An interesting translation discrepancy arises in Genesis 10:21 regarding the question of who was the oldest son of Noah, Shem or Japheth. It’s peculiar how some modern English versions of Genesis 10:21 state that Shem was the older brother of Japheth, while others, including the King James Version, claim that Japheth is the elder. The Hebrew text has the word gadol (גָּדֽוֹל), meaning “big” or “highest,” next to Japheth, whereas the NASB lexicon places it before Japheth, next to Shem. Which is it, Japhet or Shem? A similar issue arises with Abraham and his brothers; examining both will help us understand this.