Home › Glossary › Letter S

Shem

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Noah’s son and progenitor of Semitic peoples, including Abraham, often associated with linguistic and cultural lineage in biblical tradition.

Detailed Definition
Shem’s line led to Eber and Abraham; he and Japheth covered Noah’s shame. In poetry, Shem symbolizes covenant continuity, the dignity of covering familial failure, and the spiritual lineage leading to Israel and monotheism.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Genesis 5–11, Shem’s lineage inspires poetry about blessed continuity; Milton lists Shem in “Paradise Lost” as ancestor of Abraham; Contemporary poems explore Shem as link between Noah and patriarchs; In poems about naming, Shem’s line preserves knowledge of God; Some liturgical works honor Shem as progenitor of Hebrew people; Educational poems cite Shem to teach about genealogies and covenant.
Additional Notes
Shem, Noah’s son and ancestor of Abraham, is blessed for covering his father’s nakedness (Genesis 9); his line leads to the Semitic peoples; poets use Shem to explore filial respect, genealogical blessing, or the origins of covenantal lineage in contrast to Ham’s curse.
Also Known As
Shem son of Noah Shem father of Eber
Skip to main content