The son of the patriarch Noah, brother of Ham and Japheth. He was the father of Asshur, Elam, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. He is listed in the family line of Jesus.
About Shem
The eldest son of Noah (Genesis 5:32; 6:10; 7:13; 9:18, 23, 26–27; 11:10; 1 Chronicles 1:4, 17–27; Luke 3:36) and the ancestor of the Semitic peoples (Genesis 10:1, 21–31). Shem lived 600 years (Genesis 11:10–11). His name in Hebrew means “name,” possibly suggesting that Noah believed Shem’s name would become significant.
After the great Flood, Shem and his brother Japheth found their father, Noah, drunk. Their other brother, Ham, had dishonored him. Shem and Japheth acted respectfully toward Noah (Genesis 9:20–29). Because of their actions, Noah later cursed Canaan, Ham’s son, and blessed both Shem and Japheth.
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Noah
- Half-siblings 2
- Ham, Japheth
- Children 5
- Asshur, Elam (Genesis 10:22), Arpachshad, Lud, Aram
- Nieces & Nephews 11
- Canaan (Son of Ham), Cush, Egypt, Put, Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech (Genesis 10:2), Tiras
Key References
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
This is the account of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who also had sons after the flood.
And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
All Scripture References (17)
Genesis (13)
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
And Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
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—
The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan.
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.
He also declared: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the servant of Shem.
May God expand the territory of Japheth; may he dwell in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.”
This is the account of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who also had sons after the flood.
And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
These are the sons of Shem, according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.
This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.
And after he had become the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
1 Chronicles (3)
The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.
So from Shem came Arphaxad, Shelah,
Luke (1)
the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,