Bible Word Study
יַפְלֵטִי
Yaphlêṭîy · a Japhletite or descendant of Japhlet
יַפְלֵטִי
a Japhletite or descendant of Japhlet
Definition
The Hebrew word יַפְלֵטִי (Yaphlêṭîy) is a proper noun that specifically refers to a member of the Japhletite clan, a family group descended from Japhlet. It is used exclusively as a gentilic or patronymic term, meaning 'belonging to Japhlet' or 'descendant of Japhlet.' This term appears only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 16:3, where it helps define the territorial boundary of the tribe of Ephraim by mentioning the 'border of the Japhletites.' There are no other biblical senses or meanings for this word; its sole function is to identify this particular family group within the context of Israel's tribal geography.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Joshua 16:3. Its usage is strictly geographical and genealogical, appearing in a list that describes the southern border of the inheritance of the tribe of Ephraim. The verse states the border went 'down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon...' This singular occurrence places the Japhletite clan as a identifiable group living in the central hill country of Canaan during the conquest and settlement period.
Etymology
The word יַפְלֵטִי (Yaphlêṭîy) is formed patronymically from the proper name יַפְלֵט (Yaphlêṭ, H3310), meaning 'He delivers' or 'May He deliver.' The suffix '-î' (י) is a standard Hebrew gentilic ending, indicating descent from or belonging to a person or place. Therefore, Yaphlêṭîy literally means 'of Japhlet' or 'belonging to Japhlet.' It is a straightforward derivation, common in Hebrew for forming family or clan names from an ancestor's name.
Semantic Range
In its original cultural setting, this term identified a specific clan or extended family group within ancient Israel. Understanding such gentilic names is crucial for appreciating the detailed tribal and familial structures that were fundamental to Israelite society, land allocation (as seen in Joshua), and identity. The mention of their territory in a border description highlights how land was organized and remembered in relation to family units, a concept deeply ingrained in the covenant promises to the patriarchs. No direct synonyms exist for this unique clan name. For other clan/tribal designations formed similarly, see: גִּלְעָדִי (Gilʿādîy, H1569) — a Gileadite, from Gilead; יְהוּדִי (Yehûdîy, H3064) — a Jew, from Judah.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]