Which three sons of Noah are named in Genesis?

Genesis names Noah’s three sons as Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They enter the Ark with Noah and their wives, forming the surviving human family in the biblical Flood narrative.

The three names appear together in Genesis before the Flood story reaches its climax. After the waters recede, the text continues to describe their descendants and the peoples associated with them. Later biblical genealogies develop these family lines in different ways.

Shem is traditionally connected with the term “Semitic,” although modern linguistic and ethnic classifications are more complex than a simple descent from one biblical figure. Japheth is associated in some ancient interpretations with peoples to the north and west, while Ham is linked in the text with Canaan and other descendants.

A common mix-up is substituting Noah’s sons with famous pairs or groups from other biblical stories, such as Cain and Abel or Isaac and Ishmael. The canonical trio for Noah is Shem, Ham, and Japheth.