Sheleph

Descendant of Canaan

Also known as: Sheleph

The patriarchsPatriarchUnknown, after the Flood

Sheleph was one of the sons of Joktan, who was a descendant of Shem, Noah's son. He is mentioned in the genealogies in Genesis and 1 Chronicles as one of the early peoples on the Arabian Peninsula. Sheleph represents one of the many nations that arose after the Tower of Babel and the scattering of the peoples.

Family

FatherJoktan SiblingAlmodad SiblingHazarmaveth SiblingJerah SiblingHadoram SiblingUsal SiblingDikla SiblingObal SiblingAbimael SiblingSheba SiblingOfir SiblingHavilah SiblingJobab

Key events

Mentioned in Shem's Genealogy

Sheleph is listed as one of Joktan's thirteen sons in the post-flood genealogy that describes the origins of the nations.

Gen 10:26 Show in context →

26Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

וְיָקְטָ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד וְאֶת־שָׁ֑לֶף וְאֶת־חֲצַרְמָ֖וֶת וְאֶת־יָֽרַח׃ ‬

Origins of the Nations

In the overview of the dispersion of the nations after the flood, Sheleph is mentioned as part of Joktan's lineage who settled in the eastern mountain regions.

Gen 10:26 Show in context →

26Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

וְיָקְטָ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד וְאֶת־שָׁ֑לֶף וְאֶת־חֲצַרְמָ֖וֶת וְאֶת־יָֽרַח׃ ‬

Gen 10:27 Show in context →

27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,

וְאֶת־הֲדוֹרָ֥ם וְאֶת־אוּזָ֖ל וְאֶת־דִּקְלָֽה׃ ‬

Gen 10:28 Show in context →

28Obal, Abimael, Sheba,

וְאֶת־עוֹבָ֥ל וְאֶת־אֲבִֽימָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־שְׁבָֽא׃ ‬

Gen 10:29 Show in context →

29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

וְאֶת־אוֹפִ֥ר וְאֶת־חֲוִילָ֖ה וְאֶת־יוֹבָ֑ב כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י יָקְטָֽן׃ ‬

Gen 10:30 Show in context →

30Their settlements stretched from Mesha toward Sephar, the hill country of the east.

וֽ͏ַיְהִ֥י מוֹשָׁבָ֖ם מִמֵּשָׁ֑א בֹּאֲכָ֥ה סְפָ֖רָה הַ֥ר הַקֶּֽדֶם׃ ‬

Repeated in Chronicles

Sheleph's place in the genealogy is confirmed in 1 Chronicles, which repeats the family tree from Genesis to connect Israel's history with the beginning of the world.

1 Chr 1:20 Show in context →

20Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

וְיָקְטָ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד וְאֶת־שָׁ֑לֶף וְאֶת־חֲצַרְמָ֖וֶת וְאֶת־יָֽרַח׃ ‬

Joktan's Lineage in Chronicles

The entire list of Joktan's sons, including Sheleph, is reproduced in the opening chapter of Chronicles as part of humanity's complete family history.

1 Chr 1:20 Show in context →

20Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

וְיָקְטָ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד וְאֶת־שָׁ֑לֶף וְאֶת־חֲצַרְמָ֖וֶת וְאֶת־יָֽרַח׃ ‬

1 Chr 1:21 Show in context →

21Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,

וְאֶת־הֲדוֹרָ֥ם וְאֶת־אוּזָ֖ל וְאֶת־דִּקְלָֽה׃ ‬

1 Chr 1:22 Show in context →

22Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,

וְאֶת־עֵיבָ֥ל וְאֶת־אֲבִימָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־שְׁבָֽא׃ ‬

1 Chr 1:23 Show in context →

23Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

וְאֶת־אוֹפִ֥יר וְאֶת־חֲוִילָ֖ה וְאֶת־יוֹבָ֑ב כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י יָקְטָֽן׃ ס ‬