Who was Shem in the bible?
Shem is named as a son of Noah in Genesis and is listed in genealogies in Genesis 10 and 1 Chronicles 1.
In Genesis 9
“Shem and Japheth… covered the nakedness of their father” (Genesis 9:23). Noah said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem” (Genesis 9:26).
Learn More →Family Lines
“Children were also born to Shem… the father of all the children of Eber” (Genesis 10:21). “The sons of Shem were: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram” (Genesis 10:22; cf. 1 Chronicles 1:17).
Learn More →Shem (שֵׁם; transliterated Shem) is identified as a son of Noah, and the name is connected (by lexicon gloss) with the idea of a “name,” an appellation or memorial mark. In Scripture, Shem appears both in narrative and in genealogical listings, sometimes with reference to his descendants.
Shem in Scripture
Noah was five hundred years old, then Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Genesis 5:32)
The first mention presented here places Shem among Noah’s three sons.
Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Genesis 6:10)
This again introduces Shem as one of Noah’s three sons, setting him within Noah’s household as the narrative moves toward the events of the flood.
In the same day Noah, and Shem, Ham, and Japheth—the sons of Noah—and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered into the ship— (Genesis 7:13)
Shem is named as entering “the ship” with Noah, his brothers, and the rest of the immediate family.
Genesis 9 provides a longer narrative setting in which Shem appears among “Noah and his sons.” The chapter begins with God’s words of blessing and command addressed to Noah and his sons together: “God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth.”” (Genesis 9:1). God also declares boundaries and accountability regarding life: “But flesh with its life, that is, its blood, you shall not eat.” (Genesis 9:4), and, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image.” (Genesis 9:6). The command is repeated: “Be fruitful and multiply. Increase abundantly in the earth, and multiply in it.” (Genesis 9:7).
God then speaks covenant promises to Noah “and to his sons with him” (Genesis 9:8). He says, “I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you,” (Genesis 9:9), extending it also to living creatures (Genesis 9:10). The promise includes: “All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood. There will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:11). God names a sign of this covenant: “I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.” (Genesis 9:13). The covenant is described as “everlasting” and as encompassing “every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth” (Genesis 9:16), concluding, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:17).
The sons of Noah who went out from the ship were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan. (Genesis 9:18)
After the covenant statement, the narrative situates Shem among the sons who “went out from the ship.” It adds a note about Ham: “Ham is the father of Canaan.”
These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated. (Genesis 9:19)
Shem is included in the three from whom “the whole earth was populated,” framing Shem’s place within the repopulation of the earth following the flood.
The chapter then recounts Noah’s vineyard, intoxication, and exposure: “Noah began to be a farmer, and planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent.” (Genesis 9:20–21). Ham’s reaction is described: “Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.” (Genesis 9:22).
Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness. (Genesis 9:23)
Shem’s distinct action in this episode is paired with Japheth: they take “a garment,” go “in backwards,” and “covered the nakedness of their father,” taking care not to see it.
When Noah awakens—“Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him.” (Genesis 9:24)—he speaks concerning Canaan: “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.” (Genesis 9:25). In that context, Shem is explicitly named in Noah’s words of blessing.
He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant. (Genesis 9:26)
May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.” (Genesis 9:27)
These sayings present Yahweh as “the God of Shem,” and picture Japheth as dwelling “in the tents of Shem,” with a repeated phrase regarding Canaan’s servitude.
Outside this narrative, Shem is also described in relation to other family lines in Genesis 10.
Children were also born to Shem (the elder brother of Japheth), the father of all the children of Eber. (Genesis 10:21)
This statement identifies Shem as “the elder brother of Japheth” and calls him “the father of all the children of Eber,” introducing a broader descendant group connected with his line.
The sons of Shem were: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. (Genesis 10:22)
Genesis 10 names specific sons of Shem, presenting a genealogical foundation for his posterity.
In 1 Chronicles 1, Shem appears in a condensed genealogy that parallels the ancestral line from Noah.
Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (1 Chronicles 1:4)
This brief listing again places Shem directly after Noah and alongside his brothers.
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. (1 Chronicles 1:17)
Here the sons of Shem are listed with additional names beyond Genesis 10:22 in the verses provided, giving a fuller roll of descendants in this genealogical context.
Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, (1 Chronicles 1:24)
This verse fragment places Shem at the head of a further line that continues through Arpachshad and Shelah, indicating Shem’s position in an ongoing genealogy.
Name and Meaning
The name is written in Hebrew as שֵׁם and transliterated Shem, pronounced “shame.” According to the lexicon information provided, it is connected with the sense of “name,” understood as an appellation and as a mark or memorial. The same gloss identifies Shem as a son of Noah and notes that the name can include reference to his posterity.
Observation
Across the narrative and genealogies cited, Shem is consistently presented as one of “the sons of Noah” (Genesis 9:18) and as a source of a distinct line of descendants—“The sons of Shem were: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.” (Genesis 10:22)—while Genesis 9 uniquely records a blessing that names “Yahweh, the God of Shem” (Genesis 9:26).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Shem mean?
The name Shem means “name.”
How many times does Shem appear in the Bible?
Shem appears 15 time(s).
Who was Shem?
Shem was a son of Noah, often including his posterity. Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Genesis 5:32).
Who were the sons of Shem?
The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram (Genesis 10:22).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Shem interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
