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Shem

an ancestor of Abraham

Who was Shem?

Shem, an artistic recreation

What the Bible says

Genesis 6:10; Genesis 7:13

And he begot three sons, Sem, Cham, and Japheth.

Genesis 9:23

But Sem and Japheth put a cloak upon their shoulders, and going backward, covered the nakedness of their father: and their faces were turned away, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.

Genesis 11:10-26; Luke 3:36

10These are the generations of Sem: Sem was a hundred years old when he begot Arphaxad, two years after the flood. 11And Sem lived after he begot Arphaxad, five hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. 12And Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Sale. 13And Arphaxad lived after he begot Sale, three hundred and three years; and begot sons and daughters. 14Sale also lived thirty years, and begot Heber. 15And Sale lived after he begot Heber, four hundred and three years; and begot sons and daughters. 16And Heber lived thirty-four years, and begot Phaleg. 17And Heber lived after he begot Phaleg, four hundred and thirty years: and begot sons and daughters. 18Phaleg also lived thirty years, and begot Reu. 19And Phaleg lived after he begot Reu, two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters. 20And Reu lived thirty-two years, and begot Sarug. 21And Reu lived after he begot Sarug, two hundred and seven years, and begot sons and daughters. 22And Sarug lived thirty years, and begot Nachor. 23And Sarug lived after he begot Nachor, two hundred years: and begot sons and daughters. 24And Nachor lived nine and twenty years, and begot Thare. 25And Nachor lived after he begot Thare, a hundred and nineteen years: and begot sons and daughters. 26And Thare lived seventy years, and begot Abram, and Nachor, and Aran.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Shem

  1. Before Jesus. He was one of Noah’s three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Genesis 6:10
  2. Before Jesus. Noah was 500 years old when he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth. Genesis 5:32
  3. With Jesus. He went into the ark with Noah, Noah’s wife, his brothers and the wives of all three. Genesis 7:13
  4. With Jesus. After the flood, he came out of the ark with the whole family. God blessed Noah and his sons. Genesis 8:18; Genesis 9:1
  5. With Jesus. God made a covenant with Noah and his sons. He promised that never again would a flood destroy the earth. Genesis 9:8-11
  6. Afterward. One day, Noah drank wine, got drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. Ham saw him and told his brothers. Genesis 9:20-22
  7. Afterward. Shem and Japheth took a cloak, walked backward and covered their father without looking at him. Genesis 9:23
  8. Afterward. Afterward, Noah blessed the Lord, the God of Shem. Genesis 9:26
  9. Afterward. Two years after the flood, at the age of 100, Shem became the father of Arpachshad. Abraham was born from his line. Genesis 11:10-26
  10. Afterward. Luke names him among the ancestors of Jesus. Luke 3:36
  11. Afterward. The First Book of Chronicles retells Shem’s family, from father to son, down to Abraham. 1 Chronicles 1:17, 24-27

Words of Shem

The Bible records no words of his.

What they were like

The greatest thing they did

Not to be confused with

What people ask

Was Shem Noah’s oldest son?

The Bible always names him first and calls him Japheth’s older brother. About Ham, it says he was the youngest son. Genesis 6:10; Genesis 9:24; Genesis 10:21

Why is Shem important?

Because Abraham descends from him. Genesis traces that line from father to son. Genesis 11:10-26

What did Shem do when his father lay uncovered in the tent?

Together with Japheth, he covered him with a cloak. They walked backward so as not to see their father naked. Genesis 9:23

Is Shem in the family of Jesus?

Yes. Luke names him among the ancestors of Jesus, as the son of Noah. Luke 3:36

What were the names of Shem’s sons?

Genesis names five: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud and Aram. It says he also had other sons and daughters. Genesis 10:22; Genesis 11:11

What did Noah say about Shem and Japheth?

Noah asked God to make Japheth great and to let Japheth dwell in the tents of Shem. Genesis 9:27

Little known He had his son Arpachshad two years after the flood, when he was 100 years old. Genesis 11:10 After that he lived 500 more years and had other…

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Who Shem is connected to

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