Who is…
Shem
Hebrew: שֵׁם —transliteration: Shem
Meaning: name; renown
also known as: Sem
The first mentioned of this son of Noah is in Genesis 5:32 and 6:10. He was probably the eldest of Noah's sons. His descendants are called Semites and one of his early descendants was Heber (Eber) for whom the Hebrews are named.
The words “brother of Japheth the elder” in Genesis 10:21 are more correctly rendered “the elder brother of Japheth,” as in the Revised King James 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 600 years, having been for many years contemporary with Abraham, according to the usual chronology. The Israelitish nation sprang from him (Genesis 11:10-26; 1 Chronicles 1:24-27).
Semites or Semitic people is a term for descendants of Shem (Sem) who speak (or spoke) the Semitic languages, such as Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya, Tigre, and Maltese.
The following table shows how Shem’s descendants dispersed after the Tower of Babel:
SHEM
—Elam
Persian tribes
—Asshur
Assyrian
—Arphaxad
~ Abraham
Isaac
—Jacob
Hebrews
—Esau
Edomites
Ishmael
Mingled with Arab tribes
—Lud
Lydians
—Aram
Syrians
Relatives
- Father: Noah
- Mother: not named
Who was Mrs. Noah? What was she like? Learn about this rarely mentioned, but important woman. - Brothers: Ham, Japheth
- Wife: not named
- Sons: Asshur, Elam, Lud, Aram
- Daughters: not named or numbered
Genealogy
Mary, mother of Jesus ➤ Heli (Eli) ➤ Matthat ➤ Levi ➤ Melchi ➤ Janna (Jannai) ➤ Joseph ➤ Mattathiah (Mattathias) ➤ Amos ➤ Nahum ➤ Esli ➤ Naggai ➤ Maath ➤ Mattathiah (Mattathias) ➤ Semei (Semein) ➤ Joseph (Yosef/Josech) ➤ Judah ➤ Joannas (Joanna) ➤ Rhesa ➤ Zerubbabel ➤ Shealtiel ➤ Neri ➤ Melchi ➤ Addi ➤ Cosam ➤ Elmodam ➤ Er ➤ Jose ➤ Eliezer ➤ Jorim ➤ Matthat ➤ Levi ➤ Simeon ➤ Judah ➤ Joseph ➤ Jonan ➤ Eliakim ➤ Melea ➤ Menan ➤ Mattathah ➤ Nathan ➤ KING DAVID ➤ Jesse ➤ Obed ➤ Boaz ➤ Salmon ➤ Nahshon ➤ Amminadab ➤ Ram ➤ Hezron ➤ Perez ➤ Judah ➤ Jacob ➤ Isaac ➤ ABRAHAM ➤ Terah ➤ Nahor ➤ Serug (Saruch) ➤ Reu ➤ Peleg ➤ Eber ➤ Shelah ➤ Cainan ➤ Arphaxad ➤ SHEM (Sem) ➤ NOAH ➤ Lamech ➤ Methuselah ➤ Enoch ➤ Jared ➤ Mahalalel (Mahalaleel) ➤ Cainan ➤ Enosh (Enos) ➤ Seth ➤ ADAM (created by God).
ALSO SEE
- Deluge (the Flood