Japheth 의 아들이며, 그들의 후손으로 이뤄진 민족을 말하기도 한다.
이들은 보통 지금의 터키 지방, 흑해 주변에 거주했던 것으로 여겨진다.
에스겔서에서는 이들의 죄악을 드러내고 하나님의 심판을 받을 것임이 예언되어있다.
“ ‘ “Javan , Tubal , and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandise.
“There is Meshech, Tubal , and all their multitude. Their graves are around them, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for they caused their terror in the land of the living.
2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog , the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal , and prophesy against him,
3 and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal .
“You, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal .
그러나 이사야에서는 이들도 다른 이방민족과 함께 궁극적으로는 복음이 전파되고 하나님의 백성이 될 것임을 선포하고 있다.
“I will set a sign among them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish , Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan , to far-away islands, who have not heard my fame, nor have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.