In Genesis, Shem is the first of Noah’s sons listed by name.
Genesis 5:32 and Genesis 6:10 present Noah’s sons in the order Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The same order is repeated in several passages, although the narrative later gives genealogical material about all three branches.
Shem is especially prominent in the biblical genealogies. Genesis 10 traces peoples associated with his line, and Genesis 11 continues the genealogy from Shem to Abram, later known as Abraham. The term “Semite” is derived from the name Shem, though modern linguistic usage is broader and should not be treated as a direct label for every person in the biblical genealogy.
The names of Noah’s sons are sometimes listed in a different order in popular retellings. Genesis’s standard opening order is Shem, Ham, and Japheth.