4590. Sém

Lexical Summary

Sém: Sign, mark, token

Original Word: σῆμ
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Sém
Pronunciation: saym
Phonetic Spelling: (same)
KJV: Sem
NASB: Shem
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H8035 (שֵׁם - Shem))]

1. Sem (i.e. Shem), a patriarch

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Sem.

Of Hebrew origin (Shem); Sem (i.e. Shem), a patriarch -- Sem.

see HEBREW Shem

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Shem
Definition
Shem, a son of Noah
NASB Translation
Shem (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4590: Σήμ

Σήμ (in Josephus, Σημας), ὁ (שֵׁם, 'name,' 'sign,' 'celebrity'; but variously explained)), Shem, the eldest son of Noah: Luke 3:36.

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Context and Occurrence

Strong’s Greek 4590 names the patriarch Shem in Luke 3:36, appearing as one link in the inspired genealogy that traces Jesus Christ’s earthly lineage back to Adam. Luke writes, “son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah” (Luke 3:36). By inserting Shem, Luke situates Jesus within the divinely chosen line first distinguished after the Flood.

Historical Background in the Old Testament

Shem first enters the Scriptural record in Genesis 5:32 alongside his brothers Ham and Japheth. After the deluge, Noah blesses him: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem!” (Genesis 9:26). This pronouncement singles out Shem’s descendants as the guardians of true worship. Genesis 10 unfolds the “Table of Nations,” listing peoples that proceed from each of Noah’s sons; Shem’s line produces Eber, the ancestor of the Hebrews. Genesis 11 then traces Shem’s genealogy through ten generations to Abram (later Abraham), underscoring the covenant trajectory that culminates in the Messiah.

The Line of Promise through Shem

1. Covenant Initiation – God’s call to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) flows from Shem’s branch, ensuring that “all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
2. National Formation – The Israelites, descendants of Jacob (Israel), carry the Abrahamic covenant and receive the Mosaic Law, preserving divine revelation.
3. Davidic Hope – Through Judah, a Shemite tribe, God promises an eternal throne (2 Samuel 7:12-16), creating an unbroken prophetic expectation.
4. Messianic Fulfillment – Luke and Matthew both present Jesus as the promised Seed; Luke’s genealogy highlights universal scope by extending back to Adam yet still passes through Shem, affirming continuity with Old Testament prophecy.

New Testament Theological Significance

Luke’s use of Shem accomplishes more than historical record-keeping:
• It anchors the incarnation within God’s longstanding redemptive strategy.
• It demonstrates that divine election operates through real human history, showing God’s faithfulness across millennia.
• It confirms that ethnic lineage, though significant, ultimately serves the global purposes of salvation, foreshadowing the inclusion of all nations (Acts 10:34-43; Galatians 3:8).

Ministry Applications

• Trust in God’s Faithfulness – Just as centuries separate Shem from Christ, yet promises remain intact, believers may rest in the certainty of God’s word.
• Importance of Spiritual Heritage – Families and churches are encouraged to cultivate generational faithfulness, recognizing that God often works through enduring lines of testimony.
• Mission-Minded Outlook – The blessing pronounced upon Shem anticipates a worldwide blessing; contemporary ministry should reflect that outward focus.

Related Scripture for Further Study

Genesis 10:21-31; Genesis 11:10-26; Isaiah 11:1-10; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 1:1-16; Romans 1:1-4; Hebrews 11:8-12.

Forms and Transliterations

Σημ Σήμ Σὴμ σημαίαν Sem Sēm Sḗm

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 3:36 N
GRK: Ἀρφαξάδ τοῦ Σήμ τοῦ Νῶε
NAS: the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah,
KJV: which was [the son] of Arphaxad, which was [the son] of Sem, which was [the son] of Noe,
INT: of Arphaxad of Shem of Noah

Strong's Greek 4590
1 Occurrence

Σήμ — 1 Occ.