Genesis EraOld Testament

Shem

When

No date

Genesis gives ages before Abraham, and readers differ on whether they are meant to be added up into dates. How the dates are worked out

Name meaning

"name, renown" · Hebrew

About

Eldest son of Noah. He received a blessing from Noah after honoring him. Genesis names Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram among his sons, and through Arphaxad's line he is the ancestor of Abraham and the Hebrew people.

Relationships

FatherNoahFather, builder of the ark

BrotherHamBrother

BrotherJaphethBrother

DescendantAbrahamAncestor of Abraham (Genesis 11 names omitted)

Key Scripture AppearancesKJV

Genesis 5:32

And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.Genesis 5:32, KJV

Genesis 9:23

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 father’s nakedness.Genesis 9:23, KJV

Genesis 10:1

Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.Genesis 10:1, KJV

Genesis 11:10

These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:Genesis 11:10, KJV

See how Shem connects to every other figure in Scripture.

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