Arphaxad, son of Shem
The name Arphaxad means “a healer; a releaser.” Arphaxad is mentioned in 10 verses of the Bible, first in Genesis 10:22.
Family of Arphaxad
Who was Arphaxad?
Son of Shem, born the year after the Deluge. He died at the age of 438 years (Gen. 11:10-13; 1 Chr. 1:17, 18; Luke 3:36). He dwelt in Mesopotamia, and became, according to the Jewish historian Josephus, the progenitor of the Chaldeans. The tendency is to recognize in the word the name of the country nearest the ancient domain of the Chaldeans. Some regard the word as an Egypticized form of the territorial name of Ur Kasdim, or Ur of the Chaldees.
Biography adapted from Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), public domain, linked via Theographic Bible Metadata.
Key verses about Arphaxad
- Genesis 10:22
The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
- Genesis 10:24
And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.
- Genesis 11:10
These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:
- Genesis 11:12
And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:
- 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.
- 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,
Timeline of Arphaxad's life
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2345 BC | Birth of Arphaxad |
| 2345 BC | Lifetime of Arphaxad |
| 2310 BC | Birth of Salah |
| 1907 BC | Death of Arphaxad |