Shelah

Descendants of Shem in the Patriarchal Lineage

Also known as: Zalaph

The patriarchsPatriarchc. 2300 BC

Shelah (also known as Shelah or Shelach) was the son of Arpachshad and father of Eber in the lineage from Shem to Abraham. He is a vital link in the genealogy of the patriarchs, connecting Noah's descendants with the Hebrew people. He is mentioned in the genealogies of both the Old and New Testaments.

Family

Key events

Birth as Son of Arpachshad

Shelah was born as the son of Arpachshad, who was the son of Shem. He was born when Arpachshad was 35 years old.

12When Arpachshad had lived thirty-five years, he became the father of Shelah.
וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֣ד חַ֔י חָמֵ֥שׁ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־שָֽׁלַח׃ ‬

Father of Eber

When Shelah was 30 years old, he had a son named Eber, who became the ancestor of the Hebrews.

14When Shelah had lived thirty years, he became the father of Eber.
וְשֶׁ֥לַח חַ֖י שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־עֵֽבֶר׃ ‬

Lived 403 years after the birth of Eber

After Eber was born, Shelah lived for another 403 years and had more sons and daughters.

15After he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived four hundred and three years and had other sons and daughters.
וֽ͏ַיְחִי־שֶׁ֗לַח אַחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־עֵ֔בֶר שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃ ס ‬

Mentioned in 1 Chronicles

Shelah is listed in the genealogy from Adam to Abraham in 1 Chronicles as part of the chosen lineage.

18Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber.
וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד יָלַ֣ד אֶת־שָׁ֑לַח וְשֶׁ֖לַח יָלַ֥ד אֶת־עֵֽבֶר׃ ‬
24Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah;
שֵׁ֥ם ׀ אַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד שָֽׁלַח׃ ‬

Mentioned in Luke's genealogy of Jesus

Shelah is included in Luke's genealogy, tracing Jesus' ancestry back to Adam through the patriarchs, showing his place in salvation history.

35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
τοῦ Σεροὺχ τοῦ Ῥαγαὺ τοῦ Φάλεκ τοῦ Ἔβερ τοῦ Σαλὰ
36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
τοῦ Καϊνὰμ τοῦ Ἀρφαξὰδ τοῦ Σὴμ τοῦ Νῶε τοῦ Λάμεχ

Mentioned in the Bible (1)