Arphaxad
malePatriarchalMeaning: “Healer; stronghold”
A son of Shem born two years after the flood, an ancestor of Abraham in the line that leads from Noah to Christ.
Biography
Arphaxad was a son of Shem, born "two years after the flood" (Genesis 11:10), and a key link in the genealogy connecting Noah to Abraham. He was the father of Salah and an ancestor of Eber — from whom the Hebrews take their name. Listed in both the Table of Nations (Genesis 10:22) and the focused genealogy of Genesis 11, Arphaxad also appears in Luke's record of the ancestry of Jesus (Luke 3:36), one of the patriarchs of the post-flood world.
Life Timeline
Born to Shem two years after the flood
On the Bible timeline
Arphaxad belongs to the Creation & the Early World era (Beginning – c. 2100 BC).
- c. 2400 BC (traditional)The Flood
- c. 2200 BCThe Tower of Babel
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Arphaxad
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Arphaxad appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Scripture Appearances
10 verses in 3 booksGenesis6 verses
Genesis 10:22
The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. Arphaxad: Heb. Arpachshad
Genesis 10:24
And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. Salah: Heb. Shelah
Genesis 11:10
These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:
Genesis 11:11
And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:12
And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:
Genesis 11:13
And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
1 Chronicles3 verses
1 Chronicles 1:17
The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech. Meshech: or, Mash
1 Chronicles 1:18
And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber.
1 Chronicles 1:24
Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,
Luke1 verse
Luke 3:36
Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
Frequently asked about Arphaxad
Who was Arphaxad in the Bible?
A son of Shem born two years after the flood, an ancestor of Abraham in the line that leads from Noah to Christ.
What does the name Arphaxad mean?
The name Arphaxad means “Healer; stronghold”.
Who were Arphaxad's children?
Arphaxad's children include Salah.
Who were Arphaxad's parents?
Arphaxad was the child of Shem.
Where does Arphaxad appear in the Bible?
Arphaxad is mentioned 10 times across 3 books: Genesis, 1 Chronicles, Luke.
What can we learn from Arphaxad?
The story of Arphaxad touches on themes of shem, genealogy, arphaxad, salah — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Arphaxad's life.
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