Noah's son, ancestor of Semitic peoples
Shem
Named in 17 verses across 3 books, first in Genesis 5:32.
שֵׁםShem
ΣήμShem
The name means “name; renown.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Shem Written by AI
Shem was one of the three sons of Noah, along with Ham and Japheth (Genesis 5:32). He and his wife were among the eight people who survived the great flood in the ark (Genesis 7:13). After the flood, Shem and his brothers became the ancestors of the nations that repopulated the earth (Genesis 9:18). Shem was the ancestor of the Semitic peoples, including the Elamites, Assyrians, Arameans, and Hebrews (Genesis 10:21 to 31). He was also the ancestor of Abraham and, therefore, of the Israelites (Genesis 11:10 to 26; 1 Chronicles 1:17 to 27). In the New Testament, Shem is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3:36. Shem and Japheth showed respect for their father by covering his nakedness when he became drunk (Genesis 9:23). As a result, Noah blessed Shem, saying, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem" (Genesis 9:26). This blessing implied that Shem's descendants would have a special relationship with God. Shem lived for 600 years (Genesis 11:10 to 11).
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
A name; renown, the first mentioned of the sons of Noah (Gen. 5:32; 6:10). He was probably the eldest of Noah’s sons. The words “brother of Japheth the elder” in Gen. 10:21 are more correctly rendered “the elder brother of Japheth,” as in the Revised Version. Shem’s name is generally mentioned first in the list of Noah’s sons. He and his wife were saved in the ark (7:13). Noah foretold his preeminence over Canaan (9:23-27). He died at the age of six hundred years, having been for many years contemporary with Abraham, according to the usual chronology. The Israelitish nation sprang from him (Gen. 11:10-26; 1 Chr. 1:24-27).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- Genesis 5:32
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
- Genesis 6:10
And Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
- Genesis 7:13
On that very day Noah entered the ark, along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and his wife, and the three wives of his sons—
- Genesis 9:18
The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan.
- Genesis 9:23
Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.
- Genesis 9:26
He also declared: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the servant of Shem.
- Genesis 9:27
May God expand the territory of Japheth; may he dwell in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.”
- Genesis 10:1
This is the account of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who also had sons after the flood.
- Genesis 10:21
And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.
- Genesis 10:22
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
- Genesis 10:31
These are the sons of Shem, according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.
- Genesis 11:10
This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.
- Genesis 11:11
And after he had become the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
- 1 Chronicles 1:4
The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
- 1 Chronicles 1:17
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.
- 1 Chronicles 1:24
So from Shem came Arphaxad, Shelah,
- Luke 3:36
the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.