Original Word: שֵׁם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Shem
Pronunciation: shem
Phonetic Spelling: (shame)
KJV: Sem, Shem
NASB: Shem
Word Origin: [the same as H8034 (שֵׁם - name)]

1. name
2. Shem, a son of Noah (often includ. his posterity)

Sem, Shem

The same as shem; name; Shem, a son of Noah (often includ. His posterity) -- Sem, Shem.

see HEBREW shem

Word Origin
from the same as shem
Definition
"name," oldest son of Noah
NASB Translation
Shem (17).

II. שֵׁם proper name, masculine first son of Noah; — Genesis 5:32; Genesis 6:10; Genesis 7:13; Genesis 10:1,22,31; Genesis 11:10 (twice in verse); Genesis 11:11 (all P), Genesis 9:18,23,26,27; Genesis 10:21 (all J), 1 Chronicles 1:4,17,24; σημ.

Identity and Position in Scripture

Shem is consistently named first among Noah’s three sons (Genesis 5:32; Genesis 6:10; Genesis 7:13), indicating the place of honor he occupies in the post-Flood narrative. He is patriarch of the line through which the redemptive purposes of God unfold, culminating in Abraham and, ultimately, in Jesus Christ (Luke 3:36).

Participation in the Flood Deliverance

Together with Ham and Japheth, Shem labored under Noah’s direction to build the ark and, by faith, entered it. Genesis 7:13 records, “On that very day Noah entered the ark, along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and his wife and the three wives of his sons.” Shem thus shares in the testimony that “by faith Noah… condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

The Blessing Pronounced by Noah

After the Flood, Shem’s faithfulness receives divine commendation through Noah’s prophetic blessing:

“Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the servant of Shem. May God expand Japheth; may he dwell in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.” (Genesis 9:26-27)

Key observations:
• The blessing centers on “the LORD,” indicating that Shem’s greatest inheritance is covenant relationship with the true God.
• Japheth’s enlargement finds its security “in the tents of Shem,” foreshadowing Gentile inclusion under the spiritual covering that descends from Shem’s line.
• Canaan’s servitude contrasts Shem’s blessedness, underscoring moral responsiveness to revelation.

Genealogical Bridge to the Abrahamic Covenant

Genesis 11 traces a ten-generation record from Shem to Abram. Shem fathers Arphaxad at age one hundred, two years after the Flood (Genesis 11:10). The Chronicler echoes the same line (1 Chronicles 1:24) to highlight continuity from primeval history to Israel’s national story. Through Shem, the covenant promises to Abraham emerge, securing land, nation, and universal blessing (Genesis 12:1-3).

Descendants and Ethnological Significance

Genesis 10:21-31 lists Shem’s sons—Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram—and their clans. These become progenitors of peoples occupying the Near East from Susiana to Mesopotamia and Syro-Arabia. The term “Semitic” derives from Shem’s name, encompassing languages and cultures (Hebrew, Aramaic, Akkadian, Arabic) that dominate biblical geography. Scripture’s salvation-historical focus converges upon Arphaxad’s branch, yet even nations outside that branch (e.g., Elam, Asshur) remain within God’s sovereign dealings (Isaiah 11:11; Jonah 1:2).

Typological and Theological Insights

1. Covenant Priority: Shem’s blessing emphasizes relationship with “the LORD,” prefiguring the later covenantal structures of Abraham, Moses, and David.
2. Spiritual Shelter: Japheth dwelling in Shem’s tents suggests that Gentiles find spiritual refuge in promises mediated through Shem’s seed—fulfilled in the gospel (Ephesians 2:11-22).
3. Moral Responsibility: Shem and Japheth honor their father by covering Noah’s nakedness (Genesis 9:23), while Ham dishonors him. This anticipates later biblical themes linking filial honor with blessing (Ephesians 6:2).

Historical Legacy in Redemptive History

• Priestly Prototype: Jewish tradition associates Shem with Melchizedek, king-priest of Salem (Genesis 14:18), which, though not explicit in Scripture, illustrates recognition of Shem’s enduring spiritual stature.
• Prophetic Anticipation: The post-Flood blessing positions Shem as bearer of God’s name, anticipating Israel’s vocation to uphold divine revelation amid the nations (Exodus 19:5-6).
• Messianic Lineage: Luke’s genealogy (Luke 3:36) traces Jesus directly to Shem, affirming divine fidelity to promises first articulated in Genesis 9.

Ministry Applications

• Honor and Obedience: Shem’s respectful response to Noah models honoring authority and covering sin in love (1 Peter 4:8).
• Covenant Faithfulness: Believers today, like Japheth in Shem’s tents, rest secure only within the covenant established through Christ, the ultimate Seed of Shem.
• Mission to the Nations: Just as Shem’s tents extend shelter to Japheth, the church extends the gospel to all ethnicities, fulfilling the global vision inherent in Shem’s blessing.

Key References for Further Study

Genesis 5:32; Genesis 6:10; Genesis 7:13; Genesis 9:18, 23-27; Genesis 10:1, 21-31; Genesis 11:10-11; 1 Chronicles 1:4, 17, 24; Luke 3:36.

וְשֵׁם־ וּלְשֵׁ֥ם ולשם ושם־ ם שֵׁ֑ם שֵׁ֔ם שֵׁ֖ם שֵׁ֗ם שֵׁ֚ם שֵׁ֥ם ׀ שֵׁ֨ם שם m šêm shem ū·lə·šêm ūləšêm ulShem veshem wə·šêm- wəšêm-Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts