A son of Noah and ancestor of the Semitic peoples, including the Hebrews, Arameans, and Arabs. Though listed first among Noah's sons, Japheth may have been the eldest (Genesis 10:21). Shem survived the flood on the ark and received a special blessing from Noah. Through his line came Abraham, David, and ultimately Jesus Christ. Shem is said to have lived 600 years, bridging the pre-flood and post-flood worlds.
He also declared: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the servant of Shem.Genesis 9:26 · Berean Standard Bible
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
A list of names that spans centuries. Between the lines: lifetimes of faith, loss, and waiting.
He also declared: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the servant of Shem.
God makes a promise to every living creature and hangs a sign in the sky. But even after the flood, human nature hasn't changed.
And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber. The sons of Shem: The sons of Aram: Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber. Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan. And Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba,…
Seventy nations branching from three sons. The human family spreads across the earth — and the story is about to narrow.
This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad. And after he had become the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
Humanity builds upward in defiance. God scatters them — and then quietly begins a new plan through one family line.
Shem is generation 11 of the 64 Scripture traces from Adam to Jesus, following Methuselah → Lamech → Noah, and followed by Arphaxad → Shelah → Eber. See the whole line.
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