Genesis 9:27 
Context| NET © | May God enlarge Japheth’s territory and numbers! 1 May he live 2 in the tents of Shem and may Canaan be his slave!” |
| NIV © | May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his slave." |
| NASB © | "May God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant." |
| NLT © | May God enlarge the territory of Japheth, and may he share the prosperity of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant." |
| MSG © | God prosper Japheth, living spaciously in the tents of Shem. But Canaan shall be his slave. |
| BBE © | May God make Japheth great, and let his living-place be in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant. |
| NRSV © | May God make space for Japheth, and let him live in the tents of Shem; and let Canaan be his slave." |
| NKJV © | May God enlarge Japheth, And may he dwell in the tents of Shem; And may Canaan be his servant." |
| KJV | |
| NASB © | |
| HEBREW | |
| LXXM | |
| NET © [draft] ITL | |
| NET © | May God enlarge Japheth’s territory and numbers! 1 May he live 2 in the tents of Shem and may Canaan be his slave!” |
| NET © Notes |
1 tn Heb “may God enlarge Japheth.” The words “territory and numbers” are supplied in the translation for clarity. sn There is a wordplay (paronomasia) on the name Japheth. The verb יַפְתְּ (yaft, “may he enlarge”) sounds like the name יֶפֶת (yefet, “Japheth”). The name itself suggested the idea. The blessing for Japheth extends beyond the son to the descendants. Their numbers and their territories will be enlarged, so much so that they will share in Shem’s territories. Again, in this oracle, Noah is looking beyond his immediate family to future generations. For a helpful study of this passage and the next chapter, see T. O. Figart, A Biblical Perspective on the Race Problem, 55-58. 2 tn In this context the prefixed verbal form is a jussive (note the distinct jussive forms both before and after this in vv. 26 and 27). |
