Original Word: רִיפַת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Riyphath
Pronunciation: Ree-fath or Dee-fath
Phonetic Spelling: (ree-fath')
KJV: Riphath
NASB: Riphath
Word Origin: [of foreign origin]

1. Riphath, a grandson of Japheth and his descendants

Riphath

Or (probably by orthographical error) Diyphath {dee-fath'}; of foreign origin; Riphath, a grandson of Japheth and his descendants -- Riphath.

Word Origin
probably of foreign origin
Definition
a son of Gomer, also his desc.
NASB Translation
Riphath (1).

דִּיפַת proper name, masculine a son of Gomer son of Japhet 1 Chronicles 1:6; but read probably רִיפַת (q. v.); ᵐ5 Ἐρειφαθ, Ῥιφαε; ᵐ5^L Ῥιφαθ; "" Genesis 10:3 רִיפַת ᵐ5 Ῥιφαθ, Ἐριφαθ.

דָּיֵק see below דוק.

דִּישׁ, דַּיִשׁ, דִּישֹׁן, דִּישָׁן see דושׁ.

רִיפַת proper name, of a people 'son' of Gomer (of Japhet); — Genesis 10:2 (P; > "" 1 Chronicles 1:6 דִּיפַת q. v.); Joseph. makes = Paphlagonians; Bo Lag^{Ges. Abh. 255} compare river Ῥήβας (Arrian^{Perlpl. 12, 3}) = Rhebas (Plin^{NH vl. 4}), on Thracian Bosphorus, but see Di

Biblical Occurrences

Riphath appears twice in the Old Testament (Genesis 10:3; 1 Chronicles 1:6), each time as one of the three sons of Gomer, who himself is a son of Japheth, son of Noah. The Berean Standard Bible records: “and the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah” (Genesis 10:3). In 1 Chronicles 1:6 a variant spelling, Diphath, is preserved, yet the context and placement in the genealogy identify the same individual.

Place in the Table of Nations

Genesis 10 provides the foundational record of post-Flood dispersion. By situating Riphath under Gomer and Japheth, Scripture traces a distinct branch of humanity emanating from the Ark. This genealogical note testifies that the spreading of nations was orderly and under God’s sovereign design, reinforcing the unity of the human race and the historical credibility of the Flood narrative.

Possible Ethno-Geographical Identification

Ancient writers and later commentators have proposed that the descendants of Riphath migrated northwest from the Ararat region. Suggestions range from associations with the Paphlagonians along the Black Sea coast, the Riphaean or Carpathian mountain peoples, to early Celtic migrations into Europe. While exact identifications remain debated, the placement between Ashkenaz (often linked to the Scythian sphere) and Togarmah (commonly tied to peoples of Asia Minor and Armenia) points to a line settling in the northern and northwestern arcs of the ancient Near East. The chronicler’s deliberate preservation of the name—despite the spelling shift—underscores its recognized place within Israel’s collective memory of world origins.

Textual Observations

The spelling change from Riphath (Genesis) to Diphath (Chronicles) likely reflects the visual similarity of the Hebrew letters resh and daleth in handwritten manuscripts rather than indicating a separate individual. Such minor orthographic differences illustrate the meticulous yet human process of textual transmission, and their easy reconciliation supports the integrity of the inspired record.

Theological Significance

1. Proof of God’s Faithfulness: The listing of Riphath confirms that every family descending from Noah was remembered before God, highlighting divine concern for all peoples (Acts 17:26).
2. Foundation for the Prophets: Later prophetic oracles directed toward “the coastlands” or “the far north” implicitly build on the Table of Nations, reminding Israel that the same Creator judges and redeems all clans—including those stemming from Riphath.
3. Christological Trajectory: Luke traces Messiah’s lineage back to Noah and beyond, giving fresh weight to Genesis 10. In Christ, the promise of blessing reaches every Japhethite branch (Galatians 3:8), fulfilling the missionary heartbeat already pulsing in these genealogies.

Ministry and Devotional Insights

• Genealogies Encourage Global Vision: Riphath’s brief mention teaches that no people group, however obscure in Scripture, lies outside the sweep of God’s redemptive plan.
• Teaching on Human Unity: The Table of Nations counters racism and ethnocentrism, reminding believers that all ethnic distinctions are secondary to a common ancestry and shared need of salvation.
• Confidence in Scripture: The harmony between Genesis and Chronicles, despite minor spelling variants, provides an apologetic example of how Scripture’s internal consistency withstands scrutiny.

Intertextual Connections

• Psalm 72:8 envisions Messiah’s rule “from sea to sea,” implying dominion over lands once settled by Japheth’s sons such as Riphath.
• Isaiah 66:19 foresees messengers reaching “the distant coastlands that have not heard My fame,” again echoing these early genealogical listings.
• Revelation 5:9 culminates the theme as the Lamb is praised for ransoming people “from every tribe and language and people and nation,” including the forgotten descendants of Riphath.

Summary

Though confined to two genealogical verses, Riphath anchors a tangible lineage within the inspired record, reminding readers that God oversees the rise and scattering of nations and intends the gospel for every branch of humanity. His brief appearance in Scripture invites worship of the God who “counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name” (Psalm 147:4)—and who likewise remembers every family line springing from the post-Flood world.

וְדִיפַ֖ת וְרִיפַ֖ת ודיפת וריפת vediFat veriFat wə·ḏî·p̄aṯ wə·rî·p̄aṯ wəḏîp̄aṯ wərîp̄aṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts