Bible Figure
Shem
Biblical figure, son of Noah, ancestor of the Semites
Shem is identified in the AVWJ source record as Biblical figure, son of Noah, ancestor of the Semites. The biblical material concerning this figure is limited, so the entry should remain concise and avoid adding later traditions as though they were part of Scripture.
Biography
The available AVWJ record connects Shem with Genesis 5, Genesis 6, Genesis 10. It identifies Shem as Biblical figure, son of Noah, ancestor of the Semites. Scripture supplies little additional biographical detail in the present source record. Accordingly, this entry does not attempt to reconstruct undocumented events, personality traits, dates, or later traditions. Where the biblical text is brief, the most responsible biography is one that preserves that brevity while locating the person within the genealogy, event, or family relationship in which the text places them.
Biblical Significance
Shem's significance is primarily the role preserved in Genesis 5, Genesis 6, Genesis 10. The record's identification of this figure as Biblical figure, son of Noah, ancestor of the Semites explains why the name is retained in the Bible Figures collection. Because the biblical evidence is limited, no broader theological importance should be assigned without clearer scriptural support.