The Bible is full of stories about families. From the first man, Adam, to the great kings of Israel, the Bible tells us about fathers and sons, and how God worked through families to fulfill His plan. One important person in the Bible is Terah. He is not as well known as Abraham, Moses, or David, but he played an important role in the story of God’s people. To understand Terah, we need to learn about his family. In this article, we will focus on one question: Who was Terah’s father in the Bible?
Who Was Terah?
Before we learn about Terah’s father, we need to know who Terah was. Terah is most known as the father of Abram, who was later called Abraham. Abraham is a major figure in the Bible. God made a covenant with him and promised to bless all nations through his descendants. But before Abraham followed God, he lived with his father Terah in a place called Ur of the Chaldeans.
The Bible introduces Terah in the Book of Genesis. Genesis 11:24-26 says:
“When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah. After he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters. After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.”
This passage tells us clearly that Terah’s father was named Nahor. It also tells us that Terah had three sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran. So, Nahor was Terah’s father, and Terah was the father of Abram, who became Abraham.
Who Was Nahor?
Nahor, the father of Terah, is not the most famous person in the Bible. But he is part of the family line that leads to Abraham, and that makes him very important. Nahor is mentioned a few times in the Bible, mostly in genealogies — the lists of families and their children.
Nahor was the son of Serug. Genesis 11:22-23 says:
“When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor. After he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.”
So we see that Nahor’s father was Serug. This helps us follow the line of people from Noah all the way to Abraham. These family trees show how God was keeping track of His chosen people.
The Line from Noah to Terah
To understand where Terah fits in, it helps to look at the whole family line. After the great flood, Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The Bible follows the line of Shem, because that is the line that leads to Abraham. In Genesis 11:10-26, we can read the family tree:
- Shem
- Arphaxad
- Shelah
- Eber
- Peleg
- Reu
- Serug
- Nahor
- Terah
- Abram (Abraham)
As we can see, Nahor is part of a long line that leads directly from Noah to Abraham. Each of these names represents a generation. Some of them are just names, while others, like Eber, are remembered for special reasons. Eber, for example, is believed to be the source of the word “Hebrew.”
Nahor’s Family
The Bible does not say a lot about Nahor, but it tells us a bit about his family. Nahor had other sons and daughters besides Terah. One of the sons of Terah was also named Nahor, after his grandfather. This can be a bit confusing because two different people in the family have the same name. But this was common in ancient times. Just like today, people named children after their parents or grandparents.
Nahor, the son of Terah and grandson of Nahor, is mentioned in Genesis 24 when Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant goes to Nahor’s family and finds Rebekah, who becomes Isaac’s wife. This shows that Abraham still had ties to his family back in Mesopotamia, even after he moved to Canaan.
The Importance of Genealogies in the Bible
Some people skip the genealogies when they read the Bible because they seem boring or confusing. But these lists of names are very important. They show us how God worked through families. They help us understand where people came from. And they prove that the Bible’s stories are connected.
Knowing that Nahor was Terah’s father helps us see that Abraham’s faith did not come from nowhere. He came from a real family with a history. God chose a man with a background, not a random stranger. And through Abraham, God began the nation of Israel.
What Was Terah Like?
The Bible gives us some information about Terah, but not a lot. Genesis 11:31 says:
“Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there.”
This verse tells us that Terah started the journey to Canaan, but he did not finish it. He stopped in Harran and stayed there. Some Bible teachers believe that Terah may have started to follow God’s call, but only Abraham finished it. Others think that Abraham was the one God called, and Terah just came along. Either way, Terah is remembered as the father of Abraham.
Was Terah an Idol Worshiper?
The Bible hints that Terah may not have worshipped the one true God. In Joshua 24:2, it says:
“Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.”
This suggests that Terah may have served idols. He lived in a time and place where many people worshiped many gods. But God chose Abraham and called him away from that life. This shows that faith in God sometimes means leaving old ways behind. Abraham obeyed God and became the father of faith, even though he came from a family that worshiped other gods.
Terah’s Legacy
Even though Terah may have worshiped other gods, he is still part of the family God chose. His son Abraham changed the world by believing in the one true God. His family line led to the nation of Israel, and eventually to Jesus Christ. Terah is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3:34.
God often uses imperfect people to do His work. Terah was not perfect. But he was the father of Abraham, and that makes him part of God’s plan.
Conclusion
So who was Terah’s father in the Bible? His name was Nahor. Nahor was the son of Serug and the grandfather of Abraham. Though we do not know much about Nahor’s life, his name is important because he is part of the family line that leads to Jesus.
When we study the Bible, even the small names matter. Every person in the Bible has a place in God’s story. Terah and his father Nahor are reminders that God works through families. He calls people from every background to follow Him. And He can use anyone — even someone from a family of idol worshipers — to bring about His great plan.
To learn more about the people in the Bible, you can read the Book of Genesis. You can also look at Genesis 11 and Joshua 24 to read more about Terah and Nahor.
You Might Be Interested In:
