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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 10:21 And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/10-21.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/01_Gen_10_21.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 10:21 - The Semites" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/10-21.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/10-21.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/10.htm">Chapter 10</a> > Verse 21</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/10-20.htm" title="Genesis 10:20">◄</a> Genesis 10:21 <a href="/genesis/10-22.htm" title="Genesis 10:22">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/10.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/10.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/10.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth. Shem was the ancestor of all the descendants of Eber.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/10.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/10.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/10.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were <i>children</i> born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/10.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And <i>children</i> were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/10.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, <i>and</i> the older brother of Japheth, <i>children</i> were born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/10.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and the older brother of Japheth, children were born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/10.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, <i>and</i> the older brother of Japheth, children were born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/10.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, <i>and</i> the older brother of Japheth, children were born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/10.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber [including the Hebrews], the older brother of Japheth, children were born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/10.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Shem, Japheth’s older brother, also had sons. Shem was the father of all the sons of Eber.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/10.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Shem, Japheth&#8217s older brother, also had sons. Shem was the father of all the sons of Eber.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/10.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And unto Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/10.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And unto Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/10.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Shem, Japheth's older brother, also had children. [Shem was] the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/10.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Shem, the older brother of Japheth, was the ancestor of all the Hebrews. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/10.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Shem, Japheth's older brother, also had descendants. Shem was the father of the descendants of Eber. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/10.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/10.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />And sons were also born to Shem (the older brother of Japheth), the father of all the sons of Eber. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/10.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />To Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/10.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/10.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Children were also born to Shem (the elder brother of Japheth), the father of all the children of Eber. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/10.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />As for Shem, father of all sons of Eber, the older brother of Japheth, he has also begotten.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/10.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> As to Shem, father of all sons of Eber, brother of Japheth the elder, he hath also begotten:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/10.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And to Shem shall be born, even to him the father of all the sons of Eber, the brother of Japheth the great.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/10.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Of Sem also, the father of all children of Heber, the elder brother of Japheth, sons were born. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/10.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Likewise, from Shem, the father of all the sons of Heber, the elder brother of Japheth, sons were born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/10.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />To Shem also, Japheth’s oldest brother and the ancestor of all the children of Eber, children were born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/10.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/10.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, even to him were children born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/10.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Sheem begot sons also, the father of all children of Eber, the brother of Yapheth the great.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/10.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And unto Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/10.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And to Sem himself also were children born, the father of all the sons of Heber, the brother of Japheth the elder.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/10-21.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=2227" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/10.htm">The Semites</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">21</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: yul·laḏ (V-QalPass-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">And sons were also born</a> <a href="/hebrew/1571.htm" title="1571: gam- (Conj) -- Also, moreover, yea. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/8035.htm" title="8035: ū·lə·šêm (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- Name, oldest son of Noah. The same as shem; name; Shem, a son of Noah.">to Shem,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1419.htm" title="1419: hag·gā·ḏō·wl (Art:: Adj-ms) -- Great. Or gadol; from gadal; great; hence, older; also insolent.">the older</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: ’ă·ḥî (N-msc) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">brother</a> <a href="/hebrew/3315.htm" title="3315: ye·p̄eṯ (N-proper-ms) -- A son of Noah. From pathah; expansion; Jepheth, a son of Noah; also his posterity.">of Japheth;</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">Shem</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ă·ḇî (N-msc) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">was the forefather</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">of all</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nê- (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">the sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/5677.htm" title="5677: ‘ê·ḇer (N-proper-ms) -- The same as eber; Eber, the name of two patriarchs and four Israelites.">of Eber.</a> </span><span class="reftext">22</span>The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-35.htm">Luke 3:35-36</a></span><br />the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, / the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/1-17.htm">1 Chronicles 1:17-27</a></span><br />The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. / Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber. / Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-7.htm">Hebrews 11:7</a></span><br />By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/9-18.htm">Genesis 9:18-19</a></span><br />The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. / These three were the sons of Noah, and from them the whole earth was populated.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/11-10.htm">Genesis 11:10-26</a></span><br />This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad. / And after he had become the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters. / When Arphaxad was 35 years old, he became the father of Shelah. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/66-19.htm">Isaiah 66:19</a></span><br />I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-26.htm">Acts 17:26</a></span><br />From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-7.htm">Romans 9:7-8</a></span><br />Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-20.htm">1 Peter 3:20</a></span><br />who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/5-32.htm">Genesis 5:32</a></span><br />After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/9-1.htm">Genesis 9:1</a></span><br />And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/11-1.htm">Genesis 11:1-9</a></span><br />Now the whole world had one language and a common form of speech. / And as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. / And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” So they used brick instead of stone, and tar instead of mortar. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-8.htm">Deuteronomy 32:8</a></span><br />When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-26.htm">Acts 7:26</a></span><br />The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/5-12.htm">Romans 5:12-14</a></span><br />Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. / For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law. / Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed. He is a pattern of the One to come.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.</p><p class="hdg">Shem.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/9-26.htm">Genesis 9:26</a></b></br> And he said, Blessed <i>be</i> the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.</p><p class="hdg">the father.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/11-10.htm">Genesis 11:10-26</a></b></br> These <i>are</i> the generations of Shem: Shem <i>was</i> an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: … </p><p class="hdg">Eber.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/24-24.htm">Numbers 24:24</a></b></br> And ships <i>shall come</i> from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.</p><p class="hdg">the brother.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/10-2.htm">Genesis 10:2</a></b></br> The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/james/2-21.htm">Ancestor</a> <a href="/genesis/10-15.htm">Begotten</a> <a href="/genesis/10-15.htm">Born</a> <a href="/genesis/6-4.htm">Children</a> <a href="/luke/3-36.htm">Eber</a> <a href="/3_john/1-1.htm">Elder</a> <a href="/genesis/10-5.htm">Japheth</a> <a href="/1_peter/5-5.htm">Older</a> <a href="/genesis/10-1.htm">Shem</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/17-1.htm">Ancestor</a> <a href="/genesis/10-24.htm">Begotten</a> <a href="/genesis/10-25.htm">Born</a> <a href="/genesis/10-22.htm">Children</a> <a href="/genesis/10-24.htm">Eber</a> <a href="/genesis/24-2.htm">Elder</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/1-4.htm">Japheth</a> <a href="/genesis/19-31.htm">Older</a> <a href="/genesis/10-22.htm">Shem</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 10</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/10-1.htm">The generations of Noah.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/10-2.htm">Japheth.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/10-6.htm">Ham.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/10-8.htm">Nimrod becomes the first monarch; the descendants of Canaan.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/10-21.htm">The sons of Shem.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/10.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/10.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And sons were also born to Shem</b><br>Shem is one of the three sons of Noah, and his descendants are significant in biblical history. The mention of sons being born to Shem highlights the continuation of the human race post-flood and the fulfillment of God's command to "be fruitful and multiply" (<a href="/genesis/9.htm">Genesis 9:1</a>). Shem's lineage is particularly important as it leads to the Semitic peoples, including the Israelites. This phrase sets the stage for the genealogies that follow, emphasizing the importance of family lines in biblical narratives.<p><b>the older brother of Japheth</b><br>This phrase indicates the birth order among Noah's sons, which is relevant for understanding the distribution of nations and peoples. Japheth's descendants are traditionally associated with the peoples of Europe and parts of Asia. The mention of Shem as the older brother may imply a position of prominence or responsibility, which is consistent with the biblical theme of the elder sibling often having a significant role, though not always the primary blessing, as seen in the stories of Esau and Jacob or Manasseh and Ephraim.<p><b>Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber</b><br>Eber is a significant figure as he is considered the ancestor of the Hebrews. The term "Hebrew" is derived from Eber, and this connection is crucial for understanding the identity of the Israelites. This lineage underscores the importance of Shem's descendants in the biblical narrative, as they lead to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the patriarchs of Israel. The genealogical link to Eber also highlights the continuity of God's covenant promises through specific family lines, ultimately leading to the coming of Jesus Christ, who is traced back to Shem through the genealogies in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/shem.htm">Shem</a></b><br>The son of Noah, considered the ancestor of the Semitic peoples. His lineage is significant in biblical history as it leads to Abraham and, ultimately, to Jesus Christ.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/japheth.htm">Japheth</a></b><br>Shem's brother, traditionally considered the ancestor of many Indo-European nations. The text highlights Shem as the "older brother," emphasizing his prominence in the genealogical record.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/eber.htm">Eber</a></b><br>A descendant of Shem, from whom the term "Hebrew" is derived. Eber is significant as he represents the line leading to the Hebrew people.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/sons_of_eber.htm">Sons of Eber</a></b><br>This phrase indicates the continuation of Shem's line, which is crucial for understanding the development of the nations and the fulfillment of God's promises.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_lineage_in_god's_plan.htm">The Importance of Lineage in God's Plan</a></b><br>Understanding genealogies helps us see the continuity of God's promises and His faithfulness across generations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/shem's_role_in_salvation_history.htm">Shem's Role in Salvation History</a></b><br>Shem's lineage is crucial as it leads to the birth of Jesus, the Savior, emphasizing the importance of each generation in God's redemptive plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_significance_of_names_and_meanings.htm">The Significance of Names and Meanings</a></b><br>The name "Eber" is linked to the term "Hebrew," showing the importance of identity and heritage in God's unfolding account.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_history.htm">God's Sovereignty in History</a></b><br>The genealogies remind us that God is sovereign over history, orchestrating events and people to fulfill His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_across_generations.htm">Faithfulness Across Generations</a></b><br>The faithfulness of Shem's descendants encourages us to remain faithful, trusting that God will use our lives for His greater plan.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_10.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 10</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_are_the_semitic_people.htm">Who are the Semitic people?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_just_war_theory.htm">Who are the Semitic people?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_were_shem,_ham,_and_japheth.htm">Who were Shem, Ham, and Japheth in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_'earth_divided'_in_peleg's_time.htm">What does "Earth divided in Peleg's days" mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/10.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(21-23) <span class= "bld">shem . . . the brother of Japheth the elder.</span>--Really, <span class= "ital">the elder brother of Japheth. </span>Though the rules of Hebrew grammar will admit of no other rendering, it is remarkable that both the Syriac and the Vulg. make the same mistake as our own version. In designating Shem as "the father of all the children of Eber," attention is called to the fact that the descendants of Peleg, his elder son, are omitted from this table, and reserved for the <span class= "ital">Toldoth Shem. </span>(See <a href="/genesis/11-10.htm" title="These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:">Genesis 11:10</a>.)<p>The nations descended from Shem were:--<p><span class= "bld">1. Elam.</span>--According to Mr. Sayce (<span class= "ital">Chald. Gen., </span>p. 196), "the primitive inhabitants of Elam were a race closely allied to the Accadians, and spread over the whole range of country which stretched from the southern shores of the Caspian to the Persian Gulf." But just as the Semitic Asshur expelled a Hamite race from Assyria, so another branch of this conquering family occupied Elymais. It is now called Chuzistan, and was the most easternly of the countries occupied by the Semites. But see Excursus to Genesis 14 on the conquests of the Elamite Chedorlaomer.<p><span class= "bld">2. Asshur.</span>--This Semitic stock seems to have been the first to settle on the Tigris, as the Hamites were the first to settle on the Euphrates. Finally, as we have seen (<a href="/genesis/10-11.htm" title="Out of that land went forth Asshur, and built Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,">Genesis 10:11</a>), they conquered the whole country.<p><span class= "bld">3. Arphaxad.</span>--Heb., <span class= "ital">Arpachshad. </span>We may dismiss the idea that he was connected with the region called Arrapachitis, for this correctly is Aryapakshata, "the land next the Aryans." Really he appears as the ancestor of Eber and the Joktanite Arabs.<p><span class= "bld">4. Lud.</span>--Probably the Lydians, who, after various wanderings, settled in Asia Minor.<p><span class= "bld">5. Aram.</span>--As Asshur means <span class= "ital">plain, </span>so Aram means <span class= "ital">highland. </span>It was originally the name of the Lebanon ranges, and thus Damascus is called Aram in <a href="/2_samuel/8-5.htm" title="And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.">2Samuel 8:5</a>. Subsequently the race so extended itself as to possess Mesopotamia, a lowland country, but called, as early as <a href="/genesis/24-10.htm" title="And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.">Genesis 24:10</a>, "Aram of the two rivers." The greatness of Aram will be best seen by examining those places in our version where <span class= "ital">Syria and Syrian </span>are spoken of, and which, in the Hebrew, are really Aram. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/10.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 21.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber</span>, - as Ham of Canaan (<a href="/genesis/9-22.htm">Genesis 9:22</a>; <span class="accented">vide</span> ver. 24) - <span class="cmt_word">the brother of Japheth the elder.</span> Either the eldest brother of Japheth (Syriac, Arabic, Vulgate, Gesenius, Rosenmüller, Kalisch); or the brother of Japheth who was older (LXX., Symmachus, Onkelos, Raschi, Aben Ezra, Luther, Clerieus, Michaelis, Dathe); or the elder of Japheth's brothers, as distinguished from Ham the younger, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the son who was older than Ham, But younger than Japheth (Murphy, Quarry; vide <a href="/genesis/5-32.htm">Genesis 5:32</a>). <span class="cmt_word">Even to him were children born.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/10-21.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And sons were also born</span><br /><span class="heb">יֻלַּ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(yul·laḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - QalPass - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3205.htm">Strong's 3205: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to Shem,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּלְשֵׁ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(ū·lə·šêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8035.htm">Strong's 8035: </a> </span><span class="str2">Shem -- 'name', oldest son of Noah</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the older</span><br /><span class="heb">הַגָּדֽוֹל׃</span> <span class="translit">(hag·gā·ḏō·wl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1419.htm">Strong's 1419: </a> </span><span class="str2">Great, older, insolent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">brother</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲחִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḥî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[of] Japheth;</span><br /><span class="heb">יֶ֥פֶת</span> <span class="translit">(ye·p̄eṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3315.htm">Strong's 3315: </a> </span><span class="str2">Japheth -- a son of Noah</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[Shem]</span><br /><span class="heb">ה֑וּא</span> <span class="translit">(hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was the forefather</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲבִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḇî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> </span><span class="str2">Father</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of all</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the sons</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּנֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(bə·nê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Eber.</span><br /><span class="heb">עֵ֔בֶר</span> <span class="translit">(‘ê·ḇer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5677.htm">Strong's 5677: </a> </span><span class="str2">Eber -- 'region beyond', a descendant of Shem, also the name of several Israelites</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/10-21.htm">Genesis 10:21 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/10-21.htm">Genesis 10:21 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/10-21.htm">Genesis 10:21 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/10-21.htm">Genesis 10:21 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/10-21.htm">Genesis 10:21 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/10-21.htm">Genesis 10:21 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/10-21.htm">Genesis 10:21 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/10-21.htm">Genesis 10:21 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/10-21.htm">Genesis 10:21 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/10-21.htm">Genesis 10:21 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/10-21.htm">OT Law: Genesis 10:21 To Shem the father of all (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/10-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 10:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 10:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/10-22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 10:22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 10:22" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>