Shem is traditionally listed first among Noah's three sons in Genesis.
Genesis 5:32 and 6:10 name Noah's sons as Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Shem is also the ancestor associated with the genealogical line that leads to Abraham in Genesis. His name therefore becomes especially important in the biblical family histories that follow the flood narrative.
The listing order does not necessarily settle every question about the brothers' relative ages. Genesis contains passages whose chronology has prompted different interpretations, and some translations or commentators discuss whether a name's order reflects age, status, or narrative importance. The straightforward canonical listing, however, places Shem first.
The English word “Semitic” was later formed from the name Shem, although modern linguistic classification is more complex than a simple biological descent from one biblical individual. The answer here concerns the order in which Genesis names Noah's sons.