Devine Scripture

Genesis 9:27

What does Genesis 9:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 9:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 9:27 means

Noah pronounces a blessing for Japheth, asking God to "enlarge" him, suggesting territorial or numerical expansion. He also prophesies that Japheth will "dwell in the tents of Shem," implying a close relationship, perhaps a shared dwelling or spiritual benefit alongside Shem's descendants. Again, Canaan is designated as Japheth's servant, reinforcing his cursed status. This prophecy foresaw the future interactions and intermingling of the descendants of Japheth (often associated with Indo-European peoples) with those of Shem, highlighting a divine plan for their respective roles in the world. This foreshadows Gentile inclusion in God's covenant blessings (via Christ, who came from Shem).

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

May God make Japheth great, and let his living-place be in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

God doth give beauty to Japheth, And he dwelleth in tents of Shem, And Canaan is servant to him.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

May God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Sem, and Chanaan be his servant.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

LetGod enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, And let Canaan be his bondman.

Context

This verse concludes Noah's three prophetic pronouncements, following the curse on Canaan and the blessing on Shem. It completes the picture of the future destinies of Noah's three sons and their descendants. This blessing for Japheth, particularly the detail about dwelling in Shem's tents, sets up the future relationships and interactions between these major family lines, providing a prophetic framework for the subsequent history of humanity as it spreads across the globe.

v.26And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.

v.27This passage

v.28And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ephesians 2:19

    So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,

  • Romans 15:12

    And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be the root of Jesse, And he that ariseth to rule over the Gentiles; On him shall the Gentiles hope.

  • Romans 11:12

    Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

  • Hebrews 11:9

    By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

  • Hosea 2:14

    Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

  • Ephesians 3:6

    to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

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