The Meaning & Etymology Of The Name David

Returning to "David," we see that a transition between David and Japheth is feasible because there is a bridge between all the consonants. That is, between "YFT" and "DWD," there are well-known transition points at each letter position. This can also be understood intuitively if you allow yourself to say the two names rapidly and without precision. Try to say something like, "Djafadt" or "Yayfet." Try varying between the options for each consonant. You will eventually come to some raw, basic sound that can be heard either as "David" or "Japheth." (I hope no one is listening to you!) The Meaning is the Same Perhaps all the above isn't convincing on its own. A wise man withholds judgment for a time because this allows for more evidence to make itself known. Thankfully, there is more evidence! Many scholars think that Japheth originally meant "Fair" or "light-skinned." He is the ancestor to all Europeans and Indians. While the Indians are dark, they may not have been so originally. While the Indians were surrounded with dark-skinned peoples and also reside in an area of intense sunlight, the Europeans were more isolated from intermarriage and lived in colder areas with less sunlight. These factors likely accentuated the fairness (lack of pigment) of the Europeans and darkened the complexion of the Indians. In any event, Japheth is probably the source of the light-skinned mutation and this was probably visible from his birth. Thus, it was reflected in his name. It was fairly common to name a child after his/her appearance. David may have been named after a color too. It should be no surprise, then, that the first usage of the name "David" also includes a comment that he had red hair! 1 Samuel 16:12-13 reads,

"So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, 'Arise, anoint him; for this is he.' Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward..."

"Ruddy" = Having a fresh, healthy red color: a ruddy complexion. Red or reddish. This is either a reference to red skin or red hair or both. Note that only skin without much pigment can be seen to blush.

"beautiful eyes" = likely a reference to an atypical appearance of blue or green eyes rather than the nearly ubiquitous brown color among Hebrews. Though brown eyes are often beautiful, they would not have been a feature worth noting in that culture. Even more, it would be odd to mention the beauty of the eyes of a young man unless the eyes stood out in some unusual way. Light-colored eyes are often noted as special in dark-skinned regions.