References (8)
[A total of 14 descendants of Japheth are mentioned. The sons of Japheth are mainly the peoples of the north and west, in Asia Minor and on the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean. This corresponds to today's Europe and also parts of the northern Middle East.]
The sons of Japheth were:
Gomer [the Cimmerians on the Black Sea; present-day Turkey] and
Magog [around the Black Sea, present-day Georgia] and
Madai [ancestor of the Medes; southwest of the Caspian Sea; the area around present-day Tehran in Iran] and
Javan [the Ionians, the Greeks; Greece] and
Tubal (Hebr. Toval) [people in eastern Asia Minor; present-day central Turkey] and
Meshech [people in eastern Asia Minor] and
Tiras [present-day Italy].
[A total of 14 descendants of Japheth are mentioned. The sons of Japheth are mainly the peoples of the north and west, in Asia Minor and on the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean. This corresponds to today's Europe and also parts of the northern Middle East.]
The sons of Japheth were:
Gomer [the Cimmerians on the Black Sea; present-day Turkey] and
Magog [around the Black Sea, present-day Georgia] and Madai [ancestor of the Medes; southwest of the Caspian Sea; the area around present-day Tehran in Iran] and
Javan [the Ionians, the Greeks; Greece] and
Tubal (Hebr. Toval) [people in eastern Asia Minor; present-day central Turkey] and
Meshech [people in eastern Asia Minor] and
Tiras [present-day Italy].
I will perform a sign among them, and I will send those who escape among them to the countries, to Tarshish, Pol, and Lod, who draw the bow, to Tubal (Hebr. Toval) and Javan, to the distant islands that have not heard of my greatness, nor seen my glory, and they shall tell of my glory among the nations.
Javan [Greece], Tubal (Hebr. Toval) [eastern Turkey], and Meshech [central Turkey] were merchants; they traded (bought) human souls (slaves) and bronze tools for your market (marketplace).
There is Meshech and Tubal (Hebr. Toval) and all her multitudes, her graves are around them, all the uncircumcised slain with the sword, because they caused terror in the land of the living.
"Son of man, set your face toward Gog in the land of Magog [present-day Turkey], the leader of Rosh, Meshech [people of eastern Asia Minor], and Tubal (Hebr. Toval) [Cappadocia, also in present-day Turkey, see ], and prophesy against him
and say: Thus says the Lord God (Adonai Yahweh): Behold, I am against you, Gog, leader of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal (Hebr. Toval).
[The Hebrew word rosh is common and means head. It can either be the name of a country or interpreted as an intensifying adjective to the word leader in verses 1-2, making Gog a grand prince. When the Greek translation Septuagint was made around 250 BC in Alexandria, rosh was not translated as head, but as the land area Rosh, which was known at the time. However, when the Latin translation was made in the Middle Ages, it was decided to interpret the word as "head." This led to the English King James translation rendering it as chief prince. Ancient sources, however, describe a country called Resh. Even from a purely grammatical point of view, the construction suggests that three countries are mentioned.]
And you, son of man [], prophesy against Gog and say: "Thus says the Lord God (Adonai Yahweh): Here I am against you, Gog, leader of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal (Hebr. Toval) [],
