per Grok
The term "Semite" originates from the name "Shem," one of the three sons of Noah in the Bible (Genesis 5-10). Shem is traditionally considered the ancestor of various peoples in the Middle East, including the Hebrews, Aramaeans, and Arabs, among others. The word "Semite" was coined much later, in the 18th century, by German scholars, particularly August Ludwig von Schlözer and Johann Gottfried Eichhorn, who used it to classify a group of related languages and peoples.