The Spiritual Significance of Noah’s Sons

A Devotional Series from Genesis

Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)

6/2 Reading Portions: Deuteronomy 6; Psalm 89; Isaiah 34; Revelation 4

Genesis 6:10

And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

SHEM

In this verse, we get a second look at what we did not cover in our consideration of Genesis 5:32, which states:

After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Again, as mentioned then, Noah may have had other sons and daughters, but only these three sons and their wives were saved through the flood along with Noah and his wife. If what I mentioned in Genesis 6:3 is correct, then Noah had been a preacher of righteousness for 20 years before these sons were born (2 Pet 2:5); for the worldwide deluge began when Noah was 600 years old (Gen 7:6).

As this name order is mentioned twice within eleven verses in Genesis, there is a scriptural significance here. Why do I suggest this? These sons of Noah are not named by their birth order. First, Ham was Noah’s youngest son (Gen 9:24). Second, Japheth must logically be the oldest because Noah fathered sons when he was 500 years old (Gen 5:32); but we are told later that Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood (Gen 11:10). Therefore, Shem, whose name in Hebrew שֵׁם (shem) means “name,” was the second-born son—being 98 years old when he entered the ark; Japheth being 100. Our sovereign God does nothing by accident. The Holy Spirit moved Moses to write Genesis 5:32 and Genesis 6:10 in this way to draw our attention to the gospel in the name order. There are two spiritually significant features in this.

First, these two verses demonstrate Christ’s exaltation as the “Second Adam,” or “Second Son.” The Bible declares:

Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:45-47

Shem, being the second-born, is a prophetic picture of Jesus, our Savior, this type being seen throughout Genesis. Just a few examples are seen in Cain, the first-born, slaying Abel, the second-born (Gen 4:1-12); then a resurrection of sorts with Seth taking the place of slain Abel (Gen 4:25). We will see it later on in Genesis 25-27 in the birth and blessing of Jacob, the second-born son of Isaac, ruling over Esau, the first-born son. So Shem and Japheth gives us this gospel illustration of Jesus Messiah’s exaltation above Adam. But what about Ham’s place being mentioned before Japheth?

Ham’s mention in the second position demonstrates God’s amazing grace through Christ. Although Ham dishonors his father Noah and receives a curse (Gen 9:23-25), any sinner who follows Jesus (as Ham is mentioned immediately after Shem), will be saved. Jesus said,

“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

Hallelujah! What a Savior!