Shem (shĕm), name. The eldest son of Noah. His conduct toward his father on one occasion is noted with praise. Genesis 1:9-27. The Jews are his descendants, and, besides, there are the Aramæans, Persians, Assyrians, and Arabians. The languages spoken by the descendants of Shem—the Hebrew, Chaldee, Assyrian, and Arabic-are called Semitic languages.