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SHEM

The oldest son of Noah and brother of Ham and Japheth (Genesis 5:32). "From these three sons the whole earth was people," since they were the only survivors of the Flood (Genesis 9:19). Those descended from Shem--Hebrews, Arabs, Aramaeans (Genesis 10:22-31)--were called Shemites, the equivalent of the modern word Semites.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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