Genesis 10: Japheth And The Isles Of The Goyim
- TayU Yaho
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
The First Use Of The Word Goyim
The word goy (plural goyim) appears for the first time in Genesis 10:5:
“By these were the isles of the nations [goyim] divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.”
This verse comes immediately after the genealogy of Japheth (Genesis 10:2-4). After listing Japheth’s descendants, the writer pauses to add a summary. Unlike the later summaries of Ham (Gen. 10:20) and Shem (Gen. 10:31), this one contains a unique geographical marker: “the isles/coastlands of the nations.”
Here, goyim simply means nations. At this point there was no Israel, so it cannot mean “non-Israelites.” The distinction is geographic: Japheth’s descendants are tied to isles and coastlands, while Ham’s and Shem’s descendants are tied to inland lands and highlands.
Why Genesis 10:5 Is About Geography
Israel did not yet exist.
Genesis 10 comes before Abram’s calling to serve Yah.
Because Israel was not yet a nation, goyim here cannot mean “outsiders to Israel.”
It simply refers to “nations.”
All three sons’ descendants are called by the same word.
Japheth (Gen. 10:5): ’iyyey ha-goyim, “the isles/coastlands of the nations [goyim].”
Ham (Gen. 10:20): b’goyehem, “in their nations [goyehem = their goyim].”
Shem (Gen. 10:31): l’goyehem, “according to their nations [goyehem = their goyim].”
Summary (Gen. 10:32): ha-goyim, “the nations [goyim].”
Clarification: goyim and goyehem are the same root word (goy). The difference is grammatical:
goyim = “nations” (absolute plural).
goyehem = “their nations” (possessive plural with suffix).
This proves Ham’s and Shem’s descendants are just as much goyim as Japheth’s in the context of this chapter. The writer uses different endings because of grammar, not because of a difference in status.
Japheth’s distinction is maritime.
His descendants are linked with ’iyyim, meaning “coastlands” or “isles.”
This refers to seafaring peoples: the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and maritime territories connected to East Africa.
That is why Japheth’s genealogy is summed up with “isles of the nations,” while Ham and Shem’s genealogies are summed up with “lands and nations.”
The prophets confirm the maritime identity.
Isaiah 11:11, Israel regathered from “the isles of the sea.”
Jeremiah 31:10, “Declare it in the isles afar off.”
Ezekiel 27:35, Tyre’s fall shocks “the inhabitants of the isles.”
The word ’iyyim (“isles/coastlands”) consistently points to distant maritime nations, tracing back to Japheth’s dispersal.
All Three Sons Of Noah Produced Nations
Genesis 10, often called the “Table of Nations,” shows how humanity spread after the flood:
Japheth: “From these the coastlands of the nations were divided.” Maritime peoples tied to isles and sea routes.
Ham: “These are the sons of Ham… in their lands, in their nations [goyehem].” African lowland and river-valley nations such as Cush and Mizraim.
Shem: “These are the sons of Shem… in their lands, after their nations [goyehem].” Highland peoples, including Eber, ancestor of Israel.
Final summary (Genesis 10:32): “By these were the nations [goyim] divided in the earth after the flood.”
The word goyim applies to all three branches. Japheth is unique only because his dispersal was maritime, meaning his descendants spread along coastlines, traveled by ship, and established settlements across harbors, islands, and distant shores. While Ham’s descendants filled Africa’s river valleys and Shem’s took root in highland regions, Japheth’s identity was tied to the sea. The phrase ’iyyey ha-goyim in Genesis 10:5 marks them as seafaring peoples whose influence reached the isles and remote coasts, setting them apart as the branch defined by maritime expansion.
Later Uses Of The Word Goyim And The Greek Ethnos
As Israel’s story unfolds, the use of the word develops.
Israel itself could still be called a goy.
Exodus 19:6, “You shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation [goy].”
Deuteronomy 4:6-7, Israel is a wise goy in the eyes of others. “Surely this great nation [goy] is a wise and understanding people.”
But as Israel became Yah’s set-apart nation, goyim became shorthand for the nations outside Israel.
Psalm 2:1, “Why do the nations [goyim] rage?”
Isaiah 60:12, “The nation [goy] and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish.”
When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek (the Septuagint), the translators used the word ethnos (plural ethne) as the equivalent of goy/goyim.
Ethnos = nation, people, or ethnic group.
Just like goy, it could mean “any nation” in general or “the nations” when contrasted with Israel.
The New Testament carries this forward:
Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and teach all nations [panta ta ethne].”
Romans 11:25, “…until the fullness of the nations [ethnon] be come in.”
This shows that the same dual use runs from Hebrew goy to Greek ethnos:
General = any nation. (universal term)
Contrasted = all nations outside Israel. So, the word goy can be used in its general use for any nation whether Israel or not or to contrast non-Israelite nations from the Israelite nation.
Conclusion
Genesis 10 does not teach that Japheth alone are “the Gentiles.” The text shows that all three sons of Noah produced nations (goyim). The forms goyim (Japheth) and goyehem (Ham, Shem) are the same root word, proving that Ham’s and Shem’s descendants are included equally as being referred to as a nation.
Japheth is highlighted because his descendants spread into “the isles/coastlands of the nations”, identifying them as maritime peoples. Later, the same Hebrew word goyim was translated into Greek as ethnos, which carried the same meaning: “nations” broadly, or “Gentiles” when contrasted with Israel.
The earliest use in Genesis was neutral and universal, applying to every branch of Noah’s family. Only after Israel was chosen did the word become shorthand for the other nations outside of Yah’s inheritance.
