9:26 Blessed . . . God of Shem. With this doxological blessing Noah acknowledges God as the Author of life and extends the blessing to Shem (1:22 and note; 14:19). The line of messianic promise is now narrowed to Shem’s offspring (cf. 3:15; 4:26 and notes), and it will be further specified in Genesis as through Abraham (12:1–3), Isaac (21:8–12), Jacob (25:23; 27:28, 29), and Judah (49:10). With the coming of the Messiah and the new covenant, the covenant promise is extended to all who believe (Acts 10:34, 35; Gal. 3:29).