Person

Shem

also SemMaleb. 2446 BCd. 1846 BC

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).

Relationships

Children Aram (son of Shem), Arphaxad, Asshur, Elam (son of Shem), Lud

Siblings Ham, Japheth

Parents Noah

Member of Genealogy of Jesus

Events The Great Flood begins, Water covers the earth, The flood subsides, Leaving the Ark, Noah gets drunk and Canaan is cursed, Birth of Shem, Lifetime of Shem, The Great Flood, Birth of Arphaxad, Death of Shem

Active in Ararat

Appears in Genesis

Key verses

Genesis 10:22

The sons of Shem were: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.

Genesis 7:13

In the same day Noah, and Shem, Ham, and Japheth—the sons of Noah—and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered into the ship—

Genesis 10:1

Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

1 Chronicles 1:17

The sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arpachshad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.

Luke 3:36

the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

Genesis 5:32

Noah was five hundred years old, then Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.