Shem (or Sem) was the first of the sons of Noah in the Bible. He is mentioned in Genesis 5:32, 6:10; 7:13; 9:18,23,26-27; 10; 11:10; also in 1 Chronicles[?] 1:4. The Messiah is descended from Shem in an unbroken line. The Jews derive their origin from Shem and are sometimes referred to as Semitic. However, a more recent theory states that the name may be derived from Sumer or the Sumerians.