Nahor נָחוֹר

Male Early Patriarch H5152H 1 book

Son of Terah, Abraham's brother; father of Bethuel.

Who is Nahor in the Bible?

Nahor was the son of Terah and brother of Abraham, mentioned throughout Genesis as a key figure in the patriarchal line (Genesis 11:26-29). He married Milcah, his niece and the daughter of his brother Haran, and fathered eight children, including Bethuel, who became the father of Rebekah (Genesis 22:20-23). When Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac, the servant traveled to the city of Nahor, where he met Rebekah at a well and confirmed her identity as Nahor's granddaughter (Genesis 24:10, 15, 24, 47). Nahor's significance lies primarily in his role as the grandfather of Rebekah, whose marriage to Isaac secured the continuation of the covenant line through which God's promises to Abraham would be fulfilled.

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

In Scripture

1 biblical book ; 1 with study content
Genesis 5 verses
  • Genesis 11:26

    "When Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran."

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  • Genesis 11:27

    "This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot."

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  • Genesis 11:29

    "And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah."

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  • Genesis 22:20

    "Some time later, Abraham was told, “Milcah has also borne sons to your brother Nahor:"

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  • Genesis 22:23

    "And Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Abraham’s brother Nahor."

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Names & Aliases

Form Language Script
Named Hebrew נָחוֹר