Shem — Bible person

A name; renown, the first mentioned of the sons of Noah (Gen. 5:32; 6:10). He was probably the eldest of Noah’s sons. The words “brother of Japheth the elder” in Gen. 10:21 are more correctly rendered “the elder brother of Japheth,” as in the Revised Version. Shem’s name is generally mentioned first in the list of Noah’s sons. He and his wife were saved in the ark (7:13). Noah foretold his preeminence over Canaan (9:23-27). He died at the age of six hundred years, having been for many years contemporary with Abraham, according to the usual chronology. The Israelitish nation sprang from him (Gen. 11:10-26; 1 Chr. 1:24-27).

People and places

Selected passages

Show passage in OET: GEN 9:18-27

OET-RV GEN 9:18

18 Noah’s sons who came out of the wooden chest after the flood were Yefet (Japheth), Shem, and Ham. (Ham became Kena’an’s (Canaan’s) father).

OET-RV GEN 9:19

19 They were Noah’s three sons and from them the whole earth became populated.

OET-RV GEN 9:20

20 After a while, Noah, who was a farmer, planted some grape vines,

OET-RV GEN 9:21

21 and in due course he drank some of his wine and got drunk, and he fell asleep naked in his tent.

OET-RV GEN 9:22

22 Then Ham (Kena’an’s father) saw his father’s nakedness then went outside and told his brothers what he’d seen.

OET-RV GEN 9:23

23 So Shem and Yefet took a robe, and holding it between their shoulders they walked backwards into the tent and covered their father’s nakedness. (Their faces were towards the tent entrance, so they didn’t see his nakedness.)

OET-RV GEN 9:24

24 Eventually, Noah woke up from his drunken sleep and found out what his youngest son (Ham) had done to him

OET-RV GEN 9:25

25 and said, “May Kena’an be cursed and become a slave of slaves to his brothers!”

OET-RV GEN 9:26

26 Then he added, “Praise Yahweh who’s Shem’s god. May Kena’an become Shem’s slave.

OET-RV GEN 9:27

27 May God expand Yefet’s territory and may he live in Shem’s tents. May Kena’an also become a slave of Yefet.”

OET-LV GEN 9:18

18 And_ the _sons _of Noaḩ who_came_out from the_box _they _were Shēm and_Ḩām and_Yafet and_Ḩām he was_the _father _of Kənaˊan/(Canaan).

OET-LV GEN 9:19

19 Three these were_the _sons _of Noaḩ and_from_these all _of the_earth/land it _dispersed.

OET-LV GEN 9:20

20 And_ Noaḩ _he _began the _man _of the_soil and_he/it _planted a _vineyard.

OET-LV GEN 9:21

21 And_he _drank some _of the_wine and_he _became _drunk and_he _uncovered _himself in _the_middle his _tent _of_his.

OET-LV GEN 9:22

22 And_ Ḩām the _father _of Kənaˊan/(Canaan) _he/it _saw DOM the _nakedness _of his/its_father and_he _told to_the _two _of brothers _of_his on_outside.

OET-LV GEN 9:23

23 And_ Shēm and_Yefet/(Japheth) _he/it _took DOM the_garment and_they _put_it on the _shoulder _of both _of_them and_they _walked backwards and_they _covered DOM the _nakedness _of their _father _of_their and_faces _of_their were_backwards and_the _nakedness _of their _father _of_their not they _saw.

OET-LV GEN 9:24

24 And_ Noaḩ _he _awoke from_wine _of_his and_he/it _knew DOM that_which he _had _done to_him/it his/its_son (the)_young.

OET-LV GEN 9:25

25 And_he/it _said Kənaˊan/(Canaan) be_cursed a _slave _of slaves he _will _be of_brothers _of_his.

OET-LV GEN 9:26

26 And_he/it _said YHWH the _god _of Shēm be_blessed and_let _it _be Kənaˊan/(Canaan) a _slave his.

OET-LV GEN 9:27

27 god may _he _make _spacious (to)_Yefet and_let _him _dwell in_the _tents _of Shēm and_let _it _be Kənaˊan/(Canaan) a _slave his.

Jump to OET GEN 9:18–27 section.

Recorded scripture occurrences (17)

References recorded in the source data; this is not an exhaustive list of mentions.

Show passage in OET: GEN 5:32

OET-RV GEN 5:32

32 After Noah was 500 years old, he had sons whose names were Yefet (Japheth), Shem, and Ham.

OET-LV GEN 5:32

32 And_he/it _was Noaḩ a _son _of five hundred(s) year[s] and_ Noaḩ _he/it _fathered DOM Shēm DOM Ḩām and_DOM Yefet/(Japheth).

Show passage in OET: GEN 6:10

OET-RV GEN 6:10

10 Noah had three sons: Yefet (Japheth), Shem, and Ham.

OET-LV GEN 6:10

10 And_ Noaḩ _he/it _fathered three sons DOM Shēm DOM Ḩām and_DOM Yefet/(Japheth).

Show passage in OET: GEN 7:13

OET-RV GEN 7:13

13 That was the very day that Noah and Yefet (Japheth) and Shem and Ham and their wives had all entered the wooden chest.

OET-LV GEN 7:13

13 On_the _substance _of the_day the_this Noaḩ and_name _of and_Ḩām and_Yefet/(Japheth) the _sons _of Noaḩ and_the _wife _of Noaḩ and_the _three _of the _wives _of his _sons _of_his with_them he _went into the_box.

Jump to OET GEN 5:32 section.

Jump to OET GEN 6:10 section.

Jump to OET GEN 7:13 section.

Words tagged with this person or place

These links follow the source-word tags and may include pronouns. Tagging is not exhaustive.