Shem, Son of Noah (שֵׁם, shem; Σὴμ, Sēm). One of Noah’s three sons, along with Ham and Japheth. All three brothers, along with their wives, accompanied Noah and his wife on the ark.

Shem in the Bible

In Genesis, Shem’s name always appears first when listed alongside those of his brothers—possibly implying that he is the eldest son (Gen 5:32; 6:10; 7:13; 9:18; 10:1; compare 1 Chr 1:4). Shem, along with his brothers, is blessed by God in Gen 9:1 and is included in the covenant God makes with humanity after the flood (Gen 9:8–9). Shem, along with Japheth, carries a garment while walking backward to cover Noah’s nakedness after Ham tells them he has “seen” it (Gen 9:22–23). As a result, Noah exalts Shem and Japheth over their brother.

Noah calls Yahweh “the God of Shem,” which, as Wenham notes, “must mean that Noah is blessing the Lord for being the God of Shem. This is then the first intimation that the line of God’s election blessing is going through Shem” (Wenham, Genesis, 202). Noah’s words about Japheth—“Let him dwell in the tents of Shem” (Gen 9:24–27)—may imply that “[n]ot only will Japheth’s territory and influence be enlarged, but he will experience a peaceful cohabitation with Shem” (Hamilton, Genesis, 326).

The Bible describes the post-blessing division of the three lines of Shem, Ham, and Japheth—called the “Table of Nations” by scholars—with Shem’s line mentioned last (Gen 10:1–31). Shem’s descendants include Eber, from whose name the word “Hebrew” is derived. While Ham and Japheth are given only one genealogy in Gen 10, Shem is given an additional genealogy concluding with Abram (Gen 11:10–26). Shem, as Brueggemann notes, “represents the Semites and anticipates Israel” (Brueggemann, Genesis, 89); Arnold comments that “[t]he sons of Noah personify their subsequent descendants in a way that gives explanation for the blessings of Shem and Japheth but cursing for Canaan” (Arnold, Genesis, 112–13).

Shem is also included in Luke’s genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:36).