Boy Old & New Testament Known
Shem
name; renown
שֵׁם Σήμ shem
Shem (Hebrew: שֵׁם, shem) means “name; renown”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 17 verses across 3 books of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 10 children in the United States. Use is falling away. Appears with Aram in Genesis 10.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Shem
related to Abimael; related to Almodad; father of Elam
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 17 across 3 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Both
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 10 | Falling |
| All-time total | 755 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 23 in 1976 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 5:32 |
| Last appears | Luke 3:36 |
| Cross-references | 240 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Japheth co-occurrence Appears with Japheth in Genesis 9.
- Ham co-occurrence Appears with Ham in Genesis 9.
- Arpachshad co-occurrence Appears with Arpachshad in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Asshur co-occurrence Appears with Asshur in Genesis 10.
- Elam co-occurrence Appears with Elam in Genesis 10.
- Noah co-occurrence Appears with Noah in Luke 3.
- Aram co-occurrence Appears with Aram in Genesis 10.
- Cainan co-occurrence Appears with Cainan in Luke 3.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.5.32;
son of: Noah (H5146);
brother of: Ham (H2526) and Japheth (H3315);
father of: Asshur (H0804H), Elam (H5867C), Arpachshad (H0775), Lud (H3865) and Aram (H0758)
Also named: Sēm (Σήμ "Shem" G4590)
§ Shem = "name"
the eldest son of Noah and progenitor of the Semitic tribes
Shem, one of Noah's three sons and the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
The biblical story
Shem was one of the three sons of Noah, along with Ham and Japheth (Gen.5.32; 6.10). He and his wife were among the eight people who survived the great flood in the ark (Gen.7.13). After the flood, Shem and his brothers became the ancestors of the nations that repopulated the earth (Gen.9.18,19; 10.1).
Shem was the ancestor of the Semitic peoples, including the Elamites, Assyrians, Arameans, and Hebrews (Gen.10.21-31). He was also the ancestor of Abraham and, therefore, of the Israelites (Gen.11.10-26; 1Ch.1.17-27). In the New Testament, Shem is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Luk.3.36.
Shem and Japheth showed respect for their father by covering his nakedness when he became drunk (Gen.9.23). As a result, Noah blessed Shem, saying, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem" (Gen.9.26). This blessing implied that Shem's descendants would have a special relationship with God. Shem lived for 600 years (Gen.11.10-11).
Key verses
Shem appears in 17 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 5:32 -
And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 6:10 -
In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;
Genesis 7:13 -
And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
Genesis 9:18 -
And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.
Genesis 9:23
Show all 17 references
Genesis (13)
- Genesis 5:32
- Genesis 6:10
- Genesis 7:13
- Genesis 9:18
- Genesis 9:23
- Genesis 9:26
- Genesis 9:27
- Genesis 10:1
- Genesis 10:21
- Genesis 10:22
- Genesis 10:31
- Genesis 11:10
- Genesis 11:11
1 Chronicles (3)
- 1 Chronicles 1:4
- 1 Chronicles 1:17
- 1 Chronicles 1:24
Luke (1)
- Luke 3:36