1. Name and Meaning
• Name: Shelah (Hebrew: שֶׁלַח, Šélaḥ)
• Meaning: Possibly “sent” or “extract,” from the root šālaḥ, meaning “to send”; may imply a sense of progression, mission, or continuation

2. Genealogical Placement and Lineage Role
• Position: Thirteenth generation from Adam; third generation after the flood in the Messianic line
• Father: Arphaxad – descendant of Shem and early post-flood patriarch
• Son: Eber – significant figure whose name is connected to the Hebrews
• Lineage Role: Transitional patriarch between the early post-flood generations and the emerging identity of the Hebrew people; maintains the redemptive line that leads to Christ (Luke 3:35)

3. Life Summary and Historical Setting
• Lived in the early generations of repopulation after the flood, during a time of growing tribal groups and city-states
• Although no personal narrative is recorded, his descendants played a formative role in the development of Hebrew identity
• Lifespan: 433 years (Genesis 11:14–15)

4. Theological and Christological Significance
• Shepherds the Messianic line during a silent but crucial generational shift
• Through his son Eber, the name ‘Ibri (Hebrew) is thought to have originated, further anchoring the covenant people in redemptive history
• Contributes structurally to the genealogical integrity of the lineage that culminates in Jesus

5. Legacy and Interpretive Reflections
• Appears in Genesis, 1 Chronicles, and Luke with consistency and without textual controversy
• Though not a prominent figure in Scripture, Shelah’s role as a generational preserver affirms the biblical principle that God works through faithful succession even in quiet times
• Recognised in rabbinic and biblical tradition as a faithful transmitter of God’s promise

6. Summary Insight
• Shelah marks a quiet but critical link in the unfolding of God’s covenantal plan, bridging early post-flood humanity with the beginnings of the Hebrew people through his son Eber.

7. Biblical References
• Genesis 10:24; 11:12–15
• 1 Chronicles 1:18, 24
• Luke 3:35