Nahor נָחוֹר
Son of Terah, Abraham's brother; father of Bethuel.
Biography
Nahor, mentioned in Genesis 11, 22, 24, 29, and 31, was the son of Terah and the brother of Abraham and Haran. He was born in Ur of the Chaldeans and later settled in the city of Nahor, which was likely named after him.
Nahor married Milcah, the daughter of his brother Haran, and together they had eight children, including Bethuel, who became the father of Rebekah (Gen.22.20-23). Rebekah would later marry Isaac, Abraham's son, thus continuing the lineage of the patriarchs.
When Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, the servant traveled to the city of Nahor and met Rebekah at the well (Gen.24.10). Rebekah's family connection to Nahor and Abraham was confirmed when she identified herself as Bethuel's daughter and Nahor's granddaughter (Gen.24.15, 24, 47).
Later, when Israel (or 'Jacob'), Rebekah's son, fled from his brother Esau, he sought refuge with Laban, Rebekah's brother, in the city of Nahor (Gen.29.5). This shows that Nahor's descendants maintained close ties with Abraham's family.
In Gen.31.53, when Jacob and Laban made a covenant, they invoked the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor as witnesses, suggesting that Nahor and his descendants had come to acknowledge the God of Abraham.
Nahor's role in the biblical narrative is primarily as a link in the lineage of the patriarchs, connecting Abraham to the subsequent generations. His descendants, particularly Rebekah and her family, play a crucial role in the continuation of the covenant promises made to Abraham.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Abraham Early PatriarchSon of TerahPatriarch, chosen by God to father His peopleView full profile →
- Haran Early PatriarchSon of TerahSon of Terah, brother of Abraham and father of Lot.View full profile →
- Sarah Early PatriarchSister of AbrahamWife of Abraham; mother of IsaacView full profile →
Partners
Offspring
- Uz Early PatriarchGrandson of ShemSon of Aram, grandson of ShemView full profile →
- Buz Tribe of GadFather of JahdoDescendant of Gad, son of AbdielView full profile →
- Kemuel MaleFather of HashabiahA Levite leader during David's reignView full profile →
- Chesed Early PatriarchSon of NahorSon of Nahor, Abraham's nephewView full profile →
- Hazo Early PatriarchSon of NahorA son of Nahor, Abraham's brother.View full profile →
- Pildash Early PatriarchSon of NahorNephew of AbrahamView full profile →
- Jidlaph Early PatriarchSon of NahorSon of Nahor and MilcahView full profile →
- Bethuel Early PatriarchSon of NahorFather of Rebekah, Isaac's wifeView full profile →
- Tebah Early PatriarchSon of NahorSon of Nahor and ReumahView full profile →
- Gaham Early PatriarchSon of NahorSon of Nahor and Reumah.View full profile →
- Tahash Early PatriarchSon of NahorSon of Nahor and ReumahView full profile →
- Maacah MaleFather of warriorFather of Hanan, one of David's mighty menView full profile →
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentGenesis 5 verses
- Genesis 11:26
"Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 11:27
"Now this is the history of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran became the father of Lot."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 11:29
"Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, who was also the father of Iscah."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 22:20
"After these things, Abraham was told, “Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor:"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 22:23
"Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother."
Study Genesis →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | נָחוֹר | H5152H |