Japheth

The story

1. Hebrew · derived fromיֶפֶת
2. Koine Greek · derived fromἸάφεθ
3. Late Latin · derived fromIaphet
4. Middle French · derived fromJaphet
5. Old English · inherited fromIafeth
6. Middle English · inherited fromJafeth
7. English todayJapheth

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).