleth in tents of Shem, And Canaan is servant to him.'
God gives beauty to Japheth, || And he dwells in tents of Shem, || And Canaan is servant to him.”
May God enlarge the boundaries of Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be a servant unto them.
May God extend the territory of Japheth, and let him make his home in the tents of Shem. May Canaan be his servant.”
From the Latin
May God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Sem, and Chanaan be his servant.
Simplified
May God give Japtheth plenty of space to accommodate his many descendants, and may they live at peace among Shem's people, and may Canaan also be his slave.”
May God make Japheth great, and let his living-place be in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch, both of which agree word for word with the Hebrew text. This consistency across witnesses underscores the reliability of the text in this verse.
יַ֤פְתְּ אֱלֹהִים֙ לְיֶ֔פֶת וְיִשְׁכֹּ֖ן בְּאָֽהֳלֵי־ שֵׁ֑ם וִיהִ֥י כְנַ֖עַן עֶ֥בֶד לָֽמוֹ׃
10 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
יפת אלהים ליפת וישׁכן באהלי שׁם ויהי כנען עבד למו
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 9:27
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
פָּתָה (pathah) is a Hebrew verb that means to be spacious or open, and it can also imply simplicity or gullibility. It encompasses a range of meanings from enticing and deceiving to persuading and being persuaded. The lexicons suggest that it can refer to both physical openness and moral or mental simplicity, with some entries indicating a sinister aspect of deception.
[פָּתָה] vb. be spacious, wide, open
Qal poss. one open as to lips
Hiph. may God make wide for Japhet (give him an extensive inheritance)
base
[פָּתָה] vb. denom. be simple
Qal
be open-minded (?), simple
be enticed, deceived
Niph. be deceived
Pielpersuade, woman, seduce, virgin; entice, husband; a man to sin
deceive
Pual
be persuaded
be deceived
base
H6601a פָּתָה be spacious, wide, open H6601b [פָּתָה] vb. denom. be simple
.
. be open-minded (?), simple
. be enticed, deceived
. be deceived
.
. persuade, woman, seduce, virgin; entice, husband; a man to sin
. deceive
.
. be persuaded
. be deceived
6601 pathah paw-thaw'
a primitive root; to open, i.e. be (causatively, make) roomy;
usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be
(causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way)
delude:--allure, deceive, enlarge, entice, flatter, persuade,
silly (one).
פָּתָה (pa.tah) — to open wide.
1) to be spacious, be open, be wide
1a) (Qal) to be spacious or open or wide
1b) (Hiphil) to make spacious, make open
פָּתָה (pa.tah) — to entice.
1) to be simple, entice, deceive, persuade
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be open-minded, be simple, be naive
1a2) to be enticed, be deceived
1b) (Niphal) to be deceived, be gullible
1c) (Piel)
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to persuade, seduce
1c2) to deceive
1d) (Pual)
1d1) to be persuaded
1d2) to be deceived
V-Hiphil-Juss-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · jussive third person masculine singularHVhj3ms
אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.
אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.
pl. in number.
rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
angels
gods
pl. intensive
god or goddess
godlike one
works of God, or things belongng to him
God
הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
אֱלֹהִים = God
base
H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
. angels
. gods
. pl. intensive . god or goddess
. godlike one
. works of God, or things belongng to him
. God
. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
. אֱלֹהִים = God
430 'elohiym el-o-heem'
plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically
used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the
supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to
magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X
exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X
mighty.
see HEBREW for 0433
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.
This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.
Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.
Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
god ('Elohim, 'El, [`Elyon], Shadday, Yahweh; Theos):
I. INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL IDEA
1. The Idea in Experience and in Thought
2. Definition of the Idea
3. The Knowledge of God
4. Ethnic Ideas of God
(1) Animism
(2) Fetishism
(3) Idolatry
(4) Polytheism
(5) Henotheism
(6) Pantheism
(7) Deism
(8) Semitic Monolatry
(9) Monotheism
II. THE IDEA OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. The Course of Its Development
2. Forms of Its Manifestation
(1) The Face or Countenance of God
(2) The Voice and Word of God
(3) The Glory of God
(4) The Angel of God
(5) The Spirit of God
(6) The Name of God
(7) Occasional Forms
3. The Names of God
(1) Generic
(2) Attributive
(3) Yahweh
4. Pre-prophetic Conceptions of God
(1) Yahweh Alone Is the God of Israel
(a) His Early Worship
(b) Popular Religion
(c) Polytheistic Tendencies
(i) Coordination
(ii) Assimilation
(iii) Disintegration
(d) No Hebrew Goddesses
(e) Human Sacrifices
God
(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew ’El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of ’Eloah_, plural _’Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by “LORD,” printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argument to prove it. He who disbelieves this truth is spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Ps. 14:1).
The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:
(1.) The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.
(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine Being--ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and JEHOVAH, translated Lord . Elohim is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying strength , as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect , and that it properly describes God in that character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it…
This name, the derivation of which is uncertain, we give to that eternal, infinite, perfect, and incomprehensible Being, the Creator of all things, who preserves and governs all by his almighty power and wisdom, and is the only proper object of worship. The proper Hebrew name for God is JEHOVAH, which signifies He is. But the Jews, from a feeling of reverence, avoid pronouncing this name, substituting for it, wherever it occurs in the sacred test, the word ADONAI, Lord; except in the expression, ADONAI JEHOVAH, Lord Jehovah, for which they put, ADONAI ELOHIM, Lord God. This usage, which is not without an element of superstition, is very ancient, dating its origin some centuries before Christ; but there is no good ground for assuming its existence in the days of the inspired Old Testament writers. The proper word for God is ELOHIM, which is plural in its form, being thus used to signify…
יֶ֫פֶת (Yepheth) is the name of the third son of Noah, whose descendants are said to have settled in coastal regions of the Mediterranean and parts of Europe and Asia. The name may imply 'expansion' or 'opened.' He is first mentioned in Genesis 5:32 and is the brother of Shem and Ham, and father to several nations.
יֶ֫פֶת n.pr.m. third son of Noah
base
H3315 יֶ֫פֶת third son of Noah
3315 Yepheth yeh'-feth
from 6601; expansion; Jepheth, a son of Noah; also his
posterity:--Japheth.
see HEBREW for 06601
יֶ֫פֶת (ye.phet) — Japheth.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.5.32;
son of: Noah (H5146);
brother of: Shem (H8035) and Ham (H2526);
father of: Gomer (H1586), Magog (H4031), Madai (H4074), Javan (H3120), Tubal (H8422), Meshech (H4902) and Tiras (H8494)
§ Japheth = "opened"
the 3rd son of Noah whose descendants after the flood settled on the coastal lands of the Mediterranean spreading north into Europe and parts of Asia
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
Japheth
Wide spreading: “God shall enlarge Japheth” (Heb. Yaphat Elohim le-Yephet, Gen. 9:27. Some, however, derive the name from yaphah, “to be beautiful;” hence white), one of the sons of Noah, mentioned last in order (Gen. 5:32; 6:10; 7:13), perhaps first by birth (10:21; comp. 9:24). He and his wife were two of the eight saved in the ark (1 Pet. 3:20). He was the progenitor of many tribes inhabiting the east of Europe and the north of Asia (Gen. 10:2-5). An act of filial piety (9:20-27) was the occasion of Noah’s prophecy of the extension of his posterity.
(enlargement), one of the three sons of Noah. The descendants of Japheth occupied the "isles of the Gentiles," (Genesis 10:5) --i.e. the coast lands of the Mediterranean Sea in Europe and Asia Minor-- whence they spread northward over the whole continent of Europe and a considerable portion of Asia.
Enlargement, the eldest of Noah’s three sons, Ge 9:24 10:21, born one hundred years before the flood. He was perhaps the Iapetos, whom Greek legends represent as the progenitor of the Greek race. His seven sons, Ge 10:2-5 1Ch 1:5, occupied with their posterity the north of Asia and most of Europe. The probable location of each of the seven is described in its place. In later years the Greeks and Romans subdued large portions of Southern and Western Asia, in accordance with the prediction of Noah, Ge 9:27. The "enlargement" of Japheth now extends over America also.
שָׁכַן (shakan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to settle down, abide, or dwell. It encompasses various forms of residing, both literally and figuratively, and includes nuances of establishing or causing to dwell. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which express actions related to dwelling and establishing habitation.
שָׁכַן, שָׁכֵ֑ן 129 vb. settle down, abide, dwell
Qal
settle down to abide
abide, dwell
Pi.
make settle down, establish
make to dwell
Hiph.
lay
cause birds to settle
cause to dwell
base
H7931 שָׁכַן, שָׁכֵ֑ן settle down, abide, dwell
7931 shakan shaw-kan'
a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to 7901
through the idea of lodging; compare 5531, 7925); to reside or
permanently stay (literally or figuratively):--abide,
continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation,
inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up).
see HEBREW for 05531
see HEBREW for 07925
שָׁכַן (sha.khan) — to dwell.
1) to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to settle down to abide
1a2) to abide, dwell, reside
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to make settle down, establish
1b2) to make or cause to dwell
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to lay, place, set, establish, settle, fix
1c2) to cause to dwell or abide
Aramaic equivalent: she.khan (שְׁכֵן "to dwell" H7932)
Conj | V-Qal-Juss-3ms — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine singularHC/Vqu3ms
dwel:
(1) In the Old Testament "dwell" is a translation of 9 words, of which by far the most frequent is yashabh, "to sit down," translated "dwell" over 400 times (Ge 4:20; Jos 20:4; 1Ch 17:1,4,5, etc.); also very frequently "sit," and sometimes "abide," "inhabit," "remain." Another word often rendered "dwell" is shakhan or shakhen ("to settle down"), from which is derived the rabbinic word shekhinah (literally, "that which dwells"), the light on the mercy-seat which symbolized the Divine presence (Ex 25:8, etc.). In order to avoid appearing to localize the Divine Being, wherever God is said to "dwell" in a place, the Targum renders that He "causes His Shekinah to dwell"…
Dwell
Tents were in primitive times the common dwellings of men. Houses were afterwards built, the walls of which were frequently of mud (Job 24:16; Matt. 6:19, 20) or of sun-dried bricks.
God “dwells in light” (1 Tim. 6:16; 1 John 1:7), in heaven (Ps. 123:1), in his church (Ps. 9:11; 1 John 4:12). Christ dwelt on earth in the days of his humiliation (John 1:14). He now dwells in the hearts of his people (Eph.…
The Hebrew word אֹ֫הֶל (*ohel*) means 'tent' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be conspicuous.' It encompasses various meanings, including a nomad's tent, a dwelling or home, and specifically refers to the sacred tent used for worship, known as the tabernacle. The entries consistently highlight its association with transience and habitation.
אֹ֫הֶל 343 n.m. tent
tent of nomad
dwelling, habitation
the sacred tent used in worship of God
base
H168 אֹ֫הֶל tent
168 'ohel o'-hel
from 166; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a
distance):--covering, (dwelling)(place), home, tabernacle,
tent.
see HEBREW for 0166
אֹ֫הֶל (o.hel) — tent.
: tent
1) tent
1a) nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience
1b) dwelling, home, habitation
1c) the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle)
Also means: o.hel (אֹ֫הֶל ": home" H0168H)
אֹ֫הֶל (o.hel) — tent: home.
: home
1) tent
1a) nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience
1b) dwelling, home, habitation
1c) the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle)
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural constructHR/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
שֵׁם (shem) refers to Shem, the first son of Noah, and is associated with his descendants, the Semitic tribes. The word also means 'name' in Hebrew. It appears in the context of the genealogies in Genesis, specifically noted in Genesis 5:32.
שֵׁם n.pr.m. first son of Noah
base
H8035 שֵׁם first son of Noah
8035 Shem shame
the same as 8034; name; Shem, a son of Noah (often includ.
his posterity):--Sem, Shem.
see HEBREW for 08034
שֵׁם (shem) — Shem.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.5.32;
son of: Noah (H5146);
brother of: Ham (H2526) and Japheth (H3315);
father of: Asshur (H0804H), Elam (H5867C), Arpachshad (H0775), Lud (H3865) and Aram (H0758)
Also named: Sēm (Σήμ "Shem" G4590)
§ Shem = "name"
the eldest son of Noah and progenitor of the Semitic tribes
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
shem (shem; Sem):
1. Position in Noah's Family: His Name:
The eldest son of Noah, from whom the Jews, as well as the Semitic ("Shemitic") nations in general have descended. When giving the names of Noah's three sons, Shem is always mentioned first (Ge 9:18; 10:1, etc.); and though "the elder" in "Shem the brother of Japheth the elder" (Ge 10:21 margin) is explained as referring to Shem, this is not the rendering of Onkelos. His five sons peopled the greater part of West Asia's finest tracts, from Elam on the East to the Mediterranean on the West. Though generally regarded as meaning "dusky" (compare the Assyr-Babylonian samu--also Ham--possibly = "black," Japheth, "fair"), it is considered possible that Shem may be the usual Hebrew word for "name" (shem), given him because he was…
Shem
A name; renown, the first mentioned of the sons of Noah (Gen. 5:32; 6:10). He was probably the eldest of Noah’s sons. The words “brother of Japheth the elder” in Gen. 10:21 are more correctly rendered “the elder brother of Japheth,” as in the Revised Version. Shem’s name is generally mentioned first in the list of Noah’s sons. He and his wife were saved in the ark (7:13). Noah foretold his preeminence over Canaan (9:23-27). He died at the age of six hundred years, having been for many years contemporary with Abraham, according to the usual chronology. The Israelitish nation sprang from him (Gen. 11:10-26; 1 Chr. 1:24-27).
(name), the eldest son of Noah. (Genesis 5:32) He was 98 years old, married, and childless at the time of the flood. After it, he, with his father, brothers, sisters-in-law and wife, received the blessing of God, (Genesis 9:1) and entered into the covenant. With the help of his brother Japheth, he covered the nakedness of their father and received the first blessing. (Genesis 9:25-27) He died at the age of 630 years. The portion of the earth occupied by the descendants of Shem, (Genesis 10:21,31) begins at its northwestern extremity with Lydia, and includes Syria (Aram), Chaldaea (Arphaxad), parts Of Assyria (Asshur), of Persia (Elam), and of the Arabian peninsula (Joktan).…
A son of Noah, Ge 5:32 6:10, always named before Ham and Japheth, as the eldest son; or, as some think, because he was the forefather of the Hebrews. In Ge 10:21, the word elder may be applied to Shem, instead of Japheth. He received a blessing from his dying father, Ge 9:26, and of his line the Messiah was born. He had five sons, and their posterity occupied the central regions between Ham and Japheth, and peopled the finest provinces of the East. The languages of some of these nations are still called the Shemitic languages, including the Hebrew, Chalee, Syriac, Arabic, Ethiopic, etc.; but in this general class are found several languages spoken by nations descended from Ham.
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Conj | V-Qal-Juss-3ms — Conjunction · verb qal jussive third person masculine singularHC/Vqj3ms
כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) refers to both Canaan, the son of Ham, and the land west of the Jordan River where the Israelites settled, as well as the term for merchant or trader. The word is associated with lowland and trade, particularly linked to the Canaanites and Phoenicians. There is a distinction made between its use as a proper noun and as a common noun for merchants.
כְּנַ֫עַן 90 n.pr.m. et terr. Canaan
as n. pr. m., son of Ham
land, W. of Jordan, into wh. Hebrews came, and where they settled, subduing the inhabitants
the coast, esp. Phoenicia
base
כְּנַ֫עַן n.[m.] merchant(s) (because Canaanites, esp. Phoenicians, were traders)
base
H3667a כְּנַ֫עַן Canaan . as n. pr. m., son of Ham
. . land, W. of Jordan, into wh. Hebrews came, and where they settled, subduing the inhabitants
. the coast, esp. Phoenicia
H3667b כְּנַ֫עַן merchant(s)
3667 Kna`an ken-ah'-an
from 3665; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country
inhabited by him:--Canaan, merchant, traffick.
see HEBREW for 03665
כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — Canaan.
§ Canaan = "lowland"
the land west of the Jordan peopled by the descendants of Canaan and subsequently conquered by the Israelites under Joshua
כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — merchant.
merchant, trader
Also means: ke.na.a.ni (כְּנַעֲנִי "merchant" H3669B)
כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — Canaan.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.9.18;
son of: Ham (H2526);
brother of: Cush (H3568), Egypt (H4714) and Put (H6316);
father of: Sidon (H6721), Heth (H2845), Jebusite (H2983), Amorite (H0567), Girgashite (H1622), Hivite (H2340), Arkite (H6208), Sinite (H5513), Arvadite (H0721), Zemarite (H6786) and Hamathite (H2577)
§ merchant, trader
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Canaan
(1.) The fourth son of Ham (Gen. 10:6). His descendants were under a curse in consequence of the transgression of his father (9:22-27). His eldest son, Zidon, was the father of the Sidonians and Phoenicians. He had eleven sons, who were the founders of as many tribes (10:15-18).
(2.) The country which derived its name from the preceding. The name as first used by the Phoenicians denoted only the maritime plain on which Sidon was built. But in the time of Moses and Joshua it denoted the whole country to the west of the Jordan and the Dead Sea (Deut. 11:30). In Josh. 5:12 the LXX. read, “land of the Phoenicians,” instead of “land of Canaan.”
(Ca’nan) (low, flat). The fourth son of Ham, (Genesis 10:6; 1 Chronicles 1:8) the progenitor of the Phoenicians [ZIDON, OR SIDON], and of the various nations who before the Israelite conquest people the seacoast of Palestine, and generally the while of the country westward of the Jordan. (Genesis 10:13; 1 Chronicles 1:13) (B.C. 2347.) The name "Canaan" is sometimes employed for the country itself.
1. The son of Ham, and grandson of Noah, Ge 9:18. His numerous posterity seem to have occupied Zidon first, and thence spread into Syria and Canaan, Ge 10:15-19 1Ch 1:13-16. The Jews believe that he was implicated with his father in the dishonor done to Noah, Ge 9:20-27, which was the occasion of the curse under which he and his posterity suffered, Jos 9:23,27 2Ch 8:7,8 2. The land peopled by Canaan and his posterity, and afterwards given to the Hebrews. This country has at different periods been called by various names, either from its inhabitants or some…
merchant; trader; or that humbles and subdues
The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.
עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant
slave, servant of household
Subjects, of chief
Servants, worshippers of God
Servant of י׳, in a special sense
Israel as a people is servant of י׳
In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
Phrases
base
H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household
. Subjects, of chief
. Servants, worshippers of God
. Servant of י׳, in a special sense
. Israel as a people is servant of י׳
. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
. Phrases
5650 `ebed eh'-bed
from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,
(man-)servant.
see HEBREW for 05647
עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.
1) slave, servant
1a) slave, servant, man-servant
1b) subjects
1c) servants, worshippers (of God)
1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)
1e) servant (of Israel)
1f) servant (as form of address between equals)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
Slave
Jer. 2:14 (A.V.), but not there found in the original. In Rev. 18:13 the word “slaves” is the rendering of a Greek word meaning “bodies.” The Hebrew and Greek words for slave are usually rendered simply “servant,” “bondman,” or “bondservant.” Slavery as it existed under the Mosaic law has no modern parallel. That law did not originate but only regulated the already existing custom of slavery (Ex. 21:20, 21, 26, 27; Lev. 25:44-46; Josh. 9:6-27). The gospel in its spirit and genius is hostile to slavery in every form, which under its influence is gradually disappearing from among men.
The institution of slavery was recognized, though not established, by the Mosaic law with a view to mitigate its hardship and to secure to every man his ordinary rights. I. Hebrew slaves. -- The circumstances under which a Hebrew might be reduced to servitude were-- (1) poverty; (2) the commission of theft; and (3) the exercise of paternal authority. In the first case, a man who had mortgaged his property, and was unable to support his family, might sell himself to another Hebrew, with a view both to obtain maintenance and perchance a surplus sufficient to redeem his property. (Leviticus 25:25,39) (2) The commission of theft rendered a person liable to servitude whenever restitution could not be made on the scale prescribed by the law. (Exodus 22:1,3) The thief was bound to work…
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HRd/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3mp