What does Luke 3:36 mean?
As with most of the names given in the prior verse, men like Cainan and Arphaxad are mentioned in Scripture only as part of genealogies. We know almost nothing else about them. The same is true of the Lamech mentioned here; while he is the father of Noah, he is not the same person as the Lamech who came from the lineage of Cain (Genesis 4:18–24). Rather, he is the son of Methuselah (Luke 3:37; Genesis 5:25).Shem, likewise, is known almost exclusively for his family members. The only times his actions are described are in relation to the flood (Genesis 7:13) and an ugly incident with his father, Noah (Genesis 9:20–23).
Noah, of course, is one of the most famous names in Scripture. This is the man chosen by God to build an ark, to retain the only people to survive God's wrathful annihilation of wicked mankind (Genesis 6:1–8).