Shem
Noah’s son who came through the flood, honoured his father, and became the ancestor of Abraham.
Old Testament · The flood · Genesis, 1 Chronicles, Luke · Also known as Sem, Son of Noah
About Shem
Shem was one of Noah’s three sons. With his brothers Ham and Japheth and their wives, he went into the ark and came through the flood. When Noah lay uncovered in his tent, "Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father." Noah said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Shem." Shem’s family line runs through Eber and Terah to Abraham, and Luke counts him among the ancestors of Jesus.
Shem has no recorded words, so this guide speaks about him. Genesis 10 lists the nations that came from Noah’s sons, and the word "Semitic" comes from Shem’s name, through its Greek form "Sem."
The story
Into the ark
"In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark."
Genesis 7:13
A garment upon their shoulders
After the flood Noah planted a vineyard, drank wine and lay uncovered in his tent. Ham saw and told his brothers. "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 9:20-23
Blessed be the LORD God of Shem
When Noah woke he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem."
Genesis 9:24-27
The generations of Shem
"These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood." The line runs through Eber and Peleg to Terah, the father of Abram. Shem "lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years."
Genesis 11:10-26
Key moments
- Born to Noah: One of three sons. (Genesis 5:32)
- Enters the ark: With his family. (Genesis 7:13)
- Covers his father: With Japheth, walking backwards. (Genesis 9:23)
- Blessed by Noah: "Blessed be the LORD God of Shem." (Genesis 9:26)
- Ancestor of Abraham: "These are the generations of Shem." (Genesis 11:10)
Questions about Shem
Why did Noah bless Shem?
Because Shem and Japheth treated their father with respect when Ham did not: they "went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father." Noah then said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Shem." Notice that Noah blesses Shem’s God, not just Shem, as if the blessing is the relationship with the LORD.
Is Shem where the word "Semitic" comes from?
Yes. Scholars in the 1700s coined "Semitic" from "Sem," the Greek form of Shem’s name, for a family of related languages and peoples. Genesis 10 lists Shem’s descendants: "The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram." Abraham’s family, and so Israel, came through Arphaxad.
How long did Shem live?
Shem "was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood," and "lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years." That makes six hundred years, shorter than those before the flood. Life spans in Genesis 11 grow steadily shorter.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Genesis 9:18-27; 11:10-26.