Shem is traditionally named as the son of Noah through whom the Israelites’ biblical lineage is traced.
Genesis 10 presents the descendants of Noah’s three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—after the Flood. Genesis 11 then traces a line from Shem through several generations to Abram, later called Abraham. The genealogy continues through Isaac and Jacob, whose descendants become the tribes of Israel.
Shem is therefore especially important in the biblical genealogical framework. The term “Semitic,” used in later scholarship for related languages and peoples, derives from his name, although modern linguistic and ethnic classifications are more complex than a simple descent chart.
The other sons also have major roles in Genesis’s nations table. Ham is linked in the narrative to Canaan, while Japheth is associated with other peoples. These associations should not be treated as straightforward modern ethnic categories.