Javan Summary
STEPBible TIPNR
Javan, the ancestor of the Greek people, was a son of Japheth and grandson of Noah.
son of Japheth (GEN 10:2)
Lineage: God › Adam › Seth › Enos › Cainan › Mahalaleel › Jared › Enoch › Methuselah › Lamech › Noah › Japheth › Javan
Names
-
en
Javan
deceiver; one who makes sad
-
en
Javan
· Also called · H3120 none · GEN 10:2 deceiver; one who makes sad
- en Greek · Also called
- en Greek,Gentile · Also called
- he יָוָ֣ן yavan · H3120 · GEN 10:2
- he יָוָן · H3120G
- he יְוָנִי=יְוָנִי · H3125
- el Ιωυαν Ioyan · none · GEN 10:2
- el Ἕλλην=Ἕλλην · G1672
- el Ἑλληνίς=Ἑλληνίς · G1674
- bg Яван
Mentioned in (34)
Gen 10:2
Gen 10:4
1 Chr 1:5
1 Chr 1:7
Isa 66:19
Ezek 27:13
Ezek 27:19
Joel 3:6
Mark 7:26
John 7:35
John 12:20
Acts 14:1
Acts 16:1
Acts 16:3
Acts 17:4
Acts 17:12
Acts 18:4
Acts 19:10
Acts 19:17
Acts 20:21
Acts 21:28
Rom 1:14
Rom 1:16
Rom 2:9
Rom 2:10
Rom 3:9
Rom 10:12
1 Cor 1:22
1 Cor 1:24
1 Cor 10:32
1 Cor 12:13
Gal 2:3
Gal 3:28
Col 3:11
SDA Books
Awaiting permission to publishLinked through an explicitly cited Bible passage
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Conditional birth estimate
Conditional birth bounds under generation assumptions; not attested parental ages, biological limits or a lifespan.
The anchors give incompatible conditional intervals. This calculation establishes no birth year.
Below are relatives with a selected birth year, the generations separating them, and the interval allowed by each anchor. Each relative’s page shows available dates and sources. The overall estimate uses the intersection of the allowed intervals.
| Relative / anchor year | Generations | Conditional interval |
|---|---|---|
| Noah · 2948 BC Ancestor |
2 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2898 BC – 2688 BC |
| Lamech · 3130 BC Ancestor |
3 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3055 BC – 2740 BC |
| Methuselah · 3317 BC Ancestor |
4 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3217 BC – 2797 BC |
| Enoch · 3382 BC Ancestor |
5 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3257 BC – 2732 BC |
| Jared · 3544 BC Ancestor |
6 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3394 BC – 2764 BC |
| Mahalaleel · 3609 BC Ancestor |
7 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3434 BC – 2699 BC |
| Cainan · 3679 BC Ancestor |
8 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3479 BC – 2639 BC |
| Cain · 4004 BC Ancestor |
8 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3804 BC – 2964 BC |
| Enos · 3769 BC Ancestor |
9 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3544 BC – 2599 BC |
| Adam · 4004 BC Ancestor |
9 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3779 BC – 2834 BC |
| Eve · 4005 BC Ancestor |
9 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3780 BC – 2835 BC |
| Seth · 3874 BC Ancestor |
10 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3624 BC – 2574 BC |
Javan Article
STEPBible TIPNR
Javan is mentioned in the Table of Nations (Gen.10.2,4; 1Ch.1.5,7) as one of the sons of Japheth and grandsons of Noah. He is considered the ancestor of the Greek people, and his name is often used in the Bible as a reference to Greece or the Greek people. In the Old Testament, Javan is associated with the trading of slaves (Jol 3:6), suggesting that the Greeks were involved in the slave trade. In the New Testament, the term "Greeks" (Hellenes) is used to refer to non-Jewish people, particularly those influenced by Greek culture. The Greeks are mentioned in various contexts, such as seeking Jesus (Jhn 12:20), attending synagogues (Act.14.1; 17.4; 18.4), and being among the first Gentile converts to Christianity (Act.16.1,3). The inclusion of Greeks in the early church underscores the universal nature of the gospel message (Rom.1.16; 10.12; Gal 3:28). The Greeks are also depicted as seekers of wisdom (1Co 1:22) and are contrasted with the Jews in terms of their religious and cultural background (Rom.1.14; 2.9-10; 1Co.10.32; 12.13). In Mrk 7:26, a Syrophoenician woman is described as a Greek, highlighting the widespread influence of Greek culture in the region.
Javan 1 Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
The fourth “son” of Japheth (Gen. 10:2), whose descendants settled in Greece, i.e., Ionia, which bears the name of Javan in Hebrew. Alexander the Great is called the “king of Javan” (rendered “Grecia,” Dan. 8:21; 10:20; comp. 11:2; Zech. 9:13). This word was universally used by the nations of the East as the generic name of the Greek race.
Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Javan_1) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Javan@Gen.10.2-Col) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, javan_744)