Shem

Technical Profile

Name Meaning: Hebrew šēm (“name”), a basic term for reputation or renown.
Period/Era: Primeval History
Main References: Genesis 5:32; 6:10; 9:18–27; 10:1, 21–31; 11:10–26
Key Connections: Son of Noah; brothers Ham and Japheth; father of Arpachshad; ancestor line leading to Abram.

Who was Shem?

Shem was one of Noah’s three sons named before the flood narrative.
After the flood, he is presented as a post-flood patriarch within Genesis’ genealogies.
Genesis traces multiple peoples from his line and preserves his age and descendants.
He appears in the account of Noah’s blessing and curse spoken over his sons.

Key Events & Achievements

Genealogical placement: Listed among Noah’s sons from whom the repopulation of the earth proceeds after the flood (Genesis 10:1).
Family episode: Included in the narrative surrounding Noah’s pronouncement concerning his sons and Canaan (Genesis 9:20–27).
Line of descent: His descendants are traced through Arpachshad down to Abram in the post-flood genealogy (Genesis 11:10–26).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Shem’s legacy in Scripture is primarily genealogical, serving as a key link in Genesis’ post-flood family lines that shape later ancestral history.

Key Verse

"Shem was the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood." — Genesis 11:10, ESV

Quizzes

Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.

1. Who is identified as Shem’s father?

2. Which descendant is named as Shem’s son in the post-flood genealogy?