Shem

Portrait of Shem

Shem was the eldest son of Noah who survived the great flood alongside his father and brothers aboard the ark. After the waters receded, Noah pronounced a special blessing on Shem, foretelling that the Lord would dwell with his descendants and that they would hold dominion over others. Through the genealogies of Genesis 10 and 11, Shem is identified as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples, including Eber, Abraham, and the eventual nation of Israel. This lineage carries central significance in Scripture as the covenantal line through which God later promised blessing to all nations and revealed his redemptive purposes.

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Biography

Born
c. 2448 BC
Died
c. 1848 BC
Age
600 years
Occupation
Patriarch
Father
Noah
Children
Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram
Era
Patriarchs

Family

Parents
Noah
โ†“
Shem
โ†“
Children
Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram
Old Testament Patriarchs Patriarch Genesis

Did You Know?

1

Shem lived 600 years and was still alive during Abraham's lifetime, having been born before the flood and surviving to see the birth of Isaac about 450 years later.

2

Noah's blessing after the flood invoked Yahweh specifically as the God of Shem, indicating that true worship would be preserved exclusively through his line rather than Ham or Japheth.

3

The genealogy in Genesis 11 traces only nine generations from Shem to Abraham, compressing the post-flood period into a far shorter timeframe than the lengthy antediluvian lifespans.

4

Among Shem's five named sons, Asshur founded the Assyrians and Arphaxad became the direct ancestor of the Chaldeans from whom Abraham descended, linking Shem to both Israel's enemies and its origins.

5

Unlike the incidents involving Ham and Canaan, the text records no moral failing or curse associated with Shem, underscoring his role as the unblemished progenitor of the Semitic covenant line.

Key Passages

Noah's Sons After the Flood

Genesis 9:18-27

This passage shows how Shemโ€™s quiet honor toward his father opened the way for Godโ€™s blessing to flow through his family line.

A18nd the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.

19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread. 20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. 23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their fatherโ€™s nakedness. 24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

Read full chapter: Genesis 9 โ†’

Shem's Descendants

Genesis 11:10-26

This genealogy reveals God's faithful preservation of a chosen line from Shem to Abraham, assuring us that His redemptive promises continue through generations.

T10hese are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: 13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: 15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: 17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. 18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: 19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. 20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: 21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. 22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: 23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: 25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Read full chapter: Genesis 11 โ†’

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