How Many Children Did Noah Have?

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Q: #402. How many children did Noah have?

By: Steve Shirley

A: The Bible tells us that Noah had three sons named Shem (the firstborn), Ham, and Japheth (Gen 6:10)(Gen 5:32: He didn’t have them until he was 500 years old!). Together, Noah and his sons spent app. 120 years building the Ark (Gen 6:3). After it was completed, God told Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives (8 total people: 1 Pet 3:20) to enter the Ark seven days before He sent the floodwaters upon the Earth to destroy all living things (Gen 7:1,4,10) (that breathed through nostrils, and lived on dry land: Gen 7:22).

God made a covenant with Noah and his sons (Gen 6:18)(usually called the Noahic Covenant) that He would never again destroy the whole Earth with a flood, and gave the rainbow as a reminder of this covenant/promise (Gen 9:8-17).

In Genesis ch.10, we learn the names of the children of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Shem (Gen 10:22): Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

Ham: (Gen 10:6): Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan ** Note: Canaan was cursed by Noah because Ham had seen Noah drunk and naked (Gen 9:18-27). (The Canaanites were continual enemies of God’s people.)

Japheth (Gen 10:2): Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Shem is found in the lineage of Jesus (Lk 3:36). He lived to be 600 years old (Gen 11:10-11).

For answers related to this topic, see:

Q: #217. Could Noah’s Ark really hold all of those animals?

Q: #44. Did it rain before the flood?

Q: #45. Did man eat meat before the flood?